THE KIMBERLEY GOLDFIELD.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXIX, Issue 11188, 7 May 1886, Page 2

THE KIMBERLEY GOLDFIELD.

« FOKTY OUNCES OF GOLD IN ONJii DAY, BIGGEST ETJSH FOX YEARS. For a considerable time much excitement has been experienced in mining circles, with respect to the news of an extensive goldfield in the Kimberley District, in Western Australia, The existence of a vast area of very rich auriferous country thereabouts seerds to hare been established beyond a doubt ; and the publio are in possession of telegraphio information which shows that diggers, in more than one instance, have obtained large quantities of the precious metal. There are several expeditions being formed in Melbourne to go. Ifc is not a poor man's diggings. At present atten - tion i* mainly devoted to tracing the alluvial deposits on the Ord BiverY* The Ord empties itself into Cambridge Gulf. Derby is the capital town of the Kimberley district on the north-west coast. It is built at the mouth of Ktzroy River, in King Sound. King Sound is a splendid bay. The present population of Dorby is under 100. At the Government land sale, on April 14th, Derby town lots realized upwards of £120 por acre. Gold seekers continue to arrive at Derby from the fields with parcels of 16oz and upwards. The gold to hand per B.s. Otway is pronounced of the first quality, and is very little water- worn. It is valued by experts at £& per ounce. At Peith news received from Kiniberley regarding the goldfields of that district state that good progress has been made by prospector. On the Gth April the Governor received the following telegram from the Government Besidenfc ai Derby : " I have very great \ pleasure in inforaiiug your Excellency that most favourable reports has reached Derby from the goldfields. Five parties are down, all bringing alluvial goldsome more, some less. There are now over 400ozs in the town. Professional diggers speak highly, of the field, and predict one of the biggest rushes tbat bas been seen for yeara ; they also predict reefing as a future certainty. The field is extensive." The receipt of the news in Perth caused great excitement, and a number of people prooeeded to Kimberley immediately. The barque Wistaria has been placed on berth at Freeniantle to convey intending passengers to the goldfields. The local paper at Perth publishes a telegram from W, Mather, dated Freemantle, Bth, as follows; "Forty-two ounces wore obtained in one day by two raen at the Kimberley goldfields; GCOoza of gold is reported to be in the hands of the diggers, including a 19oz nuggefc found in shallow sinking. Tha prospecting party, who brought the gold into Derby, camo into Freemantlo for provisions, leaving fifty men working on the goldftld when they left. Ifc was reported tbat the gold was found Very UQO.V U.i 9 Borfwci There is ever^

promise of a great goldfield. Heavy tropioal rains had fallen recently where the party was working. The 19oz nugget is on the way to Freemantle. Another parcel of gold, containing 60oz, is coming in the Otway," Later details published from Oossaok, whioh is the principal port in the north district, states that Carlisle's party returned in two divisions. The first batch of four mea brought 360z, and the second batch a smaller quantity. M Dermotf a party brought lOoz, and iiellanj from. Port Darwin, 240r.. Kel-/ lav left his mate doing well. Edgar and two others brought 85oz between them. Moore and Moorison are re- ; ported to be doing very well indeed, and Hall and Slattery fairly When the prospectors retuJned to the goldfields in October last the party split up into two divisions, ono goiDg to the creek, where . they had obtained the first gold. They found it full of water, and could not work ; but they afterwards returned to it, and are said to have got 60oz. They are all men from Cambridge Gulf, and thoysay that the road thenoe to the diggings is rough and waterless in the , dry season. Malet, who returned to Derby on the Bth Maroh, reports that he found a good dray road to the fields.^ Old miners urge that no one should come without six months' provisions and horses, or plenty of money. The diggings are 370 miles away from Cambridge Gulf, and great misery would ensue if the prospectors were not properly equipped. Twenty men have come to Derby apparently for supplies,' and there are about fifty left on the diggings. The alluvial gold is reported to be 'much scattered,' which probably means that the workings so far have proved patchy. Our telegram ad,ds: 'reefs promising for the future, ' and, doubtless, more will soon be heard of them. The blacks am apparently, disposed to resent the enoroachment of the white man, as it is reported that twa horses belonging to diggers have been spearad by the natives at Cambridge Gulf.