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THE FORTUNE OF A GOLD MINER.
News has lately been received of the dis
covery of gold at the Johnstone River, Northern
Queensland. The Johnstone is one uf the most
beautiful and most uhbealtby rivers in tho
territory ot tne colony. Upon its banks grow
the deepest of vegetation. On the northern
branch, near the head of which it is said tho
gold has been found, the broad stream is broken
here and there by islands margined by trailing
creepers and crowded by palmh. In this land
rif Kofltlftv .ibnaon nnJ i!a itli i » tl,n
v»«. wwuuv; uievtMU »UU UVOibll MIV UIU 111 UUt3 JUUglU
and scrub. Tho men who live there are pale,
wan-fueed fellows, whose limbs are racked with
ague, and who suffer year after year from the
fever whose breath lingors in the rich rottenness
of the dohse forests.
From the Queensland newspapers we learn
that among; the men who have been attracted
to this gojdfiold is James Nnsh, who discovered
the Gyni|iie;goldfield, and niado a large sum of
money there, but has since lost it all. The
following is tliB Story of his discovery at Gym-
pie : — i
" Early in Ootober, 1867, Nash was making
his way ovoiland from Nanangoto Maiyborough,
where he had been for sometime digging, but
with poor results. Passing along tho old post
man's track (from Durundur to Maryborough),
he, camped one evening on a little rise opposite
to where the bridgo over the gully which beats
his name is now placed. While his billy was
boiling for his evening meal he took his dish,
which, like all true diggers, ho carried with him
in bis travels, and tried sotne stuff from the
narrow gully running up from the bridge already
spoken of to where the Caledonian Company's
shaft is situated. The prospect he obtained was
so highly satisfactory that he determined to
make a trial _of the locality next morhing before,
continuing his journey. Accordingly, almost,
before the sun was up next day, he proceeded a
few yards up the gully, and sank a small hole
in the bed of the creek, froni whioh he obtained
several ounces of gold during the forenoon ;
overjoyed at his success, he removed all traces of
his having prospected at the place, and shoulder
ing his swag proceeded with all haste to Mary
borough, when he made known his discovery to
his brother, also to two other young men,
friends of theirs, named Malcolm and Leishroan,
all of whom accompanied him on his return.
After purchasing a dray, tent, and a supply of
tools and rations, the little party came and
commenced operations. On the first public
announcement of Nash's discovery being made
at Maryborough on October 16, immediately
-hundreds of- persons on foot and horse-back
wended-.their way to the new El Dorado of
Queensland." >
For a time the goldfield, now known as
Gympie, bore the name of Nashville; in honour
of its discoverer. Nash, we learn, has, since
the Johnstone - River rush, been appointed
powder-magazine keeper at Gympie.
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