|
The following extracts are taken from G. Butler Earp’s The Gold Colonies of Australia, Their History & Progress, With Ample Details of the Gold Mines, How To Get To Them, and Every Advice to Emigrants, Routledge & Co., London, 1853 (The Fortieth Thousand).
pp. 208-236.
“On the 25th of August, 1851, Lieut. Governor Latrobe wrote from Melbourne to Earl Grey that large deposits of gold had been found in the colony, thus proving the extension of the New South Wales gold field throughout the great dividing range, Victoria forming the southern extremity. Three localities were first discovered, - Clunes diggings, where gold was found in an alluvium of decomposed quartz rock; Bunniyong, or rather Ballarat, by which name the locality is best known, where gold was imbedded in compact quartz; and at Deep Creek, only sixteen miles from Melbourne, where the precious metal was found in contact with slate rock. It was afterwards dug up in the City of Melbourne itself.
“Governor Latrobe having issued a proclamation, and made arrangements for granting licenses similar to those of New South Wales, the population poured forth from the city and surrounding country to the gold fields, which were speedily found to be productive even beyond those of the adjoining colony. Previous to this discovery, the Melbourne labourers had been emigrating in shoals to the Bathurst diggings. This was soon checked, and not only so, but the tide has turned, - the Port Phillip emigrants have found their way back again, and with them a considerable portion of the population of New South Wales, allured by the superior richness of the Victoria mines, and the ease with which they are reached, from their vicinity to the city.
“In addition to the above localities, gold was now found a mile from Geelong - at Mount Disappointment - at the Pyrenees - a valuable copper mine was found at Deep Creek, while exploring for gold - and finally, the people of Melbourne began to break up the streets, which were macadamized with quartz pebbles brought from the gold localities. Gold, as might have been expected, was found, so that Melbourne may fairly lay claim to the honour of having had its streets paved with gold.
“Gold was next found on the Plenty, a river in the county of Bourke, and the productiveness of the former mines began to be confirmed. The Plenty gold field was ascertained to extend over many miles, the metal being embedded in sandstone and slate, intersected with perpendicular veins of quartz. It was next discovered at Strathlodden [William Campbell had previously found gold, on his run, here in 1840]; and in another search near Geelong, a lead mine was found.
“An old Californian miner now offered, for a reward of 200l., to shew the Government where gold was to be found in abundance within fifty miles of Melbourne. Dr. Burcher, a German geologist, now set about investigating the rocks of the colony, and soon saw enough to convince him that the precious metal was all but universal. The investigation turned out highly advantageous in other respects; for, from not being suspected to be a mineral colony at all, it was discovered that Victoria abounded in slate, coal, marble, silver, and copper; the coal being in the vicinity of the city.
“The Ballarat mines were next discovered, and they turned out so productive, that the others were for the most part abandoned. These mines, which are now known by the above name, are at Bunniyong, forty-five miles from Geelong, and sixty-eight from Melbourne. By the 1st of October, 20,000l. worth of gold had found its way into Melbourne from this place alone.
“Gold was now found at Mount Wellington and Mount Alexander in such quantities that the city began to be deserted, the sailors in the harbour running away from their ships at every opportunity; the Thomas Sparks, a large merchantman, having only the captain, mate, and two apprentices left. And they did not run without cause. On one day, at the commencement of October, intelligence was brought that some parties had found half a hundredweight of gold, almost in a heap; and whilst the extra of the newspaper which circulated the intelligence was actually being printed, another report was confirmed of a hundredweight having been found by a party of fourteen; thus rivalling the famous hundredweight of the New South Wales diggings.
“An escort was now established for the purpose of bringing the gold safely from the mines, which were turning out more productive than ever. A party of four had gained in a month sixty pounds’ weight of gold, valued at upwards of 2,000l. One man obtained sixteen pounds’ weight in a day, and another got 90l. worth, with no better washing implement than a tin dish.
“At Ballarat, the richest yield of gold was obtained from a stratum of blue clay, at a depth of from two to nine feet; this was chiefly on sloping banks, the strata being there the thickest. New localities now turned up, and the country was explored for thirty miles, all containing gold. It was also found at Anakie Hills and Batesford, in a line of country forty miles south-east of Ballarat; in Anderson’s Creek, on the Yarra, ninety miles east of Ballarat, this evidently belonging to a separate auriferous range. The Wardiyallock range, the upper branches of Mount Ewen Creek, Fiery Creek, and the Hopkins River, were also found to contain gold. When searching for gold, coal was again discovered within ten miles of Portland Bay; these coal discoveries being scarcely less important than the golden ones.
“By November 1851, the gold fields of Victoria had yielded gold to the value of 220,000l.; the weekly escort brought down from five to six thousand ounces of which the Ballarat mines yielded 2,000 ounces weekly. The number of persons at the mines was now about 15,000 - a small number for so large a product. The largeness of the product is not, however, to be wondered at when we take the instances of individual success recorded. Seven men obtained nine pounds of gold in one day; four got four pounds; another party of four, three and three-quarter pounds, &c.; every stream turning out a Pactolus. Labour was now at a stand-still, shops were being closed, and the towns were deserted by persons of all classes and occupations, for the purpose of joining the general scramble after gold. Printers absconded from the newspaper-offices, no wages sufficing to tempt their stay, and the papers had to be abandoned, or brought out in a diminished size.
“Victoria was now fast outstripping New South Wales in the value of its gold produce. In the first week of December, 12,000 ounces came to Sydney, valued at 39,000l. In the last week of November 13,000 ounces, value 42,000l., were sent to Melbourne and Geelong, and more would have been sent but that means of conveyance were wanting.
“A separate escort was now put on for Mount Alexander, which was beginning to yield large quantities; the first escort brought down 1,000 ounces. The Mount Alexander diggings become now so famous and productive, that the Ballarat miners began to leave their locality; not that their own mines were exhausted, but that the other yielded the precious metal more easily, and in greater abundance.
“By the 10th of December, the yield had become astonishing, considering the small number of hands. The whole dividing range between New South Wales and Victoria, known as the Snowy Mountains, was one vast gold field. Neither labour nor carts could be readily got for the escort service. The Melbourne Herald, of the 10th of December [1851], stated that a ton and a half of gold was waiting in Commissioner Powlett’s tent for the escort. At Mount Alexander, a man obtained eighty pounds weight of gold in a single hour ! and on the 20th of December, there had been collected, in Victoria alone, ten tons, two hundred weights, eighty-two pounds, ten ounces of gold ! The produce of one week was, from Mount Alexander, 23,750 oz., from Ballarat, 2,224 oz. only, as the miners were rapidly leaving for Mount Alexander, and from Geelong, 682 oz., making a total for the week’s product, of 26,656 oz., or one ton, two hundred and twenty-one pounds, four ounces.
“Gold was now discovered at Albury, on the river Murray, and by Mr. Oakden at Gipps Land, but new fields were little cared about, as it was evidently impossible to exhaust the old old ones by any number of hands likely to be placed upon them.
“On the 20th of December, the following official account was published : -
“In the Banks of Melbourne and Geelong, on the 19th of November, there were 42,000 oz. of gold, of the value of 126,000l.
“In private hands, in Melbourne and Geelong, 8,000 oz., value 24,000l.
“Amount by escort, Nov. 19, - 10,138 oz., value 30,414l.
“Amount by escort, Nov. 26, - 12,106 oz., value 36,318l.
“Amount by escort, Dec. 3, - 16,669 oz., value 50,007l.
“Amount by escort, Dec. 10, - 26,656 oz., value 79,968l.
“Amount by escort, Dec. 17, - 19,492 oz., value 58,476l.
“Amount estimated to have been brought in by private conveyance, - 28,33 oz., value 85,059l.
“Amount estimated in the hands of diggers on the gold field, - 80,00 oz., value 240,000l.
“Making an aggregate of 243,414 oz., or 20,282 lbs. 10 oz., or 202 cwt. 82 lbs. 10 oz., or 10 tons, 2 cwt. 82 lbs 01 oz. This estimate was given when the gold mines had scarcely three months before been known to be in existence.
“The extraordinary yield of gold now began to tell in England. In April and May, six ships arrived in London - with eight tons of gold on board, in addition to what had previously been received. It was now estimated that the annual yield of Victoria would be five millions, and that of New South Wales three millions.
“The disorganization of society in the colony was, as might have been expected, great: and the want of hands for ordinary labour was severely felt. Added to this, the number of reckless spirits who had been drawn together from all parts, and especially from the neighbouring colony of Van Dieman’s Land, was considerable, and they shewed symptoms of resisting the law, which, from the absence of an adequate miltary force, the authorities had no power of enforcing had it been resisted, whilst the police force, following the examples of those whose lives and property they had been appointed to guard, had gone off bodily to the diggings. Happily the good sense of the majority had prevailed, and order has been preserved, though not without the manifestations of disorder.
“A circumstance now occurred in the colony which presents a caricature of our monetary system. One escort took back from Melbourne to Mount Alexander, 50,000l. in bank-notes, not worth 50,000 farthings intrinsically, for the purchase of that amount in solid gold. Note engravers and printers in the colony are represented as not being able to make bank-notes fast enough for the demand, and one bank had actually to borrow notes from a neighbouring colony.
“By the beginning of the February, in the present year [1852], not less than 20,000 people had arrived at the Victoria mines from the neighbouring colonies. In consequence of this, the production of gold was consequently greater, and the weekly estimate was 20,000 oz., or at the rate of 1,000,000 oz. per annum. The total exports of the colony at this date reached nearly a million. Gold has begun also to be found in considerable quantities at Wardy Yallock, Mounts Macedon and Cole, also in the vicinity of the capital, and in the Western Port district.
“Wages are now very high. Reapers could only be engaged at 28s. per day, and they, with commendable good feeling, worked rather for the sake of saving the crops than for the wages. Servants, when they condescend to remain as such, demand, and obtain, 60l. a year, and food. This cannot last, or ruin must come upon all the industrial pursuits of the colony. From the impracticability of getting men to attend to flocks and herds, these are almost unsaleable. In short, whilst the gold-hunters are flourishing, the agricultural and pastoral interests are perishing.
“The following resume of the progress of the Victoria gold fields written up to the latest advices, will give a detailed account of all that is at present known relative to the production of the Victoria gold fields.
“The first gold escort from Ballarat was sent down on the 1st of October 1851, and brought down 960 ounces. On the 19th of November 1851, the first Mount Alexander escort came down, and the total escort returns on the day for the two gold fields was 10,138 ounces. The quantity still increased, and on the 10th of December following had reached 26,656 ounces. It then fell off, and for some weeks the return was from 11,000 to 12,000 ounces. The total quantity brought down by escort up to the 26th of February 1852, was 234,364 ounces. That this return was greatly below the real production was proved by the Custom-house return of exports to the 28th of February, as having been despatched by ships to England and Sydney, the total of which was 455,061 ounces, or nearly double the escorted quantity.
“Further inquiries revealed also that on the 2nd of March following there were lying in the colonial treasury 83,030 ounces, and in the banks in Melbourne and Geelong 61,199 ounces. This made a total ascertained production of 549,270 ounces. It was also estimated that 24,000 ounces were held by private individuals, diggers, &c., in the towns, and that 80,000 ounces additional had been produced, and was lying at the diggings, allowing an average of two ounces each to 40,000 diggers. Leaving out the large quantity which had left overland and by sea in the hands of diggers without any record of the amounts, the estimated amount was 104,000 ounces, which, added to the official amount, gives a total of 653,270 ounces, which, at the English standard price, has a value of 2,546,821l. produced in a little more than five months. Later accounts, up to April 1851[1852], state the amount of Victoria alone at upwards of three millions. There are now upwards of 50,000 people at the mines, a considerable portion of whose produce now finds its way eastward, especially to the Spanish settlements in the Phillipine Islands, where Australian gold sells as high as 4l. 10s. the ounce.
“Since this volume first went to press, the Chamber of Commerce of Melbourne has given a detailed account of the progress of gold discovery in that province, an abstract of which is well worth preserving as a record of one of the most important events of modern times.
“When Mr. Hargraves, as has been before recorded, returned from California, confident in the existence of gold in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, and his sagacity had been completely justified by the result, the colonists of Victoria, equally confident in the prognostications of the Rev. Mr. Clarke - from whom Mr. Hargraves had in no small degree drawn his inspirations - immediately set about investigating the auriferous character of their own colony. The soil, on trial, yielded the expected treasure, and a general excitement for some time reigned throughout the settlement. ‘Prospecting’ was vigorously carried on throughout the whole province, stimulated by the offer of two hundred guineas to the successful discoverer of a workable mine. Rumours of successful discovery floated down at intervals from many a hill, dale, and winding creek of the interior, and frequent samples of gold began to be exhibited in claim of the reward, which, however, never appears to have been given [Given in 1853].
“In August, 1851, a number of persons had established themselves as gold diggers on Anderson’s Creek, and many of the townspeople gratified their curiosity by visiting the ‘Victoria gold fields.’ In the month of September the attention of the colonists was seriously directed to the westward, where the locality of Ballarat was beginning to acquire a Californian reputation. In this month the Government weekly escort was established from this place to Geelong and Melbourne; and, shortly afterwards, a license-fee of thirty shillings per month, as in New South Wales, was imposed upon all intending diggers for the privilege of searching for and gathering the gold.
“In October, 7,000 persons were congregated at Ballarat on an area of something less than a square mile. At first this process was simply that of washing the surface gravel, which occasionally yielded considerable fragments of gold, but afforded on the average but indifferent remuneration. The subjacent pipeclay, of a light bluish grey hue, was soon found to yield more abundantly. The perforations extended to a depth of thirty feet, and the labour was severe in breaking through a coarse gravel, filled with large nodules of quartz cemented by an infiltration of ironstone. In this celebrated ‘blue clay,’ the gold was found in irregular veins, sometimes in ‘specks’ or fragments so large as to be distinctly visible to the workman when their bed was laid open by the pick.
“At Ballarat, however, success was very far from general, and ‘prospecting[‘] went on in other quarters till in October also the superior riches of the Mount Alexander district became known, when Ballarat was speedily thrown in the shade, and great numbers of miners migrated to the former locality, which has ever since maintained its celebrity. At the present time, 50,000 persons are congregated in the vicinity of the Mount, at spots bearing diverse names, but all equally productive. The drawback to the full development of the riches of the locality is the want of water for a great portion of the year, many having to cart the soil for five or ten miles before they can meet with a sufficient quantity of water for washing.
“The vicinity of Mount Alexander soon becomes dry, and the rains do not set in till June; so that, from the fact of many persons having been accumulating vast heaps of soil in anticipation of the rains, a great yield of gold may confidently be expected, notwithstanding the rude and inefficient means adopted for the extraction of the precious metal.
“The immense export of gold from this district does not permit the smallest doubt as to the inherent riches of the soil. If a comparison be instituted between the mines of Victoria and those of Europe or South America, the result will be vastly in favour of the Australian mines, notwithstanding that in the former old mines all the skill which science can afford is brought to bear on the pursuit - whilst the process at the Australian mines is the rudest imaginable. In Brazil, the most expensive machinery is engaged in extracting an ounce of gold from a ton of stone. In the richest of the Russian mines, the produce is not more than a pound troy to 140 tons of material - in some to 190 tons, and in others to 210 tons of diluvium. In Victoria, the miners grumble if they cannot obtain at least an ounce of gold from a single cart load of soil, even by their rude methods, which probably waste double that which is collected. In thousands of cases, more than this is gained in a morning before breakfast.
“At Mount Alexander the diggings present much the same geological features as the Ballarat mines, the older rocks predominating. Quartz is no doubt the original as well as the prevailing matrix. The gold, in a variety of forms and dimensions, is found in or near the masses of quartz rock which frequently obtrude on the surface, or it is mixed with or subjacent to quartz in another form, viz., that of the gravel into which, by the action of water, and from other causes, the masses of rock have been reduced.
“As compared with most gold in the native state, that from Ballarat and Mount Alexander is remarkably pure and dense, being in general purer than standard gold; much of that which comes to this country being worth upwards of 4l. per ounce.
“The following admirable resume of the condition of the gold miners has recently reached us from the colony, and forms a fitting pendant of what we have already advanced relative to the locality of the mines. It is from a most trustworthy source, and will render our subject complete on all points which can interest the intending emigrant.
“ ‘Turning from the locale of the diggings to the morale of the diggers, I can, from personal experience and without the least hesitation, affirm, that the tales of robbery and violence are very much distorted and magnified. When it is considered that a mass of some forty thousand souls is here assembled, very many of them coming fresh from an association with professed criminals, amongst whom robbery is a boast, and a deed of violence a recommendation; it is not at all surprising that some unlawful acts should be committed; but in a town population of like amount, guarded by a well-disciplined protective force, and avenged by a cunning detective, similar acts would be committed. At the diggings, moreover, I contend that, taking the amount of population, there is not a fourth part of the crime committed that there is in any town on the Australian continent; and yet there is, in the one case, the almost total absence of police protection and of household security; whilst, on the other, bricks and mortar, and solid doors, interpose between the thief and his plunder, and daily and nightly patrols are on the watch. In fact, I have often been astonished, in passing some of the stores, that the temptations to robbery which they offer have not more frequently been taken advantage of. I have remarked the sides of some stores composed of nothing more than a few gunny bags sewn so loosely together that between the interstices might be seen shirts of calico, woollen, and serge; trousers, belts, and all the other paraphernalia so dear to a digger’s heart. These would require only one thrust of a knife to change ownership, whilst the thief need be under no dread of detection. As to the Lynch law, that exists only in name, no one instance having, in fact, occurred. Some few designing men have endeavoured, for their own purposes, to introduce this odious system under the more genial name of self-protection; but, thanks to the good sense, manly feeling, and true British spirit of the diggers, the proposition was scouted with all the contempt and loathing it deserved. Even the publicly-made assertion of one of the self-named leaders of the diggers, that ‘the Government were prepared to wink at a certain amount of Lynch law,’ did not in any way turn them from their honest purpose of appealing only to the law of the land, through the agents of that law were few amongst them, and though its proverbially strong arm was weakened by distance.
“ ‘After much consideration and inquiry I have come to the conclusion that nearly the whole of this outcry of the insecurity of life and property at the diggings has originated with a few only - men of low mental calibre, who, in ordinary and peaceable times struggle against insignificance, to which their want of sterling talent dooms them; and whose only chance of rising into notoriety is, consequently, in the turmoil and disturbance of troublous times. To such as these it thus becomes an object to cause discontent, and to foment anarchy and discord, as, like the bubbles of noxious gas that rise to the surface of some pestilential pool only after strong agitation, these men, by their aptness at stringing together a few clap-trap phrases, manage thus to raise themselves to a position which they dignify by the name of a leader of the people. Some of these are acted on simply by a love of notoriety, but some few have a still deeper object. Penniless in purse, and almost without standing in society, by thrusting themselves forward as the mouthpiece of the people, in delegations to the Government, to the officers of which they are so obsequious in the bureau as they are insolent in the face of a public meeting, a desperate game for place is played, in the hope their influence may be deemed valuable to meet the storm which they themselves have raised.
“ ‘So far as I have seen of the diggings, the days are spent in toil and the night in rest, except only in the neighbourhood of some of the sly grog shops, in which scenes of drunkenness and debauchery may be sometimes witnessed. As the sun sets, the diggers retire from work, and the savoury smell from a thousand frying-pans indicate the kind of employment to which they next devote themselves. No sooner is the evening meal finished than some bugler strikes up some lively or well-known air, at the conclusion of which some rival performer advances his claims to superiority. At the conclusion of his essay, during which there has been the most profound silence, loud shouts of applause greet him from the tents around him, whilst those in the neighbourhood of his antagonist answer by mocking, by good-humoured cheers, joined by recommendations to ‘lie down,’ and shut up.’ Anon the first bugler again commences, and instantly there is silence, and when he concludes his friends cheer, whilst the neighbours of his rival pass some playful commentary on his performance. In this way the rivalry is kept up for some time, till the buglers get tired and bid each other good-night, leaving the silence to be disturbed only by the barking of dogs, the neighing of horses, and the firing of guns. One night we were amused by three players on the cornopean [cornet] at different parts of the creek, who replied to each other, one selecting English, another Irish, and the third Scotch airs; I need not tell you what a beautiful effect this had, especially as after each air a volley was fired, almost with military precision, in the quarter whence the musician gave forth his sweet notes. Hore’s brass band has latterly been playing for an hour or so each evening, and the shout that greeted, each time as it concluded, must have rather astonished the knowing-looking old opossums in the gum trees on the ranges overhead. Did you ever see an opossum on a mooonlight night sitting in the fork of an apple tree looking at you as you rode by ? The gaze of amazement and curiosity which they give, is perfectly inimitable; and I often fancy what a rich treat it would be, if one could only catch a glance at three or four of the old men ‘possums, squatting in solemn conclave on the tree above the creek, and mark the knowing, but inquiring look of the queer old customers, at the unusual scene below them.
“ ‘Picture to yourself some forty thousand souls, for so many there must be, all resting under tents, the ends of which are triced secured up with rope] up in hot weather to catch any passing breeze, many of them unguarded by a dog, and sleeping as sound as men who labour hard through the day always sleep, and then wonder, not that there are the few trifling depredations that we hear of, but these are not far, very far, more. But, in truth, any person who keeps himself quiet and orderly, has little fear of being molested or disturbed; it is only those who, hankering after drink, resort to the sly grog shops, that are in danger of being robbed; and these, thrusting themselves into bad company, cannot expect aught else than to pay the penalty of it. To such as these, but small compassion can be extended; they know the danger they brave, as all are well acquainted with the fact that the lazy, the criminal, and the scheming make these tents their resort. This fact is well known to the authorities on the diggings, and too much credit cannot be given to the commissioners for the exertions they make to put down these sinks of iniquity. Hardly a day passes without at least one of these tents being burnt by the police, whilst some days witness two or three conflagrations.
“ ‘When you come to consider the large number of men that the gold commissioner is called upon to overlook, and the very small constabulary force that is placed at his disposal, you will naturally think, with many others, that if he be active in his exertions, his whole time will be consumed in hunting up sly grog shops. As it is from these that springs the crime we have upon the diggings, it is naturally a first duty to keep a sharp eye on them; and nothing but the most continuous activity could be of any avail to check an evil which, with the slightest negligence, would speedily swell itself to an extent that would destroy the last ruins that remain of the social fabric. But, in addition to his duty, the commissioner has the task of collecting the license fees; and to him the numerous disputes which occur amongst the diggers are referred for arbitration. Putting down the grog, and settling disputes, leave but small time for the collection of licenses, especially as a very large demand is made upon the commissioners time by the returns he has to furnish to Government, and which he has to draw out himself.
“ ‘Thus it is by no means extraordinary that only a very small proportion of diggers have paid the license fee; the only chance of calling the men to account being when settling a dispute at a water-hole, when those employed at the different cradles are called on for their licenses. With these they are of course provided, for the nonce. I have been at some considerable pains to learn the proportion which those who have taken out licenses bear to those who are working without them; and I really think, although you may perhaps deem my estimation out of all proportion, that not more than one-tenth of the diggers have paid the fee. Many have been up to the commissioner’s tent to take out their license, and, after dancing attendance for two or three days, have been unable to get it, and have at length given up in despair all hope of obtaining it, and set to work without it. Finding themselves unmolested by commissioner or police, they have considered that the thirty shillings per month was as well in their pockets as in the coffers of the Government, especially as they got nothing in return, and thus they have continued to the present time. Others, more wide awake to the system, have saved themselves the waste of time of going to the commissioners, and have continued to work since their arrival without paying, but with an intention to pay whenever applied to. As to the commissioners visiting water-holes, the thing is out of the question, as they are so scattered that a week would find but a very small portion of their charge visited; neither is it to be expected that the diggers should waste three or four days in every month in their endeavour to pay the tax. I hear that it is the intention of Government to remedy this part of the evil, by appointing an officer to be attached to each commissioner for the sole purpose of granting licenses. If this were the case, I feel convinced that the large majority of the diggers would readily pay the license fee, and would not even object to going for it. When such an arrangement shall have been made, the man who refuses to pay will be set down as a schemer and an interloper, and to save his own reputation with those surrounding him, will be compelled to do as they have done before him.
“ ‘With an increase in the amount received, we may naturally anticipate an increase in the police force of the diggings, and thus will be provided an additional means of discovering those who shirk the payment of the fee.
“ ‘To give anything like an accurate guess at the daily amount of gold raised, would be absolutely impossible, for it is so variable that the return of one day is no guide whatever to that of another. Besides this, fully two-thirds of the diggers are unable to wash as they would do if there were plenty of water in the creek. Many of these are now employed at dry digging, or nuggetting as it is called here, in holes already sunk, saving, perhaps, a little of the choicest earth, which they bring home with them to wash in a tin dish, and setting aside the likely-looking stuff for the time when the cradle can be brought into operation. These are just making enough to clear themselves, with perhaps a trifle to spare, looking forward to the rainy season to pay them. Others, again, are prospecting, or sinking holes in the various gullies which give promise of gold; many of them have been eminently successful, and many localities have been discovered which will turn out a very large amount of gold when water shall be more plentiful. Thus all are in good heart, knowing well that, with the first fall of rain, a rich harvest awaits them. Even as it is now, every man may obtain a good day’s wages if he chooses to stick hard to work, with of course the chance of falling upon a pocket if he should be in luck. Thus it is that the amount of gold procured still continues so large.
“ ‘And with respect to this amount, I am in a position to prove that not one-half of the gold raised on the diggings reaches Melbourne by the escort; fully one-half of the produce of the mines, if not more, is brought into town by individuals; and many a travel-worn devil, for whom one would not give sixpence, may be met upon the road having on his person gold to the amount of some hundreds. This again shows the state of society to be not quite so bad as it is represented to be; for were crime so rife as reported, the roads would be infested with depredators, and hardly a traveller allowed to pass without paying toll to the knights of the road. Your humble servant, for instance, brought down gold to a very large amount for his friends, and having rather more confidence than ordinary in the general honesty of the human kind, might have fallen an easy prey to any bushranging adventurer, his only offensive weapon being a light riding-whip, his only arms a small pocket-pistol, of a restorative instead of a destructive character.
“ ‘That large amounts still remain up at times the mines, in the hands of individuals, is also certain, for many persons have a habit of planting their gold in some secure spot, gradually adding to their store, until it accumulates to such an amount as will enable them to follow the bent of their respective aspirations.
“ ‘On these last two points I shall be able to give you some further information hereafter, after more extended inquiry, as I purpose returning to the diggings in a few days for a longer stay and a more comprehensive inquiry than I have yet made.
“ ‘Coming now to the prices asked for provisions at the diggings, I find that the writer in the Argus has anticipated what I was myself about to remark. The charges are, on an average, about one hundred per cent. on Melbourne prices; the more necessary the article the greater the cost. This is owing almost entirely to the high rate of carriage; for, with roads in such a fearful state as our paternal Government leave them, the journey becomes a tedious and also a dangerous one, and many of the carriers who have once been the road cannot be prevailed upon at any price to face it again. The bridges on the route are all insecure and dangerous to the last degree, that over the Coliban threatening to sink with every loaded team that passes over it; whilst many of the water-courses in heavy boggy soil will become impassable in winter. The diggers are now almost at a stand-still for want of rain, but when rain comes, I much fear that the road will in many places be impassable, and that the mines will have to be deserted from the impossibility of procuring supplies. All this has been known for some time - has been canvassed by the press, and talked over by the people - and yet our Government do nothing. Like Mr. James Macarthur, they adopt the motto, ‘stare super antiquas vias [rough translation; stare upon the ancients];’ and as long as an additional use of the whip can bring down the escort, and put 300l. or 400l. into the Government money-box, the executive will remain perfectly quiescent. I certainly do not like to join in the cry of a mob, and should feel rather inclined to take a lenient view of the acts of the Government, when I found that a general yell was set up against them, for this invariably looks like factious opposition. In the present instance, however, the mismanagement of what has been done, and the total neglect of what should have been done by the executive, is so glaring, so manifestly opposed to all that we have a right to expect from a good government, that I should be acting the part of traitor to the best interests of the colony id I attempt to lay the blame on the shoulders of any but those who deserved it. Hitherto the Government have incurred the responsibility only of having given the diggers dear food; in a few months the ghosts of famished hundreds will call for judgment upon them, whilst the execrations of ruined thousands will ring in their ears, and bid them to a fearful reckoning.
“ ‘That the present amount of population at the diggings will be able to find food during the winter is admitted on all hands to be impossible, unless some improvement be made in the mode of transit; and even then it is doubtful if a sufficiency of carriage can be found. It will be then that we shall have to fear the social disorganization that is now spoken of; it will be then that robbery and crime, goaded on by hunger, will stalk abroad; it will be then that the bowie-knifed and rifled Lynch will make his appearance; whilst our dozy executive will lie snugly ensconced behind the red-coated regiments of the mother-country, and look calmly on the anarchy that their torpid policy has educed.’
“Since the above was received, a new gold locality has been discovered in the Bendigo Creek - still in the vicinity of Mount Alexander - which bids fair to equal that celebrated deposit of wealth. The following communication will show the condition of this, as well as what is being done to render access to the various gold fields easy : -
“ ‘I had hoped to have been able at once to have launched out into s description of Bendigo [Heritage Report], throwing aside the politique of the mines for another period; but as I am aware that news is of more importance to you than any mere descriptive commentary, I am again compelled to turn to that with which I had erroneously imagined myself finished. Hardly will you be prepared for the announcement that the Government is bestirring itself, not giving the short, gasping snort, the lazy turn, or the indolent yawn that betokens an awakening, but actually starting up into full life and vigour, and working away as manfully as if it had never in its existence been caught napping. We have had a regular stir about the roads; not only have at least eighty men been employed making the road from the commissioner’s, at the junction of Forest and Barker’s Creeks, but orders have been given by Mr. Wright, the chief commissioner, that reserves should be made for roads through the diggings, so as to leave thoroughfares to and from such places as may require them. This is a piece of forethought for which, to tell you the truth, judging from other matters, I had not given the commissioners credit. The trees on either side of these lines are to be marked, and those in the centre to be removed, making a roadway sixty-six feet wide. No holes are to be allowed to be sunk within seventeen feet of the roadway, so that clear spaces will be left on each side for regular and continuous lines of tents; a very great advantage, not only as regards regularity, but also for the purposes of protection. Mr. [Phillip] Chauncey, a gentleman lately from Adelaide, has been specially engaged to survey and mark out these lines, and they will be made as soon as the state of the labour market will permit. All this has been brought about by a petition on the subject, which was presented to the resident commissioner, after having been signed by a large majority of the diggers on Upper Forest Creek. Although I may have gained a reputation as a grumbler, having hitherto - more pity that it should be so - found nothing whereupon to say a word of praise, I am now perfectly willing to concede to Mr. Wright every credit for the attention he has paid to this petition, but also to add that he has greatly enhanced the boon he has conferred by the promptness with which he has acted.
“ ‘I feel convinced that you will be pleased to make public the announcement that the Government are progressing rapidly with the diggings’ road. From the commissioner’s, several embankments have been made across some of the blind gullies on the route, the sidlings have been levelled, and the roadway generally freed of obstructions. Over the mouth of Friar’s Creek [Fryers Creek], where the road crosses, a bridge, after the primitive style that I have mentioned in my first letter, has been thrown, but I am afraid that the cross logs which form the roadway have not been securely pinned, if at all, and, if such be the case, they will not last long. Where the road turns off from the diggings towards Kyneton, great improvements have been made; several very nasty pinches and dangerous watercourses have either been filled in, or have had bridges thrown over them. At one spot in particular - I allude to the junction of the Forest and Friar’s Creek [Fryers Creek] roads - a great and beneficial alteration has been made. The road to Forest Creek here branched off to the right, winding round an exceedingly dangerous sidling hill; to avoid this, it was usual to take the Friar’s Creek [Fryers Creek] road for a short distance, and then turn off to the right round a sidling range, only a whit less dangerous than that which was thus avoided. Now, however, the road is carried straight on, a good substantial bridge having been built over the watercourse or creek, the high banks of which rendered the dangerous round I have alluded to absolutely necessary.
“ Further than this spot the road-makers have not yet got, but compared with ordinary government work, the men have not got on amiss. From the commissioner’s to the spot I have alluded to, is about nine miles, and a month has scarcely elapsed since the work was commenced [My emphasis]. I passed along this road on the Wednesday following the two day’s rain, and I can assure you, that the citizens of Melbourne would have envied us the road. That which had only a few days previously been dust to the depth of five and six, and even eighteen inches, had been firmly bound together by the rain, and presented a smooth hard surface, that it was a perfect pleasure to trot over. The large quantity of ironstone that mixes with the soil of the ranges, may perhaps explain this. I can only confess that I was most agreeably surprised, as from the dust of the previous week, I had naturally anticipated having to wade through a perfect slough.
“ ‘Neither have the authorities been backward in providing for the security of the lives and property of the diggers. Six new [police] stations are to be formed, viz., at Bendigo, at Friar’s Creek [Fryers Creek], at the Loddon River, at the Adelaide Gully, at Golden Point, and at the Sawpit Gully on the Melbourne road. The last of these stations will be a most important one, as here the roads of Bendigo, the Forest, and Friar’s Creeks [Fryers Creek] diverge from the main Melbourne line, and it is proposed to station a police magistrate there. Your correspondent has already informed you that a notice is to be conspicuously exhibited here, warning all parties to at once take out licenses, or that having passed this spot they will be liable to be seized. The chief duty of the assisting commissioner here will be to issue licenses, and by such a course of proceeding, much inconvenience and probable expense will be saved the digger, who now must actually be on the diggings, and therefore be liable to be apprehended, before he can reach a commissioner’s to take out a license; the delay consequent upon having to wait the leisure of the commissioner with so many other calls upon his time, will also be avoided. I hear that a police magistrate is also being located at Bendigo [‘Bendigo Mac’]; these, with the one now stationed at Forest Creek, will make three police magistrates, and the advantage of separating the revenue and police departments are too obvious to require me to dwell at any length upon them. Suffice it to say that the diggers would fancy they had but small justice, if Mr. Commissioner A. were to be the informer one day with Mr. Commissioner B. as judge, and on the following day Mr. Commissioner B. were to be the informer and Mr. Commissioner A. for judge.
“ ‘At each of the above stations are to be placed an assistant-commissioner, an inspector, a clerk, watch-house keeper, a corporal and two troopers of mounted police; besides which, at the Bendigo Creek and Sawpit Gully, a number of pensioners will be stationed. An estimate at the expense of the work required to be done in erecting these stations has been sent in, and from all I can hear there is every probability of its being commenced at once. Thus when you see the prospects of the miners for the winter have already become more cheering, and the energy of the officials has given additional force to the operations of the diggers. They see their safety and comfort looked after, and the gloomy forebodings of what awaited them in the winter, are gradually passing away. They no longer dread being cut off from their supplies by the impassable state of the road; they no longer fear that the gold which they earn by day will be wrested from them at night; and strength is thus given to their arms, while vigour is added to their search. In all this there is much food for consideration, and he who looks on warmly may learn much. He may see how the activity and watchfulness of a government affect the spirit and enterprise of a nation, giving strength to the one, and enlarging the scope of the other. He may also mark how the imbecility or supineness of the guardians of a state may endanger its well-being, and may turn that to a bitter curse which would otherwise have been a source of undoubted prosperity.
____________________
“THE DIRECT ROUTE TO MOUNT ALEXANDER. - Much ignorance prevails at the present moment as to the nearest and most direct route to Mount Alexander. We give, on the authority of a correspondent, the road which parties proceeding from Geelong to Mount Alexander diggings should take, the total distance being eighty-seven miles, as nearly as can be estimated. From Geelong the first stage should be to the bridge crossing the Werribee, on the Melbourne road, a distance of twenty-four miles; from thence to Pyke’s station; twelve miles; after which make for Collyer’s station, three miles; and so on to the Bush Inn, Mount Macedon, a distance of eight miles further. The road from the Bush Inn to the diggings is then forty miles. Our own impression is, that a still more direct road would be by Ballan.’
“NEW GOLD-FIELD. - I have to record another grand discovery of an extensive gold-field. It is situated around Lake Omeo, at the foot of the Australian Alps, near which flows the river Mitta Mitta, which has its source from the Snowy Mountains. The discovery of this rich field of gold was thus made. Several persons, for the last three or four months, had been taking nuggets of gold of as large size to Maneroo [Monaro] for sale, but declined stating from whence it was obtained. The Rev. Mr. Clarke, who has been on a prospecting tour under the auspices of the Sydney Government, arrived at the spot, and at once pronounced the important geological fact, that the district of Lake Omeo is the matrix of the Australian gold-field, from whence has flowed the auriferous deposits at Mount Alexander and the other gold regions now so celebrated for their grand results. The Rev. Mr. Clarke has left to make his report to the Sydney Government, by whom he is employed; and Mr. Commissioner Smythe is still here, on behalf of the Government of Victoria. These facts may be relied upon. Besides other authority, I may mention that of Mr. Nicholson, whose station is on the Mitta Mitta. In the rainy season the gold-field of Lake Omeo will be unapproachable. The conclusion is, that this locality will be the summer diggings, and Mount Alexander the winter diggings. Thus the gold-searchers will be a migratory population.
“FOREST CREEK. - New diggings have been found on the Coliban, fifteen miles from this, as also some rich yields on the Porcupine; indeed it would be hard to say where gold could not be found in this neighbourhood, if sought for; every week brings with it fresh discoveries, and if the water last, thousands will find employment for months to come. Some ten of fifteen hundred persons have left the found since my last, composed principally of small farmers, who are returning to get in their crops, but their places are quickly taken up by new comers. I counted one hundred horse drays between here and Kyneton today.
“GOLD CIRCULAR. - The price of gold has been throughout the week 60s. The Wardiallock [Woady Yaloak] [See article on: Herbert Swindells] gold field has turned out unprofitable - the diggers not realizing as much as pays their expenses. The Mitta Mitta gold field, another of our new discoveries, is spoken of favourably. The water is said to be abundant, which, if such be the case, and the yield of gold turn out to be anything approaching that at the Mount, will operate as a strong inducement to move to that quarter. The late rains which fell at the Mount may have the effect of satisfying those at work, and preventing emigration to the new field; also of allaying the dysentery, which has prevailed of late to some extent. A blight in the eyes has appeared among the diggers, which has been the cause of compelling several parties to break up and come to town for medical advice. Success still attends many at Mount Alexander. John Jones’s party, from Gipps Land, arrived in town this week, bring with them three nuggets, one weighing 3 1/2 lbs., the other two about 27 ounces. The largest nugget was dug out one morning before breakfast. They had with them besides, about 14 lbs. of gold dust, the whole of which was the result of six weeks’ work, the party consisting of five individuals. A number of cases, of even greater success than the above, have come under our observation this week, to recapitulate which would extend to undue limits. The exportation of the precious metal still continues great. The Aberfoyle will sail early next week for London, with about 35,000 ounces. The English banks have increased their advances on gold hypothecated with them to 50s. per ounce. The increase to our population this week has been about 1,500 souls.
“oz.
“Gold previously shipped from Victoria............. 303,471
“To London, per Christabel........................... 54
“To Sydney, per Dart.................................. 1,876
“To Sydney, per Cape Horn........................... 1,225
“To Sydney, per Favorite............................. 3,205
________
309,831
________
“Which, at 60s. per ounce, amounts to.............. L929,493
“Exchange on London, on drafts against gold, at 50s. per ounce, by the English banks, nine per cent. discount; and by the Bank of New South Wales, 55s. per ounce, and ten per cent. discount. Freights half per cent. on 60s., with ten per cent. primage.
“Feb. 7, 1852. EDWARD KHULL, Bullion Broker.
“GOLD CIRCULAR. - Our gold market this week has taken an unexpected rise from 60s. to 63s., owing partly to the competition amongst purchasers from Sydney, who came here per Shamrock. We have not much of a cheering character to report as to the state of matters at the Mount. The want of protection, the want of water, and disease in the eyes, are complaints put forth by those diggers we have come into contact with this week; notwithstanding which hundreds are eagerly pushing off to the gold field on their arrival here. Some brass was again offered this week; but the impostors have been secured. We trust that such an example will be made of them as to deter others from a like attempt. We do not anticipate that the act of the Governor and Council of South Australia [Bullion Act], in fixing the standard price of gold at 3l. 11s. per ounce, will have the effect intended, viz., of causing an emigration from this to Adelaide. The number of successful diggers, who have sold their gold here, and have returned to Adelaide with the proceeds in the shape of drafts on the bank, is very great. They, one and all, intend coming here with their wives and families to take up their permanent abode, to resume their operations at the Mount, as soon as the rains set in, which generally takes place in the month of April. The increase to our population this week has been about 1,2000 souls.
“OZ.
“Gold previously shipped from Victoria.............. 309,831
“To Sydney, per Prince of Wales..................... 5,109
“To London, per Aberfoyle........................... 40,272
“To London, per Helen, from Port Fairy........... 1,286
“To London, per Cornelius, from Portland......... 795
_______
357,283
_______
“which, at 60s per ounce, amounts to............... L1,071,879
“Exchanges on London, drafts against gold, hypothecated, 50s. per ounce, and nine per cent. discount, by the English banks; and by the Bank of New South Wales, 55s. per ounce, and ten per cent. discount. Freights, half per cent. on 60s. per cent. primage.
Feb. 14, 1852. EDWARD KHULL, Bullion Broker.
“The transactions in gold this week have been numerous, and the price steady at 60s., with an inclination on the part of sellers to exact a higher rate. It appears, however, that many sellers hawk the gold about until they fall in with some unscrupulous purchaser, who offers them 3d. or 6d. per ounce more than the honest dealer; and by a system of optical delusion, combined with a peculiar construction of beam and scales, they in reality get 9d. or 1s. per ounce less: thus the market gets forced up, and the seller is led to believe that he has got the highest market rate, instead of which he is being cheated with his eyes open.
“The purchasers for shipment to Adelaide continue to sustain the present rates, coupled with the purchases for remittances by the merchants and traders here. Very little is being purchased on speculation. From these causes, combined with the arrival of some capitalists from the neighbouring colonies, and a large increase of specie [coin]to our banks (about 40,000l.), it is to be inferred that the price of gold will not fall below its present rate. The Mount Alexander gold continues still to command the highest rate in the Sydney market.
“A sample of the most beautiful gold that has ever appeared in this colony reached Melbourne this week by post, from a new gold field near the Ovens River. It is on Reid’s Creek, sixteen miles in length, the bed of which is filled with the auriferous deposit. There is no digging, it is all surface washing, and the gold produced is as fine as the finest gunpowder. A large sample, with more particular information, is promised next post, which, if it arrive, will be duly noticed. The quantity of gold by the escort this week has increased over that of last week by 1,000 oz. Were a branch escort put on from Bendigo Creek to the head commissioner’s tent, the weekly amount sent would be 20,000 oz. This statement is made on the authority of one of the most experienced of the gold commissioners. There is a report that such a branch escort is to be put on, and the sooner the better, as the Government are losing a large income from the want of it, by the diggers bringing their gold from Bendigo Creek direct to Melbourne. It is hoped that a repetition of the Nelson piracy will be prevented, when her Majesty’s 18-gun brig Phantom, Captain Guiness, arrives in our bay, which is shortly expected here from Hobart Town.
“To prevent any recurrence of such a deed, all that is wanted is to lay the ship containing the gold alongside of the war vessel, and they will be bold pirates that will venture to board.
“Number of persons arrived in the Colony this week...... 1,110
“Number of persons who have left........................... 488
_____
“Addition to our population this week....................... 622
“OZ.
“The escort brought this week from Mount Alexander.... 12,873
“Ballarat, including that to Geelong......................... 935
_____
13,808
“OZ.
“Gold previously shipped from Victoria.................... 537,959
“Per Margaret and Mary, from Geelong to Sydney...... 741*
________
538,700
[Footnote - “ * A large quantity has been taken to Adelaide, which, not having been entered in the Custom House, cannot be ascertained. The quantity deposited at the Assay Office up to March 19, was 15,606 oz., 3,735 only of which have been cleared at the Custom House.”]
“or 22 tons, 8 cwt. 3 qrs. 16 lbs. 8 oz., which at 60s. per ounce, amounts to 1,616,100l.
“Exchange on London on drafts against gold hypothecated, 40s.per ounce, and ten per cent. discount by all the banks. Freight of gold, 4d. per ounce.
“EDWARD KHULL, Bullion Broker.
“45, Collins-street, West, April 10, 1852.
“Gold has an upward tendency this week. The market has opened at 60s. and left off at 60s. 3d. Recent arrivals from home [my emphasis], and from the neighbouring colonies, of specie, have had the effect of giving it a firm tone: and there is no doubt but that every fresh arrival will bring an additional supply of specie for investment in our mineral treasures. Notwithstanding the large quantity of gold which has arrived by this week’s escort, and the quantity that must be in the hands of the diggers, in the banks, and in the treasury, that offered for sale bears but a small proportion of the whole.
“Another (the third) arrival of gold from Mount Alexander, exceeding 20,000 oz., reached Melbourne this week, and it is reported that 20,000 oz. were sent to Adelaide by the escort. The produce is likely to increase, soon after the rain sets in, as most of the diggers are at present engaged carting the stuff from the holes to their tents, and there heaping it up until a supply of water enables them to set the cradles to work. The rain which fell this week in Melbourne has started a vast number of diggers to the Mount, to renew their lucrative avocations.
“Another glaring case of fraud took place this week by a gold purchaser, as detailed in a letter to the editor of the Argus, signed by the two diggers who were victimised. The original contained the names in full, although left out by the editor, no doubt from his knowledge of the legal maxim, ‘that to publish truth is a libel.’ From the great increase of this new and valuable branch of our products, and the magnitude to which it is likely to extend, it is of the highest importance that the brokers or purchasers should be above the breath of suspicion. As a preventative of such dishonest practices, it might be advisable that the London system be adopted here, viz. : - that a license be granted, and a bond entered into for the faithful discharge of the important duties. This is granted by the mayor and aldermen. It would then be possible to lay hold of and punish the guilty. A set of standard weights would also be of the highest importance, so as to test the weights of the licensed purchasers from time to time.
“Number of persons arrived in the colony this week... 847
“Number of persons who have left........................ 308
________
“Addition to our population this week.................. 539
“Ounces.
“The escort brought this week from Mount Alexander 21,130
“Ballarat, including that to Geelong..................... 667
_________
21,797
“Ounces.
“Gold previously shipped from Victoria.................. 565,661
“ Per Derwent to London................................. 2,685
“ Per Vanguard ditto ................................. 17,490
________
585,836
“Or 24 tons, 8 cwt. 19 lbs. 8 oz., which, at 60s. per oz., amounts to 1,757,508l.
“Exchange on London on drafts against gold hypothecated, 40s. per oz. and 10 per cent. discounted by all the banks. Freight of gold, 4d. per ounce.
“EDWARD KHULL, Bullion Broker.
“45, Collins-street, West, 17th April, 1852.”
pp. 144-147.
“We come now to the ‘border diggings.’ These are more usually spoken of as belonging to Victoria, on account of their comparative proximity to Melbourne, but they may be regarded in their extent, as belonging equally to New South Wales, and we shall therefore devote a portion of our space in this part of the volume to their description, giving a later account in our chapter on the gold localities of Victoria.
“The central town of the border gold district is Albury, on the river Murray, 286 miles from Sydney. The diggings were first discovered last year by Mr. Heavers, and are situated on the Murray, the Mitta Mitta, and the Ovens, the latter according to present appearances, the most important. The Mitta Mitta is a branch of the Murray, flowing into that river near Albury. The Ovens is a tributary of the same stream, flowing from the Snowy Mountains.
“The Ovens diggings are in a group of granitic hills in the district of the same name, about twenty miles from Albury, and about 200 from Melbourne. The gold is found deposited in a drift of rounded or decomposed quartz, lying in the intersection of the granite hills, and immediately upon the granite.
“The bed claims are considered to contain the largest quantity of gold, but from the prevalence of water, it will be difficult to work them except by means of co-operative labour and machinery. Hence companies have been formed to a considerable extent, but even these are frequently compelled to succumb to the influx of water, which the machinery at their command is insufficient to keep down.
“The gold of this district appears to be scattered over a large extent, some portions being highly productive, and others non-productive. Some parties have been clearing from 300 to 700 ounces of gold per month, whilst many have not been earning their daily bread. This is wrongly termed luck, but is, in fact, the advantage of knowledge and experience against the absence of those qualities. Intending emigrants may learn from this, the importance of getting all the geological knowledge in their power previous to starting, and on their voyage. A very little is sufficient, and that little is in the power of every emigrant. Even with proper attention to the geological sketches in this volume, he will have imbibed no small portion of the knowledge requisite for his future pursuits.
“The more settled diggings in the Ovens River district are at Spring Creek, and the Yacka Danda Creek [Yackandandah Creek]. Other valuable localities are on the Buffalo, about twelve miles from Spring Creek, the gold here being larger and rounder than elsewhere, and being scattered over a large extent of ground. Some 6,00 people are finding profitable employment here, though the majority of the miners are at a spot called Reedy Creek [Reids Creek], of which the most fabulous reports are prevalent.
“Spring Creek flows through some high ranges, which till a short time ago had no distinctive geographical name, when Lieut. - Governor La Trobe, being on a visit to the locality, named them the Mayday ranges [Beechworth], and the diggings themselves the Mayday diggings.
“The geological character of these diggings is granitic, the surface soil being in general a dark loam, and in some instances red gravel. The gold does not lie at any great depth, the average distance beneath the surface being eight or ten feet. In the dry diggings the miners have to go deeper, viz., from twelve to fourteen feet, and in the upper diggings from fifteen to twenty feet. Hence tunnelling is universally practised, and the compact nature of the soil renders this process easy. The gold throughout these diggings is remarkably fine, and of a deep bright rich colour. The quantity of gold which has been procured since November last is computed at 200,000 ounces the escort on the 3rd of November having conveyed the first weekly instalment of 2,5000, which has since increased to the weekly amount of 15,000 ounces. So that if we compute the amount to the present time on this scale, the yield is probably little less than 450,000 ounces, of an English value of 1,600,000l., from this district alone.
“In the gullies of the Buffalo ranges of which we have spoken - these being situated a dozen miles to the south-west of the government station at the Mayday range [Beechworth] - the gold is of a coarse formation, and is more largely intermingled with slate and quartz. It is sometimes found in thick substantial gravelly clay, and the grains are, in such cases, about the size of grains of wheat, and are of very fine quality.
“The Yacka Danda Creek [Yackandandah Creek] rises in the ranges of the same name, and flows into the little river, which discharges itself into the Hume [Murray], some distance above Albury. The diggings on this creek are situated near the road between Albury and Spring Creek, and are characterized by similar geological features to those of Spring Creek.
“A recent writer thus speaks of the future of this vast gold field : - While it is impossible not to regard with interest the very large drift of gold which has occurred through the Spring Creek as remarkable, we are scarcely justified in assuming it to be a phenomenon peculiar to this fall of water alone. The Mayday ranges [Beechworth] - the Buffalo Ranges - the whole series indeed of Australian mountains which predominate in this district - are intercepted by similar streams, which may fairly be conjectured to carry in their courses the detritus of the same or of similar deposits. But the main question still remains unsolved, and will remain unsolved, until it is settled by the chance industry of some obscure adventurer, or by some untutored native of the soil, when perception and worldly interest shall graft on his instinctive knowledge of the treasures the soil affords, the energy requisite to unfold the grand secret. The small drift gold, which seems to flow down the streams of these mountains in a regular and unbroken course, must have somewhere a fountain head. The very minute particles in which we discover the gold in the tributaries of the Ovens cannot originally existed there. The must be the sifted driftings of some original deposit, some formation in which gold has, by igneous action, been thrown up or originally placed, and from which secretions have constantly taken place from the combined action of water current and the gravity of the metal itself.
“The extent to which these scattered diggings extend may be probably over a very wide area.”
|
