Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), Saturday 12 September 1868, page 5


CAPE RIVER GOLD-FIELD.

A CORRESPONDENT sends the Port Denison Times, August 12, the following information from tho Cape -

Matters here are still very dull. The quartz reef at Davenport is not yet thoroughly opened up, but from présent prospects bids fair to realise the expectations of the prospectors, although the Commissioner has only granted protection to them until they have more fully tested it. By the next mail I hope to be able to chronicle " in full operation ". A quartz reef at Specimen has been struck, and the Com missioner is to be over on Thursday to grant a prospecting claim. If these turn out anything at all, the Cape River diggings are made, giving employment to many. The alluvial diggings are almost at a stand still, many claims having been worked out, and no new ground opened up as yet, although a good many are out pros-pecting. Many diggers are at the present time trying the wet sinking, but that is slow work , yet those who have bottomed have come upon a good sample of gold, but not so plentiful as could be wished. Some have gone down from 16 to 29 feet. Provisions are at the present time very plentiful-in fact there are sufficient stores on the ground for the next two months, but there being so many storekeepers, competi-tion is very keen. I think it not improbable that before long other reefs will be opened up, so many of the diggers (at least those who have been working on them in Victoria) are turning their attention to them. I only hope they may

succeed

On Saturday last, August 22, we (Cleveland Day Express) received information from the Cape River Diggings, that a Chinese storekeeper, on his way to this port, had been stuck up and robbed, of a sum of about £360, in gold and notes, besides two silver watches, by a party of bushrangers, consisting of three mon, who bad disguised themselves by blackening their faces. We have not as yet ascertained whether any assault or murderous intent was displayed by these highway robbers, but it is evident that the unfortunate celestial escaped with whole limbs, and quickly gave information to the police on the diggings. The police, under Sergeant

Francis, with commendable energy, at once pro-ceeded to the scene of tho robbery, which took place about six miles this side of Emu Camp. The police were lucky in at once hitting on the track of the marauders, and succeeded in fol-lowing it up to their camp, where they at once nabbed one of them, and finally the other two. A five-pound note was discovered on the person of one of the thieves, and this was at once recognised by the victim as a portion of his loss, by somo particular private mark with which the

Chinese are in the habit of marking five-pound

notes.