KIANDRA.
FROM OUR SPECIAL COMMISSIONER
No. 7.
IT would seem that this place is never to be favoured with a continuation of fine weather.
I scarce close a letter or send a telegram to you stating the weather to be fine, but some
sudden change takes place. Last Saturday was quite a summer's day, and the next
morning, to the astonishment of all, the ground was covered with snow, the barometer
being as low as 31 degrees. This continued until noon on Monday, when it cleared up,
and we were favoured with summer weather again. It would be very difficult to convince
any person arriving here the next day that twenty-four hours previously we had been
visited with frost and snow. To-day it commenced raining, and up to the present time
(nine p.m.) it still continues; although to-morrow may be a fine day.
This uncertainty of the weather tends greatly to prevent the development of these fields;
many here have been waiting for months expecting fine weather, which appears now to
be as far off as ever. That men should get dispirited, disheartened, and leave, can surprise
no-one. During this week we have had various reports as to the discovery of quartz reefs;
one or two parties have succeeded in getting quartz with a little gold in it, but up to the
present time none that can be considered payable, or induce any one to go to the expense
of testing them. The reef discovered -- if it is a reef -- from which the splendid
specimens were exhibited, up to the present time is not working; whether the parties
holding the ground are making arrangements for working it or otherwise, their present
proceedings and the mystery they endeavour to surround it with, tends greatly to cast a
doubt as to its permanency.
I believe Saturday's escort will be an improvement on our last; but, so far as population is
concerned, we cannot boast of any increase, the departures being, if anything, in excess
of the arrivals. Many have left during the last few days for the Lambing Flat, the reports
from which have been very encouraging. I have already stated that these fields are
different to any yet discovered, and the longer I am here this opinion is more fully
confirmed. For, with the exception of the Four Mile, at present there is no ground in
which the individual miner can work to advantage, and in no other occupation is there
that difficulty as in gold-digging to get ten or twenty men to form a party or company for
the purpose of working the ground. It is only by the combination of the miners that the
ground already opened can be worked to advantage. Many will say, Where does the gold
that is being now produced come from? The greatest part, I have no hesitation in stating,
is produced in those claims that have adopted this system; but it must be greatly extended
before we can expect any considerable increase in our present returns; and to those
miners who are not prepared to adopt this course, they had better not visit Kiandra; but to
any party of miners that have been associated and worked together, this place offers great
advantages. That this system must be eventually adopted I have but little doubt; for
already leases have been applied for and granted on the Nine Mile, and applications have
been made to the Commissioners this week for others. When it is known that a
considerable amount of work will be required before this ground can be opened -- in
some instances water will have to be brought from six to eight miles -- it is sufficient to
show the confidence they must have in the ground being payable.
The same remarks apply to the working of the river. Any large party, now working, are
all paying good wages, many of them producing very handsome results. That there is still
a great amount of ground yet to be worked in the river none can doubt. On Tuesday I saw
a prospect from near the Lower Falls, some four miles below the Rocky Plains -- one tin
dish produced 3 dwt. 6 grs. This being some ten or twelve miles below the workings at
the head of the river will be sufficient to show that the gold in the Snowy River is no
patch. I cannot better illustrate the confidence that many have in the productiveness of the
river than by stating that one claim, the Ohio, near the Chinese camp, have gone to an
expense of between £300 and £400 in blasting the rocks, for the purpose of turning the
river, and that a share could not be bought in it except at a very high premium, although,
up to the present time, they have not commenced sluicing, but in a fortnight they expect
to be in a position to commence. New Chum Hill, from the same causes, seems likely to
be deserted; with the exception of a few parties little or nothing is doing there. The
parties are all too small for the purpose of testing it. Many good patches have been found,
but up to the present time no lead has been struck. The water is the great drawback, many
holes are left without being bottomed. The prospecting tunnel still proceeds, many
waiting the results before they go to any expense. The sluicing parties have had great
difficulty in getting their races onto this hill, and it will yet be some eight or ten days
before they will be enabled to commence sluicing. That the results will repay for all there
is but little doubt; they have proceeded in a systematic way, and the depth of dirt, with
gold all through it, is such that it cannot fail of being highly productive.
Amongst the many reports we have had this week is the finding in the river, by some
Chinamen, of a nugget variously stated to be from seven to fifty pounds weight. I have
reason to believe a nugget as been found, but the weight I cannot say. I was informed by
a Chinaman that such was the case, and that he had seen it, weighing eight pounds seven
ounces, with but, very little quartz. I only give this as a report, possibly the next few days
will prove the value of it.
There is a rush reported to a flat near the Tumut River, distant about twelve miles from
here, many have left the Nine-Mile for it to-day.
We received all the Sydney weekly papers yesterday, the Sydney Mail alone favouring us
with the English news.
That nothing should be wanted to make this one of the most wretched places to live on,
we are now blessed with a cold miserable day, and a continual fall of snow, that one is
much inclined to think it is a November day in England instead of the supposed summer
weather of Australia. Could any of your Sydney readers see this place at the present time,
they would require Kiandra to be all gold before they could be induced to visit this place
in search of it.