PALMER DIGGINGS.
COOKTOWN. (From our own. .correspondent.) I don't think there has been any Gold field where men, by easy work, could have made so much gold in a few days as at the Paltrier. Sometimes it being •jn. the sur face. Ground 4ft. is considered deepj but—a notable, but— the claims are too small. A' claim holding out for. four weeks is something not known of. It might indeed often be heard that 1 diggers had made one pound weight every day out of a claim, but they forget to tell, you that _it was worked out in three days. Parties I am acquainted'with have- .made 30 ounces or more a week, some have made 15 ounces, some,only 10 ounces, while a' good many only have made tucker —one ounce a week. Nearly all have been ill and a great" number have died. Fever and dysentery arethe prev alent epidemics. Pity are without, means ! Friendships then no where ! The town is now'livejy, and full of men who have come-down, from the diggings. They all want to recruit them selves by resting till .about Christmas. Some go to Sydney and Brisbane, while others remain here. -Very few, go home as there has so much gold got but what all wan't-to go back for more. The great want.is horses or mules. It is thought that when furnished with pack animals and better equipments than were to be had the first, journey up,, better results will - be gained;' but you know how it goes oh the diggings—always ex pecting better when thisjior that is done. Is it not better for men to stop in. New- Zealand? would it be.worth while, for such small patches, to go to such a cli mate.
GOLDFIELDS TAXATION.
