Wairarapa Standard Published Tri-weekly, Price 1d. MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 1886. Good News from Kimberley.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1874, 23 August 1886, Page 2

Wairarapa Standard Published Tri-weekly, Price Id. MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 1886. Good News from Kimberley.

Fob some time past the news received from the goldfield at Kimberley has been of the most puzzling and conflicting character, First, there would arrive intelligence to the effect that a considerable amount of gold bad been obtained and that the miners generally were doing pretty well. Next, the news would be to the effect that a large number of people were returning from the goldfield, worn out, bitterly disappoinied | and with a tale to tell of hardship, suffering, and no gold obtained. It was difficult to form an intelligent opinion about the position and prospects of the Kimberley gold, field from reports of a character so contradictory as those just referred to. The latest intelligence is, however, of a definite character, and indicates that the goldfield at Kimberley is turning out well. The dates from Melbourne are to the 19th inst., and from Derby to 26th July. A telegram from Melbourne of the 19th inst. is to the effect " that official reports received from Kimberley show that prospectors at that place are getting two ounces of gold per day.' 1 This is very good news indeed, and the detailed intelligence from Derby, up to July 28th, is also of a very favorable character. Sergeant Troy who had visited the Kimberley goldfield and bad returned to Derby, gives an official report as to its present state and future prospects. The chief points in this report may be thus stated:—" All the diggers are getting gold. He took statements in writing from eighteen of them, and the following are some brief extracts from a few No. 1. Have been a digger lor thirty years, and believe there is an extensive field here ; have found gold in various localities. No. 2, with his party, got about 70oz. No. 7 got about half an ounce a day at Brockman’s and Hall’s Creek; was doing well in Mocphus Gully; believes the gold bearing country to be of a large extent. The water supply is pretty good. No 10, bad made a second visit; all who had worked in Hall's Golly had done well ; he thinks they are only on the beginning or tail end of the field. No. 17, was getting about a quarter of an ounce daily, but does not include odd nuggets found ; he thinks gold will be found on the bills as well as in the gullies. On his second visit fie found payable gold at the Margaret Eiver ani in the Maophus Gully ; he went eut one afternoon and got 26dwt; he is averaging a litttle over loz daily ; he thinks that in future the reefs will prove a prolific source of gold; he considers the supply of water good. Sergeant Troy himself does not consider the fields badly watered. There are good streams in all the rivers ; and also permanent water in several of the gullies besides. There are also excellent springs. He found the road very good from Derby to the fields, but states that as the season advances water will not be so plentiful.”

The foregoing reads like a plain, matter of fact statement, made by a careful observer. Further intelligence is to the effect that a regular stream of traffic in the shape of horses, waggons, bullock drays and pack horses had set in. There are very few people in Derby beyond new arrivals. One party at the goldfield got 920z, and many others 20oz, the average being from loz to £oz per day each party. One party has just arrived at Derby with a 20oz nugget. Sergeant Troy is of opinion that the diggers are withholding the fullest information, but all there are getting gold. The gold being got was of good quality. The country was blue slate, and there were lots of good-looking quartz reefs. The diggers are all returning from Wyodbam with rations to the goldfields. On the 22nd an employe on fetockdale station, close to Cambridge Gulf, gave information that he had seen a digger with two Natives and eight pack horses, and with £IOOO worth of gold in his possession. Ho would not give information where he procured the gold, but the locality was not at the present diggings. Stores at the diggings are at fabulous prices, but the Cambridge Gulf supplies are plentiful. Taken as a whole, the general character of news received appears to , show that there is every prospect of the Kimberley goldfields proving a most extensive one, and of a character, more or less, rich. The people who have gone from New Zealand to the Kimberley goldfield will therefore have all the better chance of doing well, and although It is a temporary misfortune for this colony to lose a number of good and sturdy settlers, yet it must be borne in mind that most of them who go to Kimberley and make money will be sure, in the long ran, to come back to New Zealand, and use their gains in making permanent homes in their own much loved laud. Tbs Wairarapa has sent forth some of iti staunchest and pluckiest young men to seek fortune on the Kimberley goldfield. We much regret the departure from our midst of so many good and true men, who cuuid have done well at home. But we have an implicit faith and belief that the most of them' will come back to the dear old “ Waidrop ” ; and if some of them do so with pockets well iiued and able to buy land and become prosperous settlers in the district, then the Kimberley goldfield will have done the Wairarapa much good alter all.