1851

Nine persons started from Bathurst for the Sommerhill Creek, on Friday night, six on Saturday, and many more propose going immediately. I firmly believe that if a few pounds of gold dust made its appearance here, full one-third of our town would be deserted in a short space of time.

It is reported also that small parties are making up towards the golden locality from other parts, consequently we may expect there will shortly be a very considerable number of gold-hunters at work. In connexion with this discovery, there are many serious considerations, which it behoves the lovers of good order to study attentively.

If gold is found to abound in the localities, which have been pointed out, and there is no reason to doubt the fact, all the idle, disorderly, and worthless characters from the various, towns of the colony, as well as from Van, Diemen’s Land, and Victoria, will be immediately attracted to the spot; and unless a strong force is located on this side of the Blue Mountains, neither life nor property will be secure; under present circumstances a very considerable increase of crime may be anticipated in these districts during the winter.

Breaches of the Masters and Servants Act, arising from shepherds and hutkeepers leaving their hired service for the gold field, may also be very reasonably expected to occur frequently.

The arrival of Mr. Hargraves in Bathurst on Tuesday evening last, who, it was generally known had been in communication with government respecting discoveries made by him of extensive gold deposits in our montane region, has now brought the subject more prominently before our Bathurst public. On Thursday evening, he invited a few gentlemen to meet him at Mr. Arthur’s Inn, with the object of communicating such information as ho had obtained upon this interesting subject, in his recent explorations, and the readiness and intelligence which he displayed in answer ing the numerous questions addressed to him, showed satisfactorily that he not only possessed an intimate knowledge of gold-mining in all its branches, but was desirous of giving every possible information upon the matter connected with his visit.

From the running conversation which was kept up for several hours, we gleaned the following particulars. Mr. Hargraves, who has spent nearly two years at the California diggings, returned to this colony in January last, having, as he states, whilst there, derived considerable information from the Mexican miners, whom he represents as by far the best and most successful diggers. Struck by the similarity of the geological formation and external physical characteristics of certain portions of this colony and the California gold fields, he was induced, at his own expense, and on his own responsibility, to visit this and the neighbouring districts to institute a personal examination. His researches, have been crowned with success. After riding about 300 miles, so as to intersect the country at numerous points, and spending from two to three months in the prosecution of his object, Mr. Hargraves states as the result of his observations, that from the foot of the Big Hill to a considerable distance below Wellington, on the Macquarie, is one vast gold field, that he has actually discovered the precious metal in numberless places, and that indi cations of its existence are to be seen in every direction.

Indeed, so satisfied is he on this point, that he has established a company of nine working miners, who are now actively employed, digging at a point of the Summer Hill Creek near its junction with the Macquarie, about fifty miles from Bathurst, and thirty from Guyong. Ophir is the name given to these diggins. Several samples of fine gold were shown to tho company by Mr. Hargraves, weighing in all about four ounces – the produce, he stated, of three days’ digging. The amount thus earned by each man he represented to be £2 4s. 8d. per day, but he observed that, from want of practical knowledge, and proper implements he was convinced that nearly one half of the gold actually dug had been lost, owing to the labour being performed in his absence.

One of the samples produced was a solid piece, weighing about two ounces, and was found at the diggins attached to the root of a tree by Mr. John Lyster, who is one of the company. Another sample consisted of small pieces, weighing from several grains to a pennyweight, all elongated, and of various shapes ; and a third of small flat particles, principally oval. The large piece, which appears as if it had been in a state of fusion, is intended by Mr. Hargraves as a present to his Excellency the Governor. The only process through which the above samples had passed was the washing, which had been performed by Mr. Hargraves himself.

The principal localities mentioned by Mr. Hargraves, where he had discovered gold, were Summer Hill, Guyong, and Lewis’ Pond Creeks. He also found gold at Dubbo, below Wellington, which he stated to be in powder, fine as the finest flour, but so far as he could judge from the opportunities he had, it did not exist in sufficient quantity to pay for the necessary labour. From the nature of some of the country explored by him, he is of opinion that gold will be found in mass, and would not be surprised if pieces of 30 or 40 lbs. should be discovered. He had seen no country in California which promised metal in such heavy masses.

This description of country he represents as not being desirable as a field of speculation. One or two occupied thereon might be lucky enough to find a lump, but their companions would expend much toil and probably obtain nothing, whilst the ground which yielded the “ dust” or larger particles could be calculated upon as returning a cer tain remuneration for a given quantity of labour. We are assured by Mr. Hargraves that there exists an opening for an unlimited supply of labour in the vicinity of the diggins already opened by bim, but he holds out no florid hopes. He makes no unreasonable or exagge rated statements. His arguments and representations simply amount to this, that there exists in the neighbouring districts an exten sive gold field, but whether a rich or a remu nerative field of labour he does not undertake to say. This question remains to be solved by actual trial. We have now given the principal items of information connected with this most impor tant and interesting subject.

In the statements made we do not intend to incur any responsi bility. We tell the story as ‘twas told to us. The suddenness with which the announcement of a discovery of such magnitude has come upon us – a discovery which must, if true, be productive of such gigantic results not only to the inhabitants of these districts but to the whole colony, affects the mind with astonish ment and wonder in such a manner as almost to unfit it for the deductions of plain truth, sober reason, and common sense., Mr. Har graves is an intelligent, an educated, and we believe a respectable man. His manner is quiet and unobtrusive. He does not seek to thrust his information upon the people, but when questioned, answers modestly and intel ligibly any questions put to him. The atten tion paid to him by Government is some gua rantee of his respectability and acquaintance with the subject, and there really does appear such an absence of any reasonable motive to mislead the public, that if we do not compre hend all we have heard from him, we are not, prepared to disbelieve it. He started yesterday for Cooming, to join Mr. Stutchbury, the Government geologist, who, we are informed, will accompany him to the diggins. The matter will therefore be quickly placed beyond the reach of suspicion or incredulity.

Three persons started from Bathurst on Saturday last, one of them an experienced hand from California.

On Monday two of them returned, bringing with them one piece of gold which just weighed down thirty five sovereigns , another piece which weighed about half an-ounce, and several small pieces, which might weigh half-an-ounce altogether. The largest piece appears to be solid gold, and good judges inform me it is. It is about three inches long, the breadth and thickness varying. In the thickest portion a small piece of quartz about half an inch in diameter is embedded, but whether it adds much to the weight I cannot decide.

The smallest piece or lump appears perfectly pure. On Tuesday, about two pounds and a half of g old in lumps was brought into the town, besides a quantity of Parties for the diggings are forming in every direction, and machines are being constructed for washing the soil and sand. I hope that the Goovernment will see the necessity of immediately strengthening the hands of the local authorities, by adding to the number of the constabulary or by forming a separate corps to presence peace and order in these districts, for I assure i you I much fear that crime and outrage of every description will soon be the order of the day. I hear there are upwards of two hundred persons on the gold ground, and the number is daily increasing.

I much fear we shall shortly hear that a most lawless state of society prevails up there, and that crimes of every description will abound.

The Government will no doubt be placed in a difficult position, for there is at present no organized force in the colony suffi ciently strong to preserve peace and good or der amongst them, and the difficulty will, I am apprehensive, be found to increase daily. Under these circumstances, it is necessary that the most respectable and influential persons on the ground, should take steps to maintain or der, and to afford protection to life and pro perty, and with a view to further this object, a few suggestions might not at the present mo ment prove altogether unacceptable.

I would propose that a camp be formed by every five or six parties for mutual protection, to which they should all resort at night, and which they should guard by turns during the day. That one or more respectable men from each party at the diggings, should form themselves into an association, and bind themselves to use their utmost endeavours to maintain order and good con duct on the ground. That, in pursuance of this they should in every case assist the local authorities in detecting crime and bring ing the perpetrators to justice, so much so that if a single constable came in the execution of his duty, he might, under their protection, and with their assistance, be able to fulfil the duty on which he was sent.

That they should pre vent by such means as the urgency of the case might render necessary, the illegal sale of in toxicating liquors, and should, both by precept and example, discourage intoxication on the spot. I feel satisfied that more is to be feared from the distribution of ardent spirits amongst a body of men-many of them lawless char acters-than from any other cause whatever.

PROVISIONS.-At the present moment Ba thurst is in a state of great excitement-in fact, the gold fever has fairly set in; consequently, provisions of every description realizes a price that astonishes sober-minded people. In the course of a few hours, flour rose from 25s. per 100 lbs. to 32s., 36s., and 40s., at each of which prices sales have been effected this day. Ra tion sugar has risen one halfpenny per pound. tea 10s. per chest ; tobacco has also risen, and even meat is on the advance. I hear that at the gold field parties living in the neighbour hood are slaughtering their sheep, and retailing the mutton at 3d. per pound.

LATEST PARTICULARS.-I rode out above 5 miles this evening, and saw nineteen men com ing back from the diggings, They complained of hard work, starvation, and other ills. I give no opinion upon the subject, because I know well that gold is on the spot; but energy, per severance, &c., are necessary ingredients to wards obtaining it.

Any attempt to describe the num berless scenes-grave, gay, and ludicrous which have arisen out of this state of things would require the graphic pen of a Dickens, and would exceed any limit which could be as signed to it in a newspaper.

Groups of people were to be seen early on Monday morning at every comer of the streets, assembled in solemn conclave, debating both possibilities and im possibilities, and eager to pounce upon any human being who was likely to give any in formation about the diggings. People of all trades, callings, and pursuits, were quickly transformed into miners, and many a hand which bad been trained to kid gloves, or ac customed to wield nothing heavier than the grey goose-quill, became nervous to clutch the pick on a crow-bar, or “rock the cradle.” at our infant mines.

The blacksmiths of the town could not turn off the picks fast enough, and the manufacture of cradles was the second briskest business of the place. A few left town on Monday, equipped for the diggings ; but on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, the roads to Summer Hill Creek became literally alive with new-made miners from every quarter, some armed with picks, others shouldering crowbars or shovels, and not a few strung round with wash-hand basins, tin pots, and cullinders, garden and agricultural implo ments of every variety, either hung from the saddle-bow, or dangled about the persons of the pilgrims to Ophir.

Now and then a respectable tradesman, who had just left his bench or counter, would heave into sight, with a huge something in front of hiss horse, which he called a cradle, and with which he was about to rock himself into fortune. Scores have rushed from their homes, provided with a blanket, a “damper,” and a pick or grubbing hoe, full of hope that a day or two’s labour would fill their pockets with the precious metal ; and we have heard of a great number who have started without any provision but a blanket and some rude implement to dig with. Such is the intensity of the excitement, that people appear almost regardless of their present comfort, and think of nothing but gold.

Of course all this must end in disap pointment. The wet weather of the last two nights, with the damp ground for a bed, and the teeming clouds for a canopy, will do much towards damping the enthusiasm of numbers. We have the the authority of on experienced man in stating that from the imperfect and unsuitable implements used by all who have left for the diggings, coupled with their miserable provision in other respects, suceeds is impossible ; that the labour neces sary to success is extremely severe, and he ventures, as his opinion, that no more than thice per cent, will become permanent miners. One of the consequences has been a rapid rise in the price of provisions.

Flour which ranged from 26s. to 28s, per 100 lbs., has been sold for 45s. ; tea, sugar, and almost every other eatable commodity have advanced in equal proportion. A large amount of the wheat of the district is in the hands of a few speculators, who will maintain their hold in the hope of a golden harvest. But for the very extensive supplies now on their way from Sydney, flour would soon be at a famine price, and should a rush take place from below, as may be reasonably expected, it is to be hoped that there are capi talists enough to adventure in one of the safest speculations of the times — the purchase of flour for the supply of the district.

What assisted very materially to fan the ex citement into a flame, was the arrival of a son of Mr. Neal, the brewer, with a piece of pure metal, weighing eleven ounces, which was purchased by Mr. Austin for £30, who started to Sydney by the following day’s mail, with the gold and the news. Since that an old man arrived in town with several pieces in mass, weighing in all from two to three pounds. He also started for Sydney with his prize. Mr. Kennedy, the Manager of the Bathurst Branch of the Union Bank of Australia visited the diggings on Saturday last in company with Messrs. Hawkins and Green, each of these gentlemen picked up a small piece of the pure metal, and a few handsfull of the loose earth from the bed of the creek, which were brought home by Mr. Kennedy from motives of curio sity, have been since assayed by Mr. Korff, from Sydney, and a piece of gold extracted there from of the size of a small pea. Besides these we have not heard of any particular instances of success.

On Wednesday morning last, Mr. Hargraves accompanied Mr. Stutchbury, the Govern ment geologist, went to the diggings, and with his own hands washed a pan of earth in his presence, from which twenty-one grains of fine gold were produced. He afterwards washed several baskets of earth, and produced gold therefrom. Mr. Stutchbury hereupon ex pressed his satisfaction, and immediately fur nished him with credentials, which have since been forwarded to Government. The fact of the existence of gold is therefore clearly esta blished, and whatever credit or emolument may arise therefrom. Mr. Hargraves is cer tainly the individual to whom it properly belongs.

Should Government deem it necessary, as it most probably will, to appoint an inspector, superintendent, or commissioner, over the gold regions, in addition to the fact of Mr. Hargraves being the discoverer, his practical acquaintance with mining points him out as the most suitable and worthy person for the appointment. We have very much more to say, but have not space to say it in. _ A Mr. Rudder, an experienced California gold digger, is now at work at the diggings.— There are also several magistrates plying their picks and cradles most laboriously, but we have not heard with what success. In fact there ap pears every probability of a complete social revolution in the course of time. Those who are not already departed, are making prepara tions. Servants of every description are leaving their various employments, and the employers are, per necesitatem, preparing to follow. But notwithstanding all this, we feel that a reaction will speedily take place. The approach of winter and wet weather will do something towards cooling the ardour of the excited multitude.

A letter from Mr. Stutcibury, the Government Geologist, was received yes tcrday ; it is merely a preliminary re port, but it is fully confirmatory of Mr. Hargrave’s statements as to the pre sence of gold in the soil, and its being obtainable by those who are able to bear fatigue and hardship, and can use picks and shovels. On the receipt of this re port the Government issued the procla mation which ap -cars in another column, and we understand that regulations of a practicable character are being pre pared, and will probably be issued in tlie course of the week.

“Wc believe it is not the intention of the Government to do more than raise by license fees a moderate income, the greater portion of which will probably be expended in organising a police, providing for the safety of life and property in the gold country and on the roads, where, without a very active and ex tended police force, great outrages may be expected. It is stated that large quantities of gold are now in Bathurst waiting for safe conveyance to Sydney.

An extra mail from Bathurst to Orange (the nearest post town to the diggings) has been ordered, and we hope the Government will endeavour to have a mail to Bathurst every day, instead of alternate days, as at present. We need hardly say that the greatest excitement prevails among all classes in Sydney, and many persons arc going to dig for gold who are wholly unfit for such work ; men who would hesitate to walk the length of George-street in a shower of rain are going, at the begin ning of winter, to a district where the climate is almost English, and where they will not be able to get shelter in even the humblest hut.

What can be the result of such reckless conduct but that which has happened in California ruin, misery, disease, death. Rumours of the most extravagant cha racter are circulated in Sydney with an activity which shows that their originators are most anxious to add to the already prevailing excitement ; and we would advise our readers to receive with caution any reports that they do not see con firmed in the public press. The news from the mining districts is too im portant, is too anxiously looked after, to permit the suppression of any authen ticated facts, even if there existed a de sire on the part of the conductors of the press to do so.

On the other hand, it must be remembered that during the last few days there has been the most intense speculation going on in Sydney ; every article of ordinary consumption is advancing in price, and is being greedily sought after, with the hope that exorbilant rates may be obtained before further supplies can be procured, and every man who has purchased a ton of flour, or a bag of sugar, witli the inten tion of holding on for a further increase of prices, has a direct, obvious, and sti mulating interest in giving currency to any reports, however absurd, which may add to the present mania, and cause an influx of population from without.

LICENSES TO DIG AND SEARCH FOR GOLD.

With reference to the Proclama tion issued on the 22nd May, instant, declaring the rights of the Crown in respect to gold found in its natural place of deposit within the territory of New South Wales …
His Excel lency the Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, has been pleased to esta blish the following provisional regulations, under which licenses may be obtained to dig, search for, and remove the same :

1. From and after the first day of June next, no person will be permitted to dig, search for, or remove gold on or from any land, whether public or private, without first taking out and paying for a license in the form annexed.

2. For the present, and pending further proof of the extent of the gold field, the license fee has been fixed at one pound ten shillings per month, to be paid in advance but it is to be understood that the rate is sub ject to future adjustment, as circumstances may render expedient.

3. The licenses can be obtained on the spot, from the Commissioner, who has been ap pointed by His Excellency the Governor to carry those regulations into effect, and who is authorised to receive the fee payable thereon.

4. No person will be eligible to obtain a license, or the renewal of a license, unless ho shall produce a certificate of discharge from his last service, or prove to the satisfaction of the Commissioner that he is not a person im properly absent from hired service.

5. Rules adjusting the extent and position of land to be covered by each license, and for the prevention of confusion, and the inter ference of one licensee with another, will be the subject of early regulations.

6. With reference to lands alienated by the Crown in fee simple, the Commissioner will not be authorised for the present to issue licenses under these regulations to any person but the proprietors, or persons authorised by them in writing to apply for the same.

Mr. HINDSON and Mr. A. C. BROWN (of the firm of MORT AND BROWN,) who arrived by the mail, brought down with them gold which they had purchased, valued at £1000. This included two lumps, one of which weighed forty-six ounces, and the other about twenty : it is nearly pure gold, having but a very small portion of quartz attached. The large specimen and the smaller one, together with several pieces of about an ounce each, were found in one hole by a person named HENDERSON, residing in Bathurst.

On Saturday, a Bathurst blacksmith found eleven pounds weight of gold in one hole. In short, there is no doubt that the creek in which the principal body of the miners is now employed is richer than any place that has been worked in California. It appears that these large pieces are found in a bed of slate, which forms a sort of dam across the Summerhill Creek at the place where it is joined by the Lewis Pond Creek. On this bar there is a thin bed of boulder stones and pebbles, and on removing them a bed of mud a few inches thick is seen, which is cleared away and discovers the slate which is in vertical layers ; and in the interstices between the layers of slate the gold is found lying in lumps.

The earth on the banks of the creek is found to contain scale gold, which is obtained in the usual manner, by washing the soil in cradles, which allow the gold to fall to the bottom as the soil is washed out. This, although there is not such striking individual in stances of success, is considered more profitable on an average, than seeking for lumps in the slate bed.

A great amount of information on the subject will be found in the papers given below, and we would draw particular attention to the fact that three writers, without any communication with each other, dwell on the distress which must befal hundreds of the miserable dupes who have proceeded, and are proceeding, to the mines without adequate means.

A gentleman who arrived in Sydney yes terday, counted eight hundred persons on the road between Bathurst and Parra matta, the greater portion of whom were without common necessaries, and some of them were so destitute that they were actually begging for bread, and craving permission to sleep in outhouses or stables.

The result of this infatuation must be most disastrous, and is wholly inexcusable, as many of these persons have given up comfortable, and what might have been permanent employment, each thinking that he is to be the lucky man whose lot it is to be to find a large lump of gold. There is no reason to doubt that gold will be found in many other districts, their geological features being the same. Indeed, we believe that already gold has been discovered at Lamb’s Valley, near Maitland. What will be the result of these dis coveries ? That is a question that we I most wait for a short time before we at tempt to solve; but one thing is cer tain, the country will be populated : from the neighbouring colonies we may ‘ expect an immediate access of thousands ; and before twelve months have ex pired people will be pouring in from all parts of the world.

We think at a very moderate estimate that before the end of 1852 we shall have an addition of a hun dred thousand souls to our population. 1 Mr. HARGRVES, who brought the sub ject prominently before the public, returned to Sydney last night to make his ‘ report to Government.

Robberies to a certain extent have already taken place in this as well as in the regions nearer the diggings.

More than three parts of the travellers passing are actually what we take to be the scum and off-scourings of Sydney ; and, to make matters still worse, we are allowed no sort of police protection whatever.

We have seen not a few of those gentry, who were actually under the necessity of selling old cabbage-tree hats, and the like, to pay their way ; and perhaps more without either money or any other means of procuring their living on the way to the diggings, except what they could accidentally pick up. This state of things bids fair for an augmentation of police office business at Hartley.

Reports, which we have every reason to credit, are daily circulated that gold and other precious metals are in abundance in this imme diate neighbourhood. Up to the time of our writing, however, we have not seen any speci men that we could confidently pronounce to be gold, although our disbelief on this point may be owing to our ignorance of that metal in its rough state.

We have no hesitation whatever in stating, that it would be worth while for a few practical California diggers to spend a few days among us, examining our creeks and mountain ravines en passant for the diggings. Provisions of every kind are very high : flour is selling at £50 per ton of 2000 lbs., tea 2s. per lb., and sugar 6d.

The banks of the creek are very steep and rugged, and the sun’s rays I penetrate it but for about five hours each day. There are at present about seventeen hundred diggers, and not above six women on the creek. Great order prevails amongst them, indeed far more so than could be reasonably expected, when the fact that there are no con stables on the spot is taken into consideration.

The only disturbance I have heard of, occurred through two of the diggers who be longed to a party, coming into Bathurst and selling their gold for £44 10s” and on arriving ‘at the diggings telling their partners that they (had only received £24 10s. tor it, they pocket ing the difference of £20. No suspicion was entertained of their honesty until the Bathurst Free Press came out, when the truth of the case appeared, and they were severally thrashed off the ground, and nave not since been allowed to return to it.

The diggings commence at the junction of Lewis’ Ponds with the Summerhill Creek, and have ex tended more or less to the confluence of the Summerhill Creek with the Macquarie River, a distance of about sixteen miles. The gold is generally found- in pieces varying from an ounce in weight to the smallest particle ima ginable, indeed to fine gold dust. There have been several large pieces picked up, even as large as four pounds, but not above one person in.every fifty has yet been 89 successful as to fall aóross anything weightier than an ounce.

The diggers for the most part are very badly housed, many of them lying in bough gunyah», which afford but little protection against the cold, and none against the wet, they, however, all seem in good spirits as long as their provi sions last, when those who have not been suc cessful ‘ enough to obtain sufficient gold to purchasemore, have been either obliged to leave the diggings, or else to lure with other parties whose success has been greater. They generally dig in parties of three or six, who are distributed as follows :-One digs and fills the buckets with soil ; one carries the buckets of earth to the cradle at the creek; and the third works the cradle with one hand, and supplies it with water with the other. ‘

In parties of six they generally work two cradles. In some parties there are four persons, the rocky and heavy nature of the ground where they arc, requiring two persons to dig. The laborious nature of the work would deter many from coming, could they but form a correct idea of it. I will at random take the case of a party of six, who were, I assure you, far more successful than many other parties who went out. They started from Bathurst on the 22nd of May, having with them a saddle horse, a horse and cart, tools, bedding, and provisions, weighing in all about ten hundred weight. The cart horse was a good steady animal, but the ten hundred weisrht was too great a load for one horse up the pinches they had to surmount before they reached the diggings. The first night they camped at Swallow Creek, after having expe rienced considerable difficulty in getting the horse up two hills.

The second night they camped within six miles of the diggings, and but for the assistance of other teams on the road tliey would not have reached that far. On the morning of tho third day, tiley reached the commencement of the diggings, and had to leave their cart there, and carry the loading over rocks for a distance of two miles to where they had chosen the piece of ground they in tended to work ; this, and erecting their tefit, occupied the remainder of the third day, which was Saturday. On Monday they opened the ground, and worked until Saturday evening, when they found they lind altogether three ounces ‘ of gold. During the six days they worked, they rose nt brpak of day, and . imme diately afterwards breakfasted, and went to the ground, returning for one hour at dinner time, and leaving off at sundown.

They turned out upwards of twenty tons of stone, and washed 983 buckets of soil, all of which had to be car ried over 57 yards of rocky ground to the cra dle at the creek. Those who worked the cra dle had the additional comfort of wet feet and hands,, while the frost waa lying on tho ground, and all suffered much from cold and hard lying at night. The amount that each man earned during tho week was about thirty shillings. They are still on the ground, intending to try and do somewhat better this week. The success of the different parties has been so various, that it is hardly possible to state correctly how the diggings pay. One man may, after two or tlireo days’ work, fall upon a heavy lump. Another may by steady perseverance and hard work make £2, £3, or even £4 in the week; whilst another, less fortunate, will barely realize as many- shillings.

Under these circumstances it is almost impossible to average tho amount of earnings ; but I am firmly persuaded in my own mind that it does not exceed £2 per week, even if it reaches that amount. The price of provisions is most exorbitant ; flour being 7¿d. per pound, mutton 3’d., and other necessaries in propor tion. I perceive that people are arriving every day in great numbers, many of them being persons of a weakly constitution, who would be but ill able to endure our biting frosts and heavy snows, even had they comfortable homes and ! habitations at the mines, far less will they be able to when they have nothing but the cold j earth for their bed, and a bough gunyah, or at j best a tarp .ulin, to protect them from the in-1 clemency of the weather,’ Those who arc de-1 termined to como will do well to provide them- selves with warra clothing, not forgetting a pair 1 of waterproof boots reaching to the middle of | the thigh, and the following tools, viz. :-one ‘ cradle (the light small ones answer best), one strong crowbar, one small and one large pick axe, one shovel with the points rounded off, one gardener’s trowel, for scraping the rocks and lifting the earth from between the crevices where there is not room to work with a shovel ; one tomahawk, one felling axe, two round tin dishes, well soldered inside, one broad tin pot holding two quarts, with wooden handle about two and a half feet long, for supplying the I cradle with water, two small American buckets, and six files.