A Letter from Kimberley

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 2000, 3 December 1886, Page 2

A Letter from Kimberley

We have been favored with a perusal of a letter received by Mr Wilkinson from his son who went to the Kimberley diggings some time ago. He writes from Poverty Creek, Kimberley, and says it took seven weeks to get there ; the road was fairly good and with time and care a cart could be taken to any pari of the field. He and his friend at ths time of writing had been ten days on the field and had got gold—one grain each ! There wore about 300 men on the Held, 200 of whom were not making tucker ; toe old diggers were all leaving for there was no chance of doing anything and no reefs wore louud worth working. For three years past the ground in the six creeks which comprise the field have been worked and reworked. The country is very rocky and covered with prickly spinifex and a blacksmith was putting iron plates on the soles of boots, 7s 6d for tbe pair. Young Wilkinson and his mate intended starting on Ist of November for Cambridge Gulf, and if they could not sell their horses for a fait price they intended shipping them lor Fort Darwin. He says Barr, of Featberston, made a bad speck in Derby ; he bought two horses aud a brake for £2lO to cart goods up. Ten cwt was a load, for which he could only get £6 10s per cwt. Tbe field turning out such a duller made the spec a failure. Tbe writer says his health was good and the climate at Poverty Creek splendid, agreeing withali. It was hot, but not hot enough to stop anyone from working. He quotes the following prices for rations Tea, 2s per lb ; rise, Is 3d, oatmeal Is, fresh mutton lOd, beef Is, candles

Is, tiu potatoes 2a 03, bacon 2s, sugar Is I'd N.Z. cheese (id, jams and milk 2s ,v - -hi. Ho m.-nitons the Udy pally bc.Ug at 1'0,,.,t , Creek but says " they arc going tu clear.'