The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-01-24 00:00:00

THE GOLD•FIELDS OF SOUTH
AFRICA.

With regard the gold-fields of South Africa the follow-
ing letter encourages • supposition that In Inherent richness,
they may ultimately be found to rival those of California and
Australia (remarks The Times In their Money Article). Dui
It appears that the dlfticultli s In the way of their develop
meut are such as will prove more permanent and serious
than any yet encountered In other parts of the world :
" Cape Town, Dec, 15.

"Sir,—So many reports uf goldfields in South Africa
have been current from time to time without any dis-
tinct realization, that all faith in these discoveries was
beginning to fade. Now, however, facts are so numerous
and so well authenticated, that it would be harder to
disbelieve than to credit them. I have seen so many
persons who have been on the spot, and so many nug-
gets and specimens of alluvial gold, that I venture to
think, notwithstanding the wonderful products of
the diamond fields, that the riches of South Africa are
only beginning to be develop.d. You will probably
have heard more in London of the gold at Merabaetadt,
ea, I believe, a company has been organised to work
quartz reefs in that locality, the result of which
kW yet to be seen ; and, although the evidence that
has reached me is, on the whole, favourable, yet it is
not so Copious as that in respeot of the district near
Lydenberg. This place is in the Transvaal, about GOO
miles beyond the diamond fields of New Rush (now
called Kimberley), and at present the access is roost
difficult. A road, no called by courtesy, existe, but i
is rather a teach over boulders and ravines, which no
driver in the world hut a genuine South African
roe:' wool I face, and ecrose which rotting but an
African ox weggon could live. It now tiles about
25 to 30 daye for a mule waggon to go from the Cape
to the diamond fields, the distance being in
round numbers 800 miles. Owing to the late
severe drought forage over most of this distance
Is enormously dear, and freight has in consequence
gone up to £O5 per ton of 2,000 b It is tru goods m4y
he got up at a cheaper rate yid East London or the
Kowie, out this involves transhipment, and there being
only ox waggons on these r totes, the progre9e is very
elow. You will at once see how, with this immense
cost of transputt ar.l the great delays, goods of all de-
scriptions are at fahulous prices on the goldfielde, and
this is one great reason why at present so many pros-
pectors have been unable to remain, as speedy cons
In essential to living st all. Again, a great many per-
sons have gone up wholly unfi,ted for the work, and
utterly ignorant now to api.ly their labour. Sill, it
is a fact that now at leeet 800 diggers are at work, and
ninny with very good reeu'p. The gold generally
produced is of Mae q tality, and is selling on the fields
st £3 18s. to £4 is. per c z , part cash and part go rd..
'A steady exodus from the diamond fields is setting
In, an with the great!), reduced value of diamonds few
but the best claims cars be worked at a profit, and the
value of claims on the diamond fields has gone down
enormously. Thus, whether or us. as some assert, the
diamondiferone strata are exhamted, there can be no
doubt if the goldfields of Lydenberg, develop further
riches the outcome of diamonds will be verygreatly re-
duced by reason of the lees labour bestowed on them.
The character of the gold as yet principally found is
alluvial, but many, nuggets of from snz. to 20ez, have
been unearthed. The richest discoveries have as yet
been in what appear the beds of streams, brit for many
miles round you find at once what the diggers call a
' colour ' of little value with the present rude
appliances. The most experienced Australian diggers
say that with such indications very rich depoeit
must be met with. though even the present idnots
are considerable. No regular eystem of diggere'licences
is yet in operation, but an agent of the lraneveral
Government is on the spot, and it is thought a charge
of about ss. per month per claim will be established.
Considerable efforts are being made by the Transvaal
Government to open a road from Lydenberg to Delagoa
say, a distance of only 180 miles. The most formid-
able difficulty at present is a belt one may say held
by the ' teetze ' fly. Through this no animals tut
donkeys can live. Attempts; are made to force oxen
through at night, but generally many beaste are
lost. It is, however, believed that as civilization
advances and the large game recedes, the ' teetze 'fly
will follow the game, and the roads be left open; this
would epeedily augment the number of diggers, and as
goods can, via Delagoa Bay, be transported at much
leas cost, and as no duties exist in that port (a striking
contrast to our exceesive tariff), the prospects of the
goldfields will be brightened. I may, therefore, safely
affirm that gold exists, and is found with comparatively
little labour, in paying quatatity.—l remain, Ste.,
" FRANCIS:G. GOODLIFFE, of the firm of Goodliffe,
Stuart, and Searle."

The Times also puhliehes the following letter :
S(r,—As the verification of the reports which have
for some time been in circulation its to the discovery
of gold in South Africa is a matter of public import.
ance, wi beg t-s state that a nugget from the Leyden
berg diggings, weighing 18. z has arrived per steam-
ship European, and con be seen here by any on s
intereeted.—We are, &c, MERCER As!) CO.!
11, Landenhall greet, Lnodoo, Jan. la.