KIANDRA.
FROM OUR SPECIAL COMMISSIONER
No. 10.
-- Towards the end of last week there was a great talk about the diggings at Crackenback,
and although there was no information other than that Grice had succeeded in getting
from half to a pennyweight to the dish in one place on the Threadbo Creek, extravagant
reports were spread that any man could make an ounce a day. As a consequence, a rush
took place; many men selling good claims at a nominal figure; stores hurried away;
bullock-drivers demanding £40 per ton for what they would now very willingly take £10.
Our local press blaming the commissioners, because Crackenback was not proclaimed a
township, and wholesale spirit licenses allowed to be granted; that the police ought to be
sent off without a moment's delay, and various other absurd complaints. So great a
number of men were leaving that Mr. Chief Commissioner Cloete left on Monday
morning to visit the place; but before he returned sufficient information was received that
Crackenback, as a diggings, were a myth. Grice and his party are the only men getting
any gold, and that only to a small extent. There are five in the party, and after a great
amount of trouble and labour they have only succeeded in getting some twenty-five
ounces in five or six weeks. It is the general opinion of all who have visited the place that
it never will be a gold-field. During Mr. Cloete's visit he gave an extended claim to a
party on condition they would turn the river. Once and party got greatly abused, and
some accounts say ill treated, which reflects but little credit on the diggers, considering
they were not the cause of the rush. Grice himself, saying when in Kiandra that he
merely came in for an extended claim, not considering it of sufficient importance to claim
any reward. Those parties who spread the extravagant reports they did, one in particular,
who, from his position, many were induced to credit his statements, met Mr. Cloete on
his way there, and informed him that he had just returned, and that all were making an
ounce a day. It is such as these that the punishment inflicted on Grice's party should fall.
From the above yon will be prepared to hear that little in the way of digging has been
done during the week, although, so far as the weather is concerned, it has been most
favourable. Many are now making their way back again; numbers are also making for the
Lambing Flat. Should we have a continuation of the present weather, I have little doubt
but in a few weeks we shall have a far larger population than we can at present boast of.
The Nine-Mile, so long considered the worst part of these fields, now bids fair to engage
the greatest amount of attention, the several parties who are engaged sluicing doing
extremely well. I had some conversation with a party who, until the last three weeks,
have been engaged sluicing on Surface Hill, but have now taken a lease of ground at this
place, and they assure me that when they succeed in getting their race in, they will be
enabled to make an ounce a day each having in three days made nine ounces, with, a very
small supply of water. Several parties are also putting down puddling machines.
On Sunday morning last, divine service was held in the town, and in the afternoon at the
camp, by the Rev. R. H. Mayne (Church of England), from Orange, at which there were
very respectable congregations. On Sunday next, the rev. gentleman purposes holding
divine service at the Nine-Mile.
An inquest was held last Saturday, on the body of John or Thomas Cooper, a native of
Liverpool, England, blacksmith, whose sudden death I noticed in my last. From a post
mortem examination made by Drs. Rickards and Biermann, it was found he had ruptured
a blood vessel in the left lung. A verdict in accordance with this was returned. He had
been ailing for some time past, and was about making his way to Sydney. From the
evidence given, it appeared that he used to go by some other name than Cooper. He had
worked for Turner, of Pitt-street, and Jackson, of Newtown.