Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), Saturday 7 September 1889, page 3


THE DISCOVERY OF THE YILGAHN

GOLDFIELDS.

To The Editor

Sir, - Your issue of to-day contains an ac-ount of a dinner given by certain Northam settlers to Mr. B. N. Colreavy, and among those present to do honour to the guest of the evening, I notice there were the leading men of the district. So representative a gather-ing was indeed a compliment to Mr Colreavy,

and it is gratifying to know that the Northam settlers are ready to do honour to those whom they consider deserve it.

No one can dispute that Mr. Colreavy was the first to discover gold on that part of the Yilgarn Goldfield known as Golden Valley, but I for one mast take exception to certain remarks made by the chairman. After re-

marking that the success of the goldfields seemed beyond doubt, and referring to the probabilities of telegraph and railway lines, he is reported to have said " all this, when it came about, would be due to the guest of the evening.' This is tantamount ts saying that Mr, Colreavy was the discoverer of the gold-field. I say he was not, and, if permitted, will give my reasons.

Mr. Colreavy was the leader of the party sent out under the auspices of the Eastern Districts Settlers Association. The party was well equipped, and had the control of £300 of public money.

At this time there was another party doing prospecting work in other parts of the colony atad notably at Bindoon and Cardup. This party was led by Mr. Anstey, CE., and was fitted out at the expense of a few enterpris-ing persons who believed, and, no doubt, still believe, in the possibility of developing great mineral resources in the central and eastern districts. They had, long before Mr. Col-reavy set out, contemplated a visit to the then unknown Yilgarn country, but were un-able to oomplete arrangements until after Mr. Colreavy had started. As a fact Mr. Anstey on his way out met Mr. Colreavy on his way in, I think near Glass' but l am not certain; at any rate they met on the road and were able to discuss matters. Mr. Col-reavy at that time expressed to Mr. Anstey his conviction that no gold existed in the localities he visited, and farther said that he was pleased to know that Mr. Anstey pro-posed to visit the same country, as he (Mr. Anstey) would be able to confirm the opinion he had arrived at. Mr. Anstey, nothing daunted by such discouraging news, deter-

mined to go on. His first day's real pros-

pecting resulted in the discovery of

gold in a reef within a short dis-tance of Mr. G. Liukin's homestead at

Enuin, Mr. Anstey lost no time in reporting

the discovery, and brought in with him a few very rich specimens of quartz showing gold freely. No secret was made of the discovery, and , of course it became known to Mr. Colreary, who by that time had returned. He lost no time in organising another expodi-

tion, no doubt satisfied from Mr. Anstey's success that the opinion he had expressed

was erroneous. This second expedition resulted most fortunately both for himself and the colony, in the discovery of gold at Golden Valley. My statement of facts is gathered from information afforded me by Mr. Anstey and other members of his party. At that time the question was generally dis-cussed, and the credit of the first discovery given to Mr. Anstey, who you will .perhaps remember was fèted at Newcastle, somewhat in the same way that Mr. Colreavy has now been at Northam. A reference to the report-ed speeches of the Chairman, Mr. Throssell, at Mr. Colreavy's dinner, and of Mr. Colreavy himself, in effect, bears out what I have stated. Mr. Throssell, after very properly refuting some unkind aspersions which had been cast upon Mr. Colreavy, implying that he bad improperly withheld information from the Association, goes on to say,. " Mr. " Colreavy failed to discover the precious

" metal through the time at his disposal

" being too limited, but so satisfied was he of " its existence, that {of his own energy he

" fitted up a party to make further search, " with the grand result known to all." Mr.

Colreavy thanked the chairman for his re-. marks, and assured his hearers that the slur attempted to be cast upon him was unmerited.

No one I am sure who knows Mr. Colreavy j would for a moment hesitate to say that he acted in any other manner than honestly and properly. But in considering the question of who was the discoverer of the goldfield the personal merit bf the respective claimants ' to the honor need not bo disoassed.

Nobody I am sure can deny that Mr. Col-

reavy's discovery was subsequent to Mr. Anstey's. . Mr.Colreavy's has fortunately for him proved of .greater value. Both finds were within the limits of the Yilgarn Gold-field. From the place of Mr. Ansteys dis-

covery the Yilgarn Hills, the goldfield has taken its name.

In all these circumstances then surely the credit of being the discoverers belongs to Mr. Anstey and his party, not to Mr. Colreavy. I do not write with the desire of depreciat-ing in any degree the worthy efforts of. Mr. Colreavy. He deserves great praise for his energy and the ability he has displayed, but I claim for Mr. Anstey and his party the distinction of being the discoverers of the Yilgarn Goldfield, and to them and those who assisted the thanks of the community are due.

Yours, &c.,

GEORGE LE A.KE.