1854
It’s one thing to see a speckled collection of gold flakes looking up at you after you’ve washed a panful of earth, quite another to stumble onto a nugget you can hold up in your hand.
There’s something about nuggets and the instant bonanza they represent that has always excited the imagination of gold seekers, especially in the heady early days of a field when the surface alluvial ground is still largely unworked.
This was a big issue for NSW gold as while it had plenty of gold flakes on offer, the Victorian fields are renowned around the world for their unusually large and abundant collection of nuggets.
This in turn was a major incentive luring people south of the border in 1854.
Left: “Hello you boys” Reproduced courtesy State Library of Victoria (pi001963)
An air of lethargy seems have hung heavily over the whole gold culture in Sydney at the start of 1854.
15th January 1854
One could but hope so. As the lead pararaph in the new year gold circular started off – “Great dullness has prevailed throughout the last week”. It did however follow this up with the brighter news that discoveries on the TAMBAROORA field were exciting much attention, while noting that the old enemy of gold’s opening years – floods – were back again.
15th January 1854
The news of last week from’Tambaroura has been” confirmed, and gold Is being found in largo quantities, and na doubt a con- siderable! Influx of people may be expected at these diggings. My correspondent from there informs me that In consequence of a heavy flood ho could not send any gold from this district.
This accounts for the small quantity received from there. From tho Meroo-the holidays being over,-a reaction hii3 taken placo ; and we may now expect a.falr average quantity from these durglngs. – . News from tho Ovens still describe the “ Buckland” ns the placo of attraction : upward of 15,000 persons arc noir on the spot. ‘.
The Escorts brought down-Western Escort, from Bathurst, 208oz 17dwts 2grs; Sofaoa, 552sz 15dw’ts; Tambaroora, ‘¿War. 13dwts 12grs; Meroo,’288oz Sdwts; Mudgee, 155oz Sdwts 4grs : total 157407, 12dvvts 4grs. Southern Escort-Goulburn, 167oz lSdwts Ogrs; Braidwood, 115oz lldwtsj Major’s Creek, 91oz Sdwts ; Bell’s Creek, 143oz Hdwts 9grs : total, 518oz 3dwts 15grs. Exchange on London 1 per cent. Your obedient servant, JOHN GODFREY COIIEN,
22nd January 1854
A feature of these new discoveries from Tambaroora was the fact that they were rich reef gold finds, not free alluvial gold. The location of this gold laden quartz vein which was heralded as “unrivalled in the annals of quartz bearing gold” is significant as is was immediately alongside the rich reefs that would be come to prominence with the rise of HILL END as a gold centre in the early 1870s. For the moment however, the first step ahead was to set up sufficient machinery to mine the reef gold. As ever – mining gold in the matrix was never an easy gimme – no matter how rich the vein may be.
22nd January 1854
The fortunate applicant for the vast treasure that will be turned out of this locality Is Mr. Joseph Wythes, of the Race Course Inn, Tambaroora.
No sooner was it known that such a vein had been struck, than hundreds rushed to tho spot to avail themselves of valuable specimens which were readily obtained, and It was not until Mr. W. had recourse to the Commissioner, Mr. Broughton, that the spoliation ceased. One man picked up a lump of quartz containing gold, for which he was offered £200 and refused it, as he considered its value. double that sum.
Several persons are known to have sold pieces containing gold at various prices, varying from £3 to £16. There is now at the Commissioner’s Tent a quantity of Quartz containing Gold estimated at various sums say from £50 to £210 Mr. W., It is belleved, will dispose of a certain number of shares to persons desirous of forming a Company for working the vein
Many offers have been made to him all of which he has as yet resisted until the necessary arrangements with the Government are concluded. Persons in Sidney who may feel disposed to invest money in such an under- taking as a Quarts Crushing Company will do well to be early in the field.
Some of the rumours respecting the richness of this ridge are too extravagant to be believed, but thero is no need of exaggera- tion, having seen a number of speclmens which are very rich.
On a visit to the Hill yesterday (January 5th), I saw a valuable specimen broken off from the ridge. I have the pleasure of sending you a piece of the Quartz from the place, which accompanies this letter, for exhibition, at your discretion. It is enclosed in a bag dlrected to you, which you will obtain by sending to the Post Office for it, I am, Sir, yours, &c. JAMES BEATTY.’ Tambaroora, January 6th, 1854. ¡ The Quartz specimens have been duly received, and we shall be glad to show them to any person who will call at this office.—Ed.]
11th February 1854
Perhaps somewhat optimistically the gold report went on to report several weeks later that “a great number of diggers are flocking to Tambaroora from Port Phillip”. Sadly to get there they first had to travel past Bendigo and the Ovens fields to name just two and their temptation to push on past these Victorian fields must be questioned. In time the vast riches of the reef gold finds around Tambaroora / Hill End would come to define the area much as the gold nuggets had the Victorian fields – but such days were still a decade or two ahead.
11th February 1854
A great number of diggers from Port Phillip, are flocking to the Tambaroora ; it is fully anticipated that these diggings, and the wholo of the Meroo country, will produco the largest yield.
The reports from the southern diggings are highly satisfactory.
A now field has been ! discovered, one milo from .Major’s Creek, on government land, and withlu a few «lays 900 licenses wa» taken out-13 ozs. being taken by one man in a day. The locality Is capable of holding 10,000 persons ; and the other diggings on this side are all yielding well.
The escort, from Braidwood, broughtdown 633 ou. 9 dwts. 10 grs. ?
The western diggings are also improving ; the escort having brought down 1562 or.«. 5 dwts. 8 grs., ; population is alono re- quired for the Turon; for the want ofthat the best places cannot be worked.
The Directors of the Sydney Gold Escort Company aro to have an Interview with the Colonial Secretary, on Monday next, to lay before the Government the affairs of the Company, as also to induce tho Government to continue the escort, whioh it luis proved to have done more service to the welfare of this city, and the Government, than any undertaking yet established by private enterprise.
The escort« brought down from ‘ Oz«, dwts. grs. ‘ , Sofala . 476 7 20 Bathurst . 209 12 0 Tambaroura. 423 2 0 Meroo. 281 15 0 Mudgee . 171 8 12 Goulburn . 48 13 0 Braidwood ….. 365 10 10 Mnlor’s Creek. 106 li 0 ‘ Bell’s Paddock . 79 15 0 Total Western ami Southern Escorts . 2212 14 l8 Exchange on London,’2 per cent, promlum. Ditto ou bills drawn against gold, 1 per cent, premium. xour ooeuient servant, JOHN GODFREY COHEN,
A very interesting feature of the NSW fields was how reef gold mining issues cropped up so early in their development
6th March 1854
Already for example there were several operations on both the Turon and adjacent Meroo fields engaged in mining reef gold. Debate over their profitability centred mainly on the crude and rudimentary processing techniques available to them to process the gold ore. Clearly the hope of technology coming to the aid of these ventures in the near future was a strong incentive for investment. In the meantime, companies went to lengths to “shepherd” claims by extending their area of interest over very large areas of countryside, thereby closing these areas down to other would be operators.
6th March 1854
I also observe in the last report of the Great Nugget Company, tho assumption îhat their vein and their machinery is to “ decide whether or no the country offers inducements to enter into extensive gold mining operations.”
With all due deference, and giving them credit for,,. the beat intentions, their operations will not determine’ the question. It is obvious to evar7 ono who has paid anv atten- tion to quartz crushing and gold amalgamation, that any system hitherto pursued leaves cmple room for improvement, and the methods are so various that hardly any two can bo found acting on tho same prin- ciple, every process of practical crushing and amalga- mating yot adopted is more or le« unsatisfactory.
A Mr. Baden, an American, ..launs the invention of _ a_proco?8 said to be much approved of by Californian companies-to extrut from quartz three times as much gold as any other method. Without offering an opinion upon tin truth of this allegation, or upon the merits ip any way ; suppose, for the Bike of illustra- tion, the a-sortion to be tru», in tint case how can the present machinery of the Great Nugget Company decide whether or no ‘* the country offers induce- ments.”
The chief recommendation of the vein now owned hythe Great Nugget Compinywas the presence of large Rold onthe surface ot white quartz, of itse’f an unfavourable indication of a deep vorkxblc veil ; and if they (the Company) in the oirly days of gold mining beean, o excited by finding large nuggcti, and after- wards discovered that smill poid (or even sometimes invisible gold) mixed in quartz with baser metals, ¡B a more favourable indica’ion of a vein of workable quality and increasing voluma (which it usually is) – if in ignoranco they made an injudicious selection, how can tho working of their vein decide whether or no “ the country offers innucements?”
I may observe of invisible gold respecting which much incredulity prevail», that it is more properly the business of thachemlcal aseayer than of the practical geologist-when it is attested by competent and credible assajera, thore can be no reason to doubt its reality-the popular eimr comists in supposing, that because somo fsw auriferous veins contain in- visible gold, that all quartz veins must necessarily do so.
I Bincero’y wbh succors to both Companies-but if the practice of shepherding claims at the expense of other companies be pursued on Crown lands (in reality their claims are forfeited by s o doing) there is buta dull prospect for the succcisful working of the gold Teins of thooolory.
Every quartz vein ought to rest upon its own merits, and every available improvement in machinery em- braced as it is discovered and proved, irrespective of any one particular establishment. I am induced to make these observations in order to show the fallacy of the test which it is proposed «‘.all determine the Value of one of the great interests of this infant colony. I am, Sir,”yourobedient servant. | E. H. HAUGR1YE3’ Sydnoy, 4th March, 1854.
16th May 1854
In this environment a significant article was published in May of that year outlining a new process by which gold ore could be crushed and the gold extracted efficiently. The Berdans Gold Machine used rolling balls to grind the ore and mercury to capture the resultant loose gold.
While the machine never caught on to a great extent (perhaps owing to the open heating of the mercury and the likely poisoning of all the operators in the process?) it does describe the ore processing challenges facing reef miners at this time.
6th May 1854
The astonishing progress made in gold discovery during the last six or eight years gives an interest to the efforts of mechanical ingenuity to secure the precious metal by the complete reduction of its ores.
It is, therefore, thought not out of place to present to the Institution a brief description of the most noted upparatus for pulverizing, washing, and amalgamating gold ores, which modern invention has produced, viz., the Revolving Inclined Basin and Ball Machine of Berdan.
Gold is found in a great variety of forms, but the’ most constant source of the metal is the parent rock, to which re- course is always had when the secondary supplies found in sands and claj’s begin to fail.
Notwithstanding the general diffusion of gold bear- ing ores throughout the world, the problem of their complete and economical reduction long remained un- solved-a reproach to the mechanical ingenuity of tho age. A great many attempts have been made, and processes more or less efficient have been adopted ; but none of them have approached complete success.
All the plans, whether for washbg, smelting, or amal- gamation, have equally failed to produce a perfect result.
In washing, a considerable portion of tho metal escaped with the waste water.
In amalga- mating, which involves previous pulverization, tho ore was not ground to sufficient fineness, and was not thoroughly brought into contact with the mercury.
The result of these imperfections was a loss of one third to one-half the gold known, by assoy, to exist in the ores. .
The inventorof the machine nowaboutto bchrougni to the notice of the Institution, is a practical mechanical engineer, familiar from his youth with the construc- tion and operation of machinery. His attention was called, a few years ago, to the serious loss of the pre- cious metal which was entailed upon the Californian gold seeker, by the imperfection of the best appliances he could bring to bear upon his work.
Determine«, if possible, to remedy the evil, Mr. Dcrdan, wW> On page 3 , autumn of 1851, sent to California two practical engi- 1 neera, for the purpose of examining all the machinery I there in use, ond ascertaining, from the mining people themselves, what were the difficulties tobo overcome, and what were the best means _then at their disposal.
In May, 1852, one of the engineers returned, bringing sketches of all the machines in use, and a full report of the difficulties and requirements of the case, as stated by the miners. AU agreed that the best machines lost from 30 to 50 per cent.
The only process on which they could rely, was applicable only on a very small scale ; that was known as tho “ Miners’ Assay,” because it was the mode adoptod at the diggings for testing the richness of tho oro before beginning to work it. Tn this process the mortar and pestle arc employed.
Mercury is put jn the mortar, the ore to bo tested is thrown in, and covered with hot water, when tho operation begins. ,The pulverisation is completely effected by the weight and combined rolling and grinding, or rubbing, action ¿ of tho spherical end of the pestle, while the mercury t( is kept at the point of crushing, and is heated by the , bottom of the mortar, which is kept hot by the bo’iling water which it contains.
From this simple but per- fectly effectual process, may bo learned the principles ‘ on which a perfect gold reducing machine should operate. First.-It should grind the ore to an impalpable povvdor, in order to which it should have a combined rolling and rubbing action. Without perfect pulve- rization tho metal would not be effectually exposed to the action of the mercury. Second.-It should amalgamate at the in- stant of crushing. Otherwise the Bmall par- ticles of gold may escape, by floating off on the waste water, or by becoming coated with mud or refuse, and thus protected from tho action of the mercury. Tlurd.-As u consequence of the lost requirement, it should amalgamate at the point of crushing, or below tile surface of the mercury.
In order to do this, the mercury must be kept constantly at the crushing poiut. Amalgamation ot the bottom of the mercury is a point of great importance. The surface of mercury is covered at all times with a film of oxide, which must interfere materially with the perfection and rapidity of its action in amalgamating. But in addition to this, it is always covered, in practice, with the mud aud re- fuse from the grinding operation, wh’ch much in- creases the difficulty of bringing the finely floured gold into perfect contact with its surface.
At the bottom of tue mercury where it is perfectly pure, both of these difficulties disappear.
Fourth,-It should heighten the affinity between the mercury and the gold by the addition of heat. The increase of affinity produced by heat may be illus- trated by a simple experiment : take a sovereign and dip it in a spoonful of cold mercury, and observe how much it will take up. Then heat the mercury over a lamp, and notice the greatly increased quantity that will cling to the coin. Fifth. It should lose no mercury in the process The loss of o material so expensive has been a serious evil in amalgamating machines. I
t has hitherto been broken up in the process of grinding, and passed off in a finely divided> state with the refuse. These five principles arc found in the Miner’s Assay, and to combine thom in a machine on a large seale was the object Mr. Bordan had in view in the inven- tion of his apparatus.
This object he has attained, with the additional advantage of avoiding the expense which must attend the heating of water in large quantities. The construction of the apparatus is simple, and will at once bo understood by an inspection of the drawings and model exhibited.
The machine, as it now appears, is a very great improvement on the first one made by Mr. Bordan. The first machine was ex- hibited at work in December, 1852. It had but one ball, which weighed only 1700 lbs., and wa3 attached by a universal joint to the central shaft. About twenty of these machines wore made ond sold, but although they woro moro efficient than machines before used, cs , pocittlly when employed upon refuse or tailings, which had already been partially pulverised, they were re § arded by the inventor as entirely too small, and nu- rom perfect.
A few of them wero set up in California and N. Carolina, and obtained from tailings, supposed to be practically exhausted, 19 per cent, of the original riches of the ores. Only eight of these small machines remain in u*e ; all the others having been exchanged by Mr. Benian for large and improved ma- chines, similar to those now at work in England. The first improvement made in the small machines was in- creasing the ball to threo times its original weight.
It was still, however, left attached to the centre shaft. An immense increase of efficiency was the immediate result of this modification. The small ball which had been rejected was, on one occasion, and merely as a matter of curiosity, placed in tho basin alongside the large one, when it was fourni to steady the motion, and increase the rapidity of the reduction. Finally, it was determined to disconnect the large ball from the Bhaft and run both balls loose. This was tried, and the result was perfectly satisfactory, and left the large machine in its present condition, tis shewn in the draw- ings and model, now to be described. It consists mainly of a cast-iron basin, seven feet in diameter, revolving upon an inclined axis or shaft.
In this basin ore placed two cast-iron balls, the larger one thirty-four inches in diameter, and weighing two and’ a half tons, the smaller one twenty-four inches in diameter, and weighing one ton. tinder the basin, and attached to, and revolving with it, Is a furnace of conical form. Tho whole is hung in a strong frame- work of timber, and receives motion from hand, horse, or steam power, by means of simple cog-gearing. The operation is as follows :-Fire is made in the furnace, beneath’the basin ; quicksilver is placed in the basin, and the auriferous ore is thrown in, in lumps of considerable size.
The npparatus is then set in mo- tion ; the balls, by their gravity, revolving in a direc- tion opposite to that of the basin. The two balls, moving in contact with each other and with the in- clined bottom of the basin, receive a spiral as well as a rotor)* motion-a combination which is found to pos- sess the greatest efficiency in the pulverization of the ore. The ore is brought under the balls, and instantly crushed to an impalpable powder. The crushing is effected, of course, at the point of contact between the large ball and basin, and below the surface of the mercury. Thus, the moment the gold is disengaged, it comes in contact with pure and heated mercury, which seizes upon and secures it. The refuse powder rises to the surface of the quicksilver, whence it is carried off, in the form of a thin paste, by a small stream of water, which runs in at the upper side of tho basin, and escapes through suitable openings, just below its rim, into a trough placed for the purpose.
The tailings, or refuse, may thus be preserved for analysis if desired. The novel features of the machine aro bothmeehani col and chemical.
The arrangement of an inclined . revolving basin in connection with balls of corres- ponding size and weight produces n rolling and grinding motion, which it is believed has never here- tofore been attained. The inclination of the basin is, perhaps, the main point of the invention. By it three of the five principles before alluded to arc brought into use.
The mercury and balls ore kept always at the crushing point, and thus tho amalgamation is insured at the instant and at the point of crushing, below the surface of tho mercury. The heating of the mercury is also facilitated by this arrangement. ïor it is ob- vious that if the bottom of the basin were horizontal, and fire wero applied below, the heat would pass through the iron and the mercury to the water above, leaving both metals comparatively cold.
But by the inclination of the basin the bottom is exposed, for more than half of each revolution, to the direct action of”the fire, .without having water above to carry off ., the hoat. Thus when it passess, at a high tempera ‘’^ turo, under the mercury, it effectually communicates ; lieat to that metal, and places it in the best condition for seizing upon the gold as fast as it is liberated.
The chemical novelty consists in the heating of the mercury, which has nover been attempted on a large scale before. It is to be observed, that this machine is not simply a crusher, but that it dees all the work necessary to secure the desired product in combination with mercury. It crushes, washes, and amalgamates at one and the samo operation. The simplicity of its parts, ‘ the almost entire avoidance of friction m its gearing, and the trifling power required to work it, render it an important addition to mining machinery, and worthy of being subjected to every test that practical and scientific men can devise.
It is found that a machine consisting of four basins in one frame, will pulverize, wash, and amalgamate about twenty tons of ore, of average hardness, in ten hours, with fifteen-horse power. Any number of basins can be used in one frame.and driven by one main shaft. .The peculiarities of this invention do not consist in the use of balls and basins ; but, 1st.
The inclining of the shaft on which the basin revolves, which keeps the mercury always at the crushing point, and causes the balls to work by gravity. 2nd. The production of a combined rolling and grinding action by the contact of tho balls ; and 3rd.
The addition of heat to the mercury by means of the furnace below the basin. No machine which does not combine these three peculiar- ities can bo considered as having a resemblance to Berdan’s. This machine 1. Grinds the oro to an impalpable powder. 2. It amalgamates at the instant of crushing. 8. It amalgamates below the surfaco of the mercury. 4, It heats the mercury need iii amalgamating. I 5. It has attached to it nn auxiliary machine, which entirely prevents loss of mercury. This auxiliary machine is called a separator, and is as simple in ita construction as the principal machine.
A tub of cast-iron is constructed twenty-four inches in diameter, and twenty inches high. In the centre of this tub is placed an upright tube three inches in diameter, having at its lower end, horizontal)* hollow arms attached at right angles to the tube. These arms have at their end» and on one side, narrow slots or elongated openings. Around tho upright tube is placed a sleeve which revolves upon it ;-to this sleeve ore attached vertically adjustable wings or slots ; the sleeve with its wings is revolved in an opposite direc- tion to tho tubo und its arms, by means of a bevel driving wheel attached to the main shaft and mashing into wheels of similar bevel attached at a proper dis- tance apart, one to the sleeve and the other to the tube. The mode of tho operation of the machine is as fol- lows :
Ap quantity of mercury several inches deep is placed in the bottom of the tub, the wings of the sleeve are then so adjusted that they will just clear the surfuce of the mercury when the machine is in motion. The driving shaft being put in motion, the tube and arms revolve, as before stated, in a direction opposite to that of the sleeve and wings. The pulve- rized ore or refuse from an amalgamating machine in suspension in water is fed in through the tube and passes into the arms at its bottom, whence it is driven by centrifugal force through the narrow slot shaped openings at the end and back part of the arms, and passes forcibly out in a thin sheet undcrne.tth the mass of mercury in the bottom of the tub : this mercury by affinity’retains all the floured mercury which “has been broken up in the process of amalgamating, and seizes upon all particles of gold which may have es- caped the previous operation, while the pulverized mutter, suspended in water, rises to the top of the mercury, and being kept in suspension by the . opera- tion of tho wings, is driven to the top of the tub, and passes off through an exit spout provided for the pur- pose.
This machine need not be confined to the scpa tion and saving of floured mercury from the refuse from other machines, but it may also be used as an in- dependent amalgamator. Having thus described the machine, shewn its adaptation to the purpose of gold ore reduction, and stated the power required to work it, it only remains to show the comparative expenso as regards other, but imperfect, modes of doing the same work.
So just how was everything going on the western goldfields of NSW at this time?
24th June 1854
One useful indication we have of the numbers of miners on the fields is the numbers of licenses issued. This should not be taken as an exact measure however as one miner may well have purchased multiple licenses a year if buying them on a monthly basis. All up 11,550 licences were issued for the western goldfields including Sofala, Tambaroora, Avisford, Ophir, and Bathurst. To the south 15,552 licences were issued for the southern goldfields including including Majors Creek, Bells Creek, Araluen, Mongalo, and Tuena
24th June 1854
For the western gold fields, including Sofala, Tam- baroora, Avisford, Ophir, and Bathurst, the gross amounts for the year of each branch in the return are as follows:
Fees paid on quartz veins . 14 Fees paid on gold per escort and sale of bags… £5 l8 10 Transfer of claims, 10s. each . 45
LICENSES Crown lands, 30s. each. 10,493 Ditto, 15s. each. 730 Private lands, 16s. each . . 76 Ditto, 7s 6d. each . 15 Traders, 30s. each . 1,243
Total number of licenses issued. 11,550 Amount received for licenses under the above above .£16,976 12s
5 LICENSES Crown lands, 10s. each.14,914 Private lands, 5s. each. 99 Traders, 10s. each . 807
Number of licenses issued . 15,552 Amount received for licenses under the reduced rates .£8,002 4 11½
For the southern gold fields, including Major’s Creek, Bell’s Creek, Araluen, Mongalo, and Tuens, the gross amounts of each branch in the return are as follow :
Occupation fee, British subjects, 30s. … 36
LICENCES — Crown lands, British subjects, 30s. … 1,075 Ditto ditto 15s. … 24G Private lands ditto 15s, … 2,105 Ditto ditto 7s. Gd. … 123 Ditto, foreigners. 30s. … 4
Total number of licenses under these rates 4,579 Amount received under ditto .£4,898 17 6 Occupation fees, only charged in Starch last at Major’s Creek and Araluen … 26 Licenses — Crown lands, 10s. caoh.3,206 Private lands, 5s. each.1,438 Total number of licenses under these re- duced rates .4,730 Amount received under ditto .£2,009 0 0 General total of licenses issued under both rates.9,309 General total of amount paid under both rates.£0,008
30th June 1854
An even more useful reference comes in the form of the commissioner for the Western Goldfields report to the Legislative Council at the end of June. Here he speaks of a vibrant array of goldfields with good prospects and the energy of around 7,000 people invested in them.
He notes a cautionary tale not to be too swayed by the actual gold delivery figures as many miners were avoiding the costs of consigning their gold to the escorts by taking it on a perilous journey to town themselves under various guises.
30th June 1854
The population of the Ophir gold field has somewhat decreased since my last, and the number of licenses obtained here does not now exceed 60. Several instances of great success have come under my knowledge, and I believe the few diggers still clinging to the present gold field have no reason to be dissatisfied with the results of their perseverance.
There are two public houses at Ophir. Postal com- munication with Sydney once a week. The Government establishment consists at present of one clerk, one sergeant of police and two troopers, two of whom are mounted.
The diggings at the Turon and neighbourhood still continue to prosper, and gold has been discovered in seveial new localities. On the Two Mile Creek, a tributary of the Turon, some new diggings have been opened with every pros- pect of future success, want of water has for the mo- mont retarded their development.
On the Wattle Flat tableland, and about six miles from Sofala, in the direction of Bathurst, very rich deposits have been found, and there are at present from 400 to 500 dig- gers on this flat, which much resembles the tableland of Tambaroura, the formation, timber, and soil being identical with those of that place in appearance, and should water be obtained in sufficient quantities, I should not be surprised to see these diggings main- tain an equally large population.
In the mean time, buildings are springing up in all directions, and the town of Sofala bids fair to migrate from the river bank to the high lands—several houses have already been removed and others are being pulled down for the pur- pose of removal. Public houses have spuing up like mushrooms, and are already engaged in their debasing traffic.
On the Turon itself, new ground has been marked off on Erskine Flat, and the few who have as yet got down to the washmg stuff have been well repaid for their labour. Messrs Boyd, Lestage, and Company are making vigerous efforts to enable them to commence operations on Ration Hill—their intention being to form a reser- voir on the top of the hill, to which, a height of some ninety feet, the water will be raised by means of a steam pump. From the reservoir a sluice will be constructed, and the whole surface of the claim down to the bed rock will be submitted to its opera- tion. This undertaking, I consider, is of much im- portance to the further development of the Turon, as should this method prove remunerative (and I believe it will), every point on the River may be worked in a similar manner, with a nearly equal chance of success.
The Messrs. Eaton’s Company, who are working an auriferous tract at Pattison’s Point have after much labour and expenditure brought their claims into something like working order, and I believe are now procuring a fair quantity of gold, considering that they are still at what may be termed preliminary operations, their exertions having been principally directed to facilitate the after-procuring of gold.
At Palmer’s Oakey Cieek, a tnbutary of the Turon, a few diggers are at work, with tolerable success. At all events the yield appears sufficient to support two public houses, erected at this out of the way place.
These new discoveries on all sides of the Turon tend to exhibit it as the centre of a very extensive gold field, independent of the riches contained within its own valley—but with a gold bearing country of such vast extent, and with so small a number of prospectors it is only by mere chance that a new field is stumbled upon. There are forty four public-houses on this river and neighbourhood.
The Government Establishment con- sists of two assistant commissioners, one sub gold commissioner, and one clerk. One sergeant major of gold police, one sergeant and nine troopers five of whom are mounted. There is a post to Sydney three times a week, and an escort once a week.
The population of the Tambaroora goldfield con- tinues to exceed that of any other in my district, but in spite of the increased numbers, the yield appears to be satisfactory—a very large tract of promising coun- try still remains unworked, and I consider that this field will for some years continue to afford profitable employment to a considerable population.
Near Golden Gully, a quartz vein of exceeding richness has been discovered by and granted to, Mr. J. Withers His specimens are very beautiful, and the matrix richer than any I have seen elsewhere, as yet only a thread of quartz, less than a foot wide, and running parallel with the main vein, has been opened. Should the mass, on trial prove equally impregnated with the precious metal, there can be little doubt but that the claim will prove valuable.
The Royal Vein, at the Dirt Hole, is being worked by Messrs Cole and Company; but their machinery, although good of its kind, is on too small a scale to effect much. The yield fiom this quartz is very con- siderable, and with better machinery it would, I think, pay well for crushing. At present they only grind about one ton per week , the gold in this vein being so fine, that the matrix must be completely pulverised before the quicksilver can do its work.
Several other rich veins are known to exist in this locality, and to promote then being worked, Mr. Spence, the manager of the Colonial Gold Company, intends erecting large crushing mills near Tambaroura.
This will enable all who possess valuable veins, but want the means to procure the necessary and costly machinery, to make terms with Mr. Spence, and de- velop their claims, and I cannot help recording here the benefit that the manager of the Colonial Gold Company has conferred on the gold fields of this dis- trict by his energy and perseverance, in testing the one branch of gold mining to which he has mainly devoted his attention, viz., quartrz crushing.
On the lower Turon there are still about 20 diggers at work, with average success, and much ground re- mains untouched. The Lower Pyramil is at present deserted, and at the Dirt Hole very few miners remain. there are now 26 public-houses in the Tambaroura District A large market garden is now flourishing on the piece of land applied for some time ago by William Wade, and vegetables are procurable at a reasonable price.
This undertaking has proved highly remune- rative to the projector, and is a great convenience to the population. The Government establishment at Tambaroura con- sists of one assistant gold commissioner, one sub gold commissioner, one sergeant and seven troopers of the gold police, five of whom are mounted.
The operations of the Colonial Gold Company at Louisa Creek have nearly arrived at that point when the real value of the claims may be fairly tested, and the question whether this particular vein will pay or not will soon be determined. The large engine has been at work for five or six consecutive days, and as far as I can ascertain, with profitable results. The machinery works beautifully, and answers as well as could be wished, I understand it is capable of crushing two tons of quartz per hour. Since my last report a great amount of work has been done on these claims. An enormous dam has been constructed, holding back some thousands of tons of water.
Per- manent kilns for calcining the quartz have been made, and numerous buildings erected. The labour under ground has also been considerable, and numerous piles of the matrix await the commencement of regular operations,—the principle aim hitherto having been directed to the one end, of preparing everytlnng for continuous working, when once enabled to commence crushing.
These works are well worthy the inspection of all who feel interested in gold mining A collector of royalty resides near the works. There are still about one hundred diggers on this creek.
The numbers on the Meroo gold field have varied little since my last report; the population generally being of a settled description. Indeed, evidences of a more healthy style of occupation are visible on all our gold fields, good huts have been erected, gardens made, and hives of bees are frequently seen about the dig- gers’ cots.
Women and children in a much large pro- portion now follow their relatives to the diggings. New places are occasionally opened on this river, and generally with success, altogether I believe the diggers have small reason to complain.
Ground in this neighbourhood that would employ large numbers still remains untouched for want of a sufficient popula- tion At the Pyramil, on Mr Suttor’s land, a new gully has been tested with every promise of suc- cess, nuggets as much as six ounces in weight have been taken out, and some of the diggers have already done well. There are at present only some twenty to thirty on this spot, which in appearance is similar to thousands of acres surrounding it, perhaps equally rich.
There are Twenty-two public houses in the Meroo district, a post once a week to Sydney, and a weekly escort via Sofala. The Government establishment consists of two as- sistant commissioners, one sub commissioner, one ser- geant and eight troopers of gold police, seven of whom are mounted.
Burrendong has lately suffered a decrease in num- bers, but I feel confident that the large tract of gold producing country, in this neighbomhood, will ere long again attract the diggers, at present there are not more than one hundred miners at work on this field.
There are two public houses at Burrendong. The Government establishment consists of one sub gold commissioner, one corporal and two troopers of gold police, two of them mounted. There are about seyenteen diggers on Winburndale Creek, which yelds a small but tolerably certain return for labour. A party of Americans have commenced cut- ting a race, and intend sluicing the alluvial— an opera- tion that would be found remunerative on this, as well as on numoious gold bearng creeks, where the yield is not so large as on some of the more favourite fields.
Davys’ Creek, to which there was some time ago a great rush, is now again deserted, and on Caleula and Brown’s Creeks, as well as many of the minor gold fields, there are still scattered parties at work.
In conclusion, I would beg to remark that I have no reason to believe the Western gold fields less pro- ductive than formerly, but the quantity of gold for- warded by escort from this district must not be viewed as exhibiting a correct return of the produce. So many instances have lately come under my own obser- vation, of parties conveying their gold to Bathurst and Sydney, that I feel convinced we much under- rate the quantity transmitted by private hand. The pnce of gold on the field, approximating as it does so closely to the value in Sydney, makes even the small escort-fee an object with buyers—and to save this trifle hundreds of ounces are forwarded at great risk to Sydney, by private opportunity.
Many new diggings have been discovered since my last, in the neighboouhood of the older gold fields, but the mining population continues to be too limited in number to spread over the country in search of the precious metal in entirely new localities. There are now 100 public houses on and near the gold fields of my district.
The population I estimate at about 7000 men, women, and children being one public house for every 70 head of population. I regret to state that drunkenness, on the gold fields as elsewhere is on the increase, and that crime which generally follows its train, is not more infrequent; I can only attnbute it to the generally flourishing state of the diggers.
Rough carpenters are receiving £4 10s. per week, and mining labourers £3, and with provisions very little higher than in Sydney—indeed butcher’s meat is less. It might not perhaps havee been out of place, when remarking on the increase of drunkenness, for me to have brought under the notice of the Government the number of lunatics, ‘from drinking’ to be met with on the gold fields, or in the gaols to which they are con- signed for safety to themselves and others.
I can hardly believe that drinking anything but drugged liquors would produce such frequent and fearful pros- tration of the powers of the mind; and I would, under the impression that deleterious drugs are in some cases mixed with the liquors retailed at the diggings, suggest the appointment of an officer whose duty it should be to inspect, and analyse at any moment, the stock of a publican, with power to seize all improper mixtures. I believe the appointment of a zealous and competant officer, for this end, would have a beneficial effect upon the health of the digging population. I have, &c., (Signed) CHS. H. GREEN, Gold Commissioner, Western District.
Victoria – the elephant in the room
18th July 1854
Turning to an account from the Victorian fields in late July, it is revealing to see some of the major issues being referred to there. Top of this was the issue of forming a local government that would allow the mining communities to manage their own affairs and diminish the role of the magistrates in the life of the diggings.
Significantly also, much discussion is centred upon the growing hostility to the 3,000 to 4,000 Chinese miners on the fields. Calls to expel the Chinese from the field were firmly rejected by the bulk of the goldfields’ community.
18th July 1854
As the population becomes more settled and happy, homesteads raise their heads in the neigh- bourhood of the diggings, we begin to feel their con- serving influence.
When those who have been for some time on these fields look back upon the past, with its history of stickings-up, murder, robbery, and every other crime which the human pussions can give way to, the wonder scorns to be how we have escaped, seeing that in reality we have had so little protection from the Government.
Protection to life and property has depended upon the strong arm of every man, but now sentinels are springing up in all directions. Towns permanent in character are forming on all the principal gold-fields—the great Bendigo will soon be swept away by the uterine city of Sandhurst,—Forest Creek is fast concentrating the chief of its wealth and power in the aristocratic town of Castlemaine.
Ballarat is in energy not inferior to either of those places. Though limited in extent, there is the nucleus of a rising community here, while smaller villages, or em- bryo townships, are rearing their modest heads at short distances from these great centres of the Vic- toria mines. But there are also other influences at work for the benefit of the colony. Magistrates are becom- ing more alive to their duties, and commissioners are beginning to comprehend that they cannot longer eat the bread of the State in idleness.
The public Press has its eye upon those in office, and their shortcomings do not now, as formerly, escape public notice. The highest officials (even his Excellency the Lieutenant Governor) are continually visiting the gold fields, in- duced, it is presumed, by the constant pressure from without to examine matters in a manner best calcu- lated to arrive at the real truth. The Government find at length that the gold mining community will not be contented with anything less than the manage- ment of their own affairs, and have, therefore, freely offered us local government.
The irresponsible reign of the existing local magistrates is being fast brought to a close, and if the new viceroy is the man which it said he is, we shall soon find changes taking place, the effect of which will be little less than electrical. Good government and order will supplant the miserable state of things as hitherto existing; we are strong in hope, therefore, in the “Good time coming.”
The Chinese.-The ill-feeling against the China- men is extending to Forest Creek diggings. An attack was made recently, by a number of the real “ Tipperary boys,” upon the Celestials, and a serious fight ensued. Fortunately, the missiles used were confined to stones and sticks, and the battle ended in favour of Tipperary, after a number on both sides were wounded. Paddy is a patriot of the first order in his own country, and there, content “with his potatoes, his heart expands with love for the oppressed of all countries ; but, transplanted to the Antipodes-to the land of gold-the best which the land alfords will not satisfy his appetite. His patriotism is here thrown to the winds, and he rides the high horse with great complacency. Oh! shame, Paddy; shame on ye!
In my last com- munication I advered to a senseless outcry being raised against the Chinese on the Bendigo. There are now between three and four thousand of these foreigners on this field, and some of the restless spirits among our own countrymen are trying to get up a demonstration against the celestials, with the view of expelling them from the gold mines of Victoria. A meeting, a monster meeting as it was intended to be was con- vened for Saturday, the 24th ultimo, and convened by a Mr. Donovan, who was connected with the late agi- tation against the license tax.
The meeting was in- tended for the double purpose of forming the nucleus of a strong prospecting society for exploring the gold fields districts in search of another Bendigo ; and it was announced in the hand-bills convening the meet- ing, that the question of the location of so many Chi- nese on the Bendigo would be discussed. The meeting took place, and Mr. Donovan addressed it at great length on both topics, and urged the propriety of forming a Prospecting Association, to be maintained by contributions from the diggers and the digging community, and summing up this part of the business by declaring that four thousand subscribers, at five shillings each, would give £1000 as a fund for the purpose, an arithmetical con- clusions which no one present disputed.
It was also proposed that each of the prospecting party was to be paid 20s. per day for his services, by which it was evi- dent that the “ prospects “ of the prospecting party were of a cheering nature.
As regards the Chinamen, it was strongly urged that they should be expelled u* et annis from the gold fields, one of the pleas for their summary ejectment being that they wasted large quan- tities of water in the course of their operations. A practical digger suggested that the proposal of giving 20s. per diem should be withdrawn, and substituting in its stead the stimulus of a handsome pecuniary re- ward to any volunteer party who might discover a new and available gold field.
This more sensible sug- gestion found favour with the meeting, which was not so large as was expected ; and it determined to ad- journ the consideration of both questions until the 4th July, the anniversary day of American independence, as the promoters of the agitation anticipated that they would gain strength on that day by the aid of the Americans, who, it was expected, would, as foreigners, aid in expelling other foreigners from the mines.
As regards the prospecting port of the matter, the feeling of the majority ism favour of it decidedly, if conducted on reasonable principles , but ni reference to the Chinese question, the mind of the public is made up-it is de »d ugainst the idea of treating the Chinese m .m j harsh or cruel manner Sooner than permit the hrst element of the Bittish Constitution, which regards all men alike withm our dominions, there are thousands m ho would volunteer to meet the dis- turbers of the public peace rifle in hnnd But the great bulk of the miners themselves are far too sensible to be cajoled, and relj nig upon this the Gov eminent has issued a proclamation thiough the Resident Commissioner at Bendigo, calling upon the people to uphold the lav, and asking all who hav e any just giound of compl unt against the Chinee to come forward and make the chaige through the proper channel
It is due to the Chinese to record that their demeanour in general has been marked bj submission to the usages and customs of the miners, so far .is they htv e been enabled to understand them In the pro” clnmation the Gov eminent announces that it will take steps to make the Chinese acquainted with these usages and customs This will of course be done thiough the medium of an intciprêter
There will then be no excuse for the celestials, if they rrans gress the laws, but of that theie is little to fear All that they require is quietude to pursue their calling, and it will be a lasting disgrace to the men of these mines if thev not permit them to do so
There is this novel feature in the Victoria Mines, as they are now developing themselves, they are be- coming more scattered, Formerly, nine-tenths of the population were concentrated on three or four of the principal fields, but now they are distributed over a vast tract of country, many parts of which are not ‘yet named, and it is not difficult to foresee that ano- ther year,will work a wonderful change in. Victoria. Let the Government but be equal to the emergency, and all will be well. In regard to markets at the mines, horses have fallen in value about 26 per cent. Working bullocks are in great demand at £50 per pair. The necessaries of life generally are not rising, though still high. Fat bul- locks are not maintaining the prices realised some three t weeks since. Sheep, too, have fallen, but not so much as cattle. j Gold varies in price from £3 18s. 6d. on the Ben- digo, to £4 2s. at Ballaarat. Flour is the same as . when I last quoted.
28th July 1854
The issue of the Chinese on the goldfields non-the-less aroused very strong emotions on both sides of the debate, and the extensive account of the situation written up a week or so after the initial article makes for rivetting reading in terms of understanding the sense of egalitarian tolerance that by and large operated on the field.
28th July 1854
The pro- moters of the disgraceful movement seem now to be thoroughly ashamed of themselves ; the bluff repulses which they met in every turn from the public, and the determined stand made by the Government authorities in opposition to a few demagogues, to raise a “ hue and cry” against the most helpless of all the foreigners on the Victoria- Mines, brought the agitators to a dead lock.
It is creditable to the good sense of the better classes here, that not one of them joined in the move- ment. The whole of the storekeepers, to a man, were in favour of the Chinese, whether or not from the instinctive liberality which characterises John Bull in his dealings with foreigners, it is not for us to say.
The Chinaman is a good customer to the storekeeper, * every shilling which the former earns is spent in stores of all kinds. The Celestials found their enemies in one or two publicans, and the disreputable class who hover about the grog marts, and who are .ready at all times to join in any step countenanced by their patrons.
The secret is, that the Pigtails do not drink the fiery spirits with which the great mass of our countrymen inundate their stomachs, although an occasional son of the flowery land may indulge in a little “shamshoo.” But even among the storekeepers of the diggings the anti-Chinese spirits were in the minority ; in fact, all classes, to their honour, dis- countenanced the illiberal and un-English attack upon men, who, although in a foreign country, and ignorant to a great extent of our laws and customs, have up to this time proved themselves inoffensive and orderly.
All that the anti-Chineso men could get from the public, in public meeting, was a resolution expressive of regret at the appearance of so many Chinamen on the gold fields, and in one sense it is a cause for sorrow, when we consider that thousands of our own countrymen aro drugging out a miserable existence at home, when proper arrangements could transfer them to these colonies. “ Our own countrymen” before any other nation, if we have a choice in the matter, but we have no such alternative.
The whole, or nearly so, of tho Chinese at these mines, aro men who have immi- grated hither at their own expense, and consequently they are independent. If this great influx from a na- tion so low in the scale of progression, t indeed, who may be said to be retrograding, has no other merit, it may stimulate those to their duty who should take more comprehensive and adopt more practical means for promoting the emigration of our own people.
But the few obscure ones who raise the senseless cry against the Chinamen are not content with this view of the case, they seem to think that there are already too many Englishmen, in fact, too many men of every country here, and, therefore, they are anxious to ask the Government to so modify immigration, as to pre- vent the Gold Fields from being overrun. In fact, look at the recent agitation in any light, as it is developed by the resolutions passed, or the declared sontiments of the pro-movement orators, and the same bigotry and ignorance is laid boro-that retrogradingselfishness which can only be superinduced in the minds of those who are too lazy to work, and not ashamed to beg, is so manifested, that the great body of the diggers cry .’shame” on the recent patriots of Bendigo; they naturally ask, is this the time to tyrannise over the Chinamen, when we are spending our life’s blood, and our treasures, to maintain the independence of the Turk ?
And the question is, I hope, set at rest for ever on these fields. We are not going to denationa- lize ourselves. After having knocked the fetters off the slave, are we to put them on the poor Chinaman ? Pkospectino Parties.-Amidst the chaff generated by the recent agitators, it is quite cheering to pick up a little of the more substantial to dwell upon. The organization having thrown overboard the idea of doing violence to the Celestials, have taken to terrestrial matters ; a committee has been formed to seek another Bendigo, and to find it, if they can.
The committee comprises men of all parties, from the aristocratic employés of the government downj to the humble digger ¡ wnether such an odd mixture of ingredients wul ultimately turn out any good, time alone will de- termine. The experience of those who have watched the progress of movements, political and social, at these mines, does not hold out much encouragement for the success of this new body.
That parties are compelled to come whiningly before the public, begging assist- ance in order to go and discover new gold-fields, does not speak much for the old : it must lower the prestige of Victoria in the eyes of our friends at home ; it savours very much of the old cry in England, “ We’ve got no work to do !” &c., The truth is, that all who wish to work can still do tolerably well. They can- not, it is admitted, put their hands on large quantities of gold as they formerly did, for the purpose of going to Melbourne to spend it, or “knock it down,” as theyterm it.
But there arealarge number of persons here who are, unmistakeably, too lazy to work, and too many of them belong to the educated class of miners, or “ gentlemen diggers,” as they are facetiously termed : they came out picturing to themselves a brief and brilliant cam- paign, hoping, in their hallucination, to cut, with their effeminate picks, a short road to fortune ; the mist having cleared away, they now see that in no calling or employment is there more energy required than in gold-digging. “ Industry is the mother of good luck,” says the proverb, and industry is the key to success in the varying fortunes of a gold-digger’s life.
The few exceptions, as usual, prove the rule. Those who thought otherwise have, to their cost, found out their error. And what is still more, the affirmative of the proverb is not always realised by every one who prac- tically carries out ita truth-in gôld-digging the indus- trious are not always successful. I could relate the unrequited efforts of scores who have worked hard and long at these fields, and who have left them, after two years’ trial, in a state little above that of beggars ; they have toiled and worked thus long, and then have been compelled to acknowledge that, so far as they were concerned, gold-digging was a phantasy.
And these have been men from the labouring or artizan classes, to whom work is not irksome. What wonder then, that there are a large number of educated men, who were taught to rely on their minds alone for support, who are despairing at their ill-success ? Let another Ben- digo be discovered, and fortune will still frown on thousands ! This is the true light in which to view1 gold-seeking ¡ and he who regards not the shadows as well as tho lights of the picture, may chanee to find by experience that “ all is not gold that glitters.”
Victoria’s eureka moment
4th December 1854
Some idea of the dynamic lead up to the stockade conflict comes from an account printed in South Australia of the unfolding events at Ballarat. It appeared in print the day after the actual stockade uprising, though in a non digital world accounts of such matters took several days to emerge.
4th December 1854
It was said that the departure of the detachment of the 40th Regiment, which has been quartered on the diggings for several weeks past, and which reached Melbourne on Saturday evening, was the signal for a fresh outbreak. It is cer- tain that a company of the 12th ttegiment, eighty strong, under the command of Captain Atkinson, is to leave for Ballarat this morning; but we have not received in- formation that any actual riot had occurred.
A gentle- man, who left the diggings on Saturday morning, states that the greatest excitement prevailed on the subject of the abolition of the licence-fees, and the notice of a meet- ing to take place on Wednesday, and which we append, would appear to indicate that fact.
A meeting was to take place subsequently, at which it was proposed to de- mand the instantaneous ‘ unlocking’ of the lands, and at which large numbers of the discontented from Ben- digo and other neighbouring gold-fields were to be pre- sent.” The placard to which allusion is made in the above paragraph is as follows : — ‘Down with the Licence-Fee! Down with despotism! ‘ Who so base as be a slave ?’
On Wednesday next, the 29th instant, at 2 o’clock, a meeting of all the diggers, storekeepers, and inhabitants of Ballarat generally, will be held on Bakery-hill, for the immediate abolition of the licence-fee, and the speedy attainment of the other objects of the Ballarat Reform League.
The report of the deputations which have gone to the Lieutenant Governor to demand the release of the prisoners lately convicted, and to Creswick and Forest Creeks, Bendigo, &c, will also be submitted at the same time. All who claim the right to a voice in the framing of the laws under which they should live, are solemnly bound to attend the meeting, and further its objects to the utmost extent of their power. N.B. — Bring your licences, they may be wanted.’ It was generally reported that the request to bring their licences arose out of a precon- certed arrangement to submit a proposition to the meeting for burning those documents.
Nothing further appeared in the Argus of the 27th, but the next day’s paper contained the following partial confirmation : — ‘The information published in yesterday’s Argus as to in outbreak of the Ballarat diggers having occurred ap- pears to be mainly correct. The Government received a letter on Saturday, from one of the police officials at Bal- larat, stating that a riot was apprehended, and noticing the fact of the placard, which we printed yesterday, having been posted over the diggings.
It was then de- termined to send up a small military detachment, whose presence it was considered would have a salutary effect in preventing any overt act of rioting on the part of the diggers. ‘ Yesterday morning further information was received to the etfect that disturbances had actually occurred, and that a large body of discontented diggers had secured the persons of Commissioner Rede and Inspector Evans, de- claring at the same time their intention of holding them in their custody as hostages for the men now undergoing imprisonment in the Melbourne Gaol for being concerned in the burning of the Eureka Hotel. “
In consequence of this information, the Government despatched yesterday, in addition to seventy rank and file of the 12th Regiment, under the command of Captain Atkinson, a company of the 40th Regiment, lifty strong, commanded by Captain Wise, and who were conveyed by steamer to Geelong, en route to Ballarat. We hear also that the mounted police troopers are under orders to proceed to the scene of action, and that they leave to- day, taking with them two pieces of artillery.
It is re- ported that large drafts from the City and District Police will be made for the same service, their places being supplied by special constables, who are to be sworn in forthwith.” The Melbourne Morning Herald of the 28th ult., in its version of the Ballarat disturbances, speaks of the intended fortification of the Go- vernment camp. We extract the paragraph referred to:— ‘It turns out to be true that a serious emeute has taken place at the Ballarat diggings. A
uthentic infor- mation states that the diggers have risen against the Camp, and Mr. Commissioner Rede and a sub-inspector of police are prisoners, having been captured by the mob. They are, it would seem, held as hostages for the compliance of the Government with the demands of the rioters. Several American Waggons were yesterday pur- chased, and 80 men of the 12th Regiment were promptly despatched to the scene of action. At the same time Captain Pasley, R.E., the Colonial Engineer, went up to Castlemaine with a party of sappers and miners, to fortify the Camp in such a manner as to prevent the probability of such a catastrophe there.” The Age (a new daily paper) of the 28th gives the following version of the affair : — “
A gentleman who left Ballarat yesterday, and arrived in Melbourne last night, called at our office and informed us that, in consequence of the wide-spread disaffection and the numerous desertions of the soldiers at Ballarat, the authorities had decided on sending to Melbourne for another detachment of military, in anticipation of fresh disturbances which are expected to ensue should the Governor decide on refusing to liberate the three men con- victed of burning the Eureka hotel.
In accordance with this desire, a detachment of the 12th regiment, yesterday evening, set out for Ballarat on horseback, with thir- teen pieces of cannon. Our informant is fearful that this act will exasperate the diggers to renewed distur- bances; but he thinks there will be no outbreak until the return of the deputation appointed to wait on His Excellency, which will be in a day or two.
There is no truth in the rumour which was current in town yes- terday, to the effect that the Colonial Secretary had set out for Ballarat ; but there seems to be a determination of the strongest kind on the part of the diggers to effect the release of the three prisoners at all hazards and by every means. Probably to-day will bring more definite intelligence.” T
he Argus of the 25th ult. contains the fol- lowing:— ‘THE DIGGERS AND THE GOVERNMENT. — Mr. J. B. Humffray, secretary of the Ballarat Reform League, along with two gentlemen from Forest Creek, had an interview on Thursday with His Excellency. They waited upon him, not as a deputation, but as private indi- viduals, and were introduced by J. P. Fawkner, Esq., M.L.C., with regard to the leasing of auriferous land, and the general management of the gold-fields. His Ex- cellency stated that he had done nothing, and would do nothing till the Commission recently appointed had given in its report, as he wished to be guided by its de- cision.
This included the question of the gold commis- sion and the licence-fee. If the Commission recommended their abolition, he was prepared to accede to it. On the subject of representation of the diggers, His Excellency said he had nominated a gentleman to a seat in the Council on condition that he should give it up if wanted by the diggers, and that this seat was at their service if they could concentrate their choice on any one individual. Mr. Humffray brought before him the case of the three diggers now in prison for rioting at Ballarat, and wished to know if he would release them on a petition being presented in their behalf, but His Excellency declined to commit himself by any promise on the subject.
This is the purport of the interview as communicated to us by Mr. Humffray himself, who expressed himself satisfied with the sincerity and liberality of feeling which His Excellency evinced.” THE LATE OUTRAGE AT BALLARAT. — We have been in- formed that Messrs. Black and Kennedy, two of the com- mittee appointed by the diggers at Ballarat to watch the proceedings in reference to the trials of M’Intyre, Fletcher, and Westerby, who have been convicted for being concerned in burning the Eureka Hotel, arrived in Geelong yesterday from Ballarat, and proceeded to Mel- bourne overland in the afternoon.
The object of their visit to Melbourne, we understand, is to demand the release of the three prisoners who have just been con- victed for the part they took in the late outrage at Bal- larat. A monster meeting of the diggers will be held next Wednesday at Ballarat, when the answer of the Government to this demand will be stated. — Geelong Advertister. THE DIGGINGS. — The following are items of intelli- gence to the 18th instant, which have been obligingly furnished from official sources :— Avoca — Population estimated at 3,500; licences issued during the week, 323 Miners display more activity than usual. Some claims in the deep sinking (40 feet) have proved rich; the ground, however, is patehy.
The Amphitheatre is on the decline. A puddling machine has been established near the camp, which appears to answer well. Mary borough.— Population estimated at 11,000; licences issued during the week, (ill. The rush to Creswiek’s Creek has continued, and I think that not less than 3,000 persons have left here for that place during the past week. Another very rich quartz vein has been opened between Blackmail’s Gully and Carisbrook. From the specimens I have seen, I should imagine that, with pro per machinery, an increased amount of gold might be produced fiom it.
The quartz hill first opened con tinues to yield large quantities, one man and his son having washed 200 ounces from their claim during the week. Golden Point.— Population estimated at 2,220; licences issued during the week, £376. Considerable activity prevails throughout the district; the flats and alluvial workings on each fide of Forest Creek attracting numbers daily, and applications for leave to erect puddling machines continue on the increase.
In conse quence of bo many people being thu3 engaged in draining those low grounds, it becomes an important question, whether, should we have a dry summer, a scarcity of water may not be appre hended. Already there is less water on most of these ilats than at any time last summer. The Chinese population has considerably increased during the week. Fryer’s Creek.— Population estimated at 5,200; ‘licences during the week, £315. No remarkable change has taken place in this locality daring the week. Mount Frankfyn.— Population estimated at 1,450; licences iisued during the week, £318. In consequence of an unusually dry winter, the creeks have failed much sooner than usual, and several parlies who had chums for sluicing have been obliged to (rive them up, in conse quence of the insufficient supply of water.
A gully, near the head of Sprinsr Creek, has been opened, and afso one above the Upper Wombat Flat, both having turned out well. Some parties having tunnelled into a hill on the side of Doctor’s Gully, have found a good vein of gold, which has caused a rash to that locality, and I have no doubt, ere long, new leads will be discovered.
At the Bold Hill we were Informed some parties were doing well at the Deep Creek, beyond Egan’s. Tarrengower.— Population estimated at 1,125; licences issued during the week, £40. No change of any importance has occurred in this district the past week. Bet-Bet.— Popu; lation estimated at 500 ; licences issued during the weekr £71. Creswkk’s Creek appears to’be thft point of attrac tion, andrthe population is rapidly draining away in that direction, but otherwise there is nothing of impartanee to communicate. — Mount Alexander Ifui7. The Bailaju.t Bank EoBBEsr.— The three men charged with this robbery were re-examined on the 241 h ult., before the Magistrates of the District Oourt, and further remanded for seven days. Mrs. Ceisholm’s Visit to tub Gold-Fields.— The attention of persons interested in the public welfare of the gold-fields has liitlierto been almost wholly direetetl to political reform.
A new and energetic spirit is at work among us now, and prompted by the highest feelings of benevolence, philanthropy, and a desire for the amelioration of her tellow-ereatures, the great and good Mrs. Chisholm is applying the energies of her masculine mind to the subject of social reform among the people of the dijrgin^s. This is a jrrand and impor tant work, and demands the earnest co-operation of every dweller on the mines.
Mrs. Chisholm in her short aud hurried visit to the gold-fields has managed to col lect a vast amount of information relative to the condi tion of the diggers. That Mrs. Chisholm may be enabled to carry out the mighty and excellent ends she contem plates, must be the desire of every wise and worthy member of society throughout the colony. The influence of Buch a spirit as hers has iong been wanting on the gold-fields, and we hail its approach with the liveliest feelings of satisfaction, and with the highest confidenceFix this text in ths result* of its untiring and beneficial workings. — Btndigo Aihertuer.
8th December 1854
Several days later, detailed reports of the actual affray were printed in papers like the Hobart Colonial Times giving us a direct insight into the drama and events of the moment. While order was quickly restored in the wake of the battle, the aftermath of the stockade would have a major influence on goldfield management in Victoria in the coming year – 1855.
8th December 1854
Express from Melbourne. THE London, steamer, startled our Hobart town not a little yesterday afternoon hy her sud- den advent into the harbour. The anxiety was increased when it became known that her purpose was no other than to bring despatches of extreme importance from Sir Charles Hotham to the Lieut.-Governor, and to take back immediately a reinforce- ment of troops.
Col. Reeves, 99th Regt., was in charge of the despatches. She brings a mail with papers to the 4th, The Government has, with great consideration, supplied us with the Argus of the following day, from which we are able to complete our accouut.
Monday. 3 a.m. At the above hour a gentleman arrived at this office who had ridden through express, leaviag Ballarat at half-past one yesterday. He brings us the following disastrous report: (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT )
At four a.m. this morning (Sunday) the troopers advanced on the right of the Warraneep Gulley, and another division on the left of the Eureka line, encompassing the camp of the dig- gers.
A shout was raised, and after a sharp firing of about twtnty minutes the troopers called to the soldiers, who were advancing, that it was all over. T
he camp of the diggers was constructed on piles of slabs collected from the neighbouring holes. . I enclose the official return, as known at 9 a.m To-morrow you shall have the real truth.
I do not believe but that the loss of the military, to say nothing of the wounded, is considerably more than acknowledged. Ballarat, December 3rd, 1854—Sir,—I have the honor to inform you that the casualties on the part of the military, are, 1 private of the 12th regiment killed, 2 privates of 40th killed. Capt. Wise, 40th, is dangerously wounded, Lieutenant Paul, 12th, seriously wounded. Several privates of 40th and 12th more or less wounded.
No official return has yet been made, but the corres- pondent of the Argut can have it to-morrow, by applying at tho Camp. “ One hundred and twenty-five prisoners made, but the casualties on the part of the insurgents are not known. “ I have the honor to be, Sir, “ Your most obedient servant, “ROBT. REDE, “ Resident Commissioner.” In the case of Capt. Wise, amputation is con- sidercd necessary, he having received two wounds in the legs.
This is but the beginning of the end. The reporter of the Ballarat Times has been taken, and his life was with difficulty saved from the hands of the infuriated soldiers. A colored man, recognised by a soldier, would have been shot at the Camp had it not been for the officers. Nearly all the ringleaders are taken. Fifteen are lying dead in the Eureka Camp.
Sixteen are dangerously wounded. A German has received five different wounds. The Eureka Camp, as well as stores and tents in the neighbourhood, have been burnt to tha ground, and considerable loss of property has ensued thereby. A former reporter for the M. M .Herald, a Mr Haslam, was shot in the shoulder by the troopers.
The London Hotel is the chief repository for the dead and wounded. The troopers swept the dig- gings, and are making several captures now at the moment of writing.
The most harrowing and heartrending scenes amongst the women and children I have witnessed through this dreadful morning. Many innocent persons have suffered, and many are prisoners who were there at the time of the skirmish, but took no active part. 10 a.m. Several waggons containing wounded and confiscated property have passed on their way to the Camp.
At present every one is as if stunned, and but few are to be seen about. The flag of the diggers “ The Southern Cross,” as well as the “ Union Jack,” which tbsy had to .hoist underneath, were captured by the foot police.
Had the diggers fired longer the loss to the military would have been immense, and they, as it was, acted with a precision and regularity admired even by the officers of the military. Report says that only a small division of the diggers were attacked this morning, merely a guard of relief enough to protect the “ Eureka camp.”
Of the rest, some were off duty, but the majority were in the bush, and guarding the roads to Mel- bourne and Geelong.—Argus Dec. 4. From the Argus, December 5, we take the following
The following remarkable scene at the inau- guration of the “ Australian fl ig,’* and tbe organi- sation of the first “ rebel army in these colo- nies, was narrated to me says the Correspondent of the Geelong Advertiser, by an intelligent gen- tleman who was an eye-witness of’the greater part of the proceedings.
Observing a large crowd of men collected on tho Bakery Hill, on Thursday last, ho rode up to tee what was going on. On arriving there, he found a tall flag-staff erected, on which was floating a. bine Bug with a white cross upon it. In each corner ‘of the cross, and in its centre, was a blue’star, the five stars representing, he was informed, the five’Australian colonios.
Around the flagstaff (ho diggers, for such the mnjority appeared, stood with-rifles in their hands, or revolvers at their sides. In the centie a large open circular »pace was loft, in which, and at the foot of the fUg-ttsff.’was a stump, and the committee of tbo armed assemblage The leader or principal maa of the committee, now mounted the. itumpj and called apon »11 prosont to swear allegîanco fro the flag that waved ovor thom;’and to« ac- knowledge no other.
This ceremony being gono through, nearly ovory one present then ,woitt to the stump and signed a largo document of some kind. The leader was a ‘ tall, good-looking man, an Irishman, who evidently had seen some- thing of military service somewhere-most likely, from his accent, in Mexico-and who spoko in a tono of authority, and displayed good temper and much ability. With bim wero two or throo foreigners, – also genteel mili- tary loolcing men – »ho took a very conspicuous part jn tua proceedings.
After all had signed the p’apor at the flump, tlio loader again ascendod tin’ stump, and in a mild but firm voice s’iid it would be necessary that organ- isation should immediately bo eftVoted, and re quested that the requisite number of voluiitrers for tho first company should step forward. To this request a number of men acceded, when tho commitioo having bolccted an officer and eighty of the oandi lÄtes. all armed with a riflp or tow. ling piece, a spaoo Was oponed in tho ring, and tho lender again mounting the stump, said, “ Comrade», assist mo to pray for thu safety ol’ tlieio men “ Ho then requested them to march off in tho direction of the Gravel Pits, and call- ing upon those present to follow his example, he bared his head, kiiidt on ouo knee, raised his rifle and faco to Heaven, and said-” Bloss ihi’Se men that goto fight for their rights nnd libertios. May lioayen shield thom from dan- ger.”
The ¡.eoond, third, fourth, and firth oom puny were formed in a t-imihr manner, the samn benediction bMiig pronounced on their departure from theslu > p. On tho formation of the sixth being attempted, it was found that there were about a dozen men shor¿ of tho eighty for want of muskets or rifles. Tho loader imnicdiatoly ordered the deficiency to be made up by those who had revolver». About a hundred presented themselves, and tvtflho nero chustn to makeup the company, who nvirohed off in tho samo roan l ner as the others hid done. My informant who, I from a personal and private intimacy with many present, hld ticen allowed to remain a spectator w^s now requested to si^n the paper the others had done* Declining to do so, some angry and threatening language was used, but through tho intervention of some of those ho knew, no vio- lence was offered.
He, however, thought it pru- dent to withdraw in time The usual number of exaggerated reports con- tinue to be flying about this morning in refer- ence to affairs at Ballal at A mounted trooper arrived empress from Melbourne with a request from the Government that no powder should bo delivered from tho magazine ; and that nune should bo allowed to leave town for tho diggings, if possible. The appearance of tho trooper’s reeking horse, induced bomo one to suppose wh.it his errand was ; and it was confidently rumoured shortly after his arrival that the diggers had again attacked the military, were getting tho beat of the fight, and would likely bo in possess- ion of the Camp before the reinforcements from Melbourne would arrive The passengers by the coaches report variously,-some that thoy think tho physical force party have had enough of it at preterit, and will bido their time for a more fuvorablo op poitunity ; others, that thoy aro thoroughly sa ti.ficd; while sotre say that the organisation of fresh hands is bung proceeded nilli, and that strong reiiilbrceinen’sare expected from Bendigo. Crcsvtick’s Crick, &c.
Among the killed are reported to be two well known characters-one an Italian named Uai valho, who held Iho office of brigadier in the Roman nrmy, and acted as secretary to the cele- brated Mazziui at the siege of Rome ; the other is a Mr. Ross, a Canadian, one of the deputies appointed by the diggers. Several of the wounded have arrived in Geelong, and arc being cared for. The particulars of the nffiay alluded to are stated iu a subsequent letter as fol- lows ? Tho insurgent pirty had been out most of Saturday, .on various duties, ono of which was watching of.er tho rumoured approach of sonio additional force, which it was thoir intention to wait for, and, if possible, drive back. Not having fallon in with this party, thoy returned to tho encampment at Enr.’ka, where a kind of barricade or stockade of slabs had been crocted. Here, after orders when to re-assomblo,- the whole force was ordered to go home.
This, most of them did, unless a few, somo ona hun- dred and fifty m»n, who would not go home. Outposts wore usually placed a long way out, in this instance there wero none ; and through somo instant communication on this subject to the authorities, they wero made awaro or this fact, and determined to surprise thom. The first intimation which was given of the presanco of Her Majesty’s troops, was either a demand from the officer in command that the insurgents should lay down their arms, or elsa a trumpet blast at some one hundred yards distant from the Stock- ade. When ihe demand was made, either a negative answer or silence was the result. Thu troops were then ordered to firo as had beon agreed on-two rounds of blank cartridges.
Tho diggers returned the fire. Five soldiers fellat thfl’first fire. The troopers and a few foot J polico were present, but at samo distance. Too main fighting part devolved on the soldiers Tho diggers, as I said before, numbered some ono hundred and fifty. They wero in several divi sious, riflemen, &c, in all five. After a contest of about from fifteen to twenty minutes the whole affair was over.
The insurgont party were thrown into irremediable confusion, from the di vision having revolvers, in sheer daring, running up towards (he soldhrs to ensure a botter aim, and thereby preventing the riflemen and other i comrades from supporting them. The stockade was ultimately surrounded, and those who still remained taken prisoners and marched off to the camp.
When the soldiers had once tasted blood they became violent, and had not the officers -used every exertion, the prisoners would have boen murdered on the spot. When it was clearly seen by the officers that no further resistance was of- fered, they whbed no more blood shed. Mr Com- missioner Amos is also most favorably spoken of; he saved two lives which else would have been instantly sacrificed Mr Commissioner Johnstone interfered in a praiseworthy manner to preserve property which had been -ot on fire, and eventu- ally succeeded in saving it.
But, after giving credit where it is due, I mmt piotist against the barbarities practised by tho mounted troopers Those who had taken the law into their own hands were punished by the soldiers, those who were warned and perfeotly innocent of rebellious notions, were murdered, fired at, and horribly mangled by the troopers.
The names of the officers commanding the trooper* on the morning in question should be in- quired after by His Excellency ; their allowing suoh barbarities to be carried on should disqualify them from service u ider any civilised Govern- ment. Some men are killed outright others are danger- ously wounded, and a few slightly hart from shots and sword marks from the troopers, who, after the fight was all over and all resistance pissed hy, kept up firing at such unfortunates as pre sented themselves from the doorway» of tents to see what was going on.
Ono man, after the resistance hid ceased, walked qu.etly from one of the tents in jjho neighbourhood to where a body of mounted po- lice was stationed with a few soldiers Three of the police dashed at him, asked him to join their force, «nd on his refusing, o- the score’of ill-health, one of them deliberately drew »pistol and shot him ; tho hall hit him on the right breast, but as he did not fall, he was marcbed to the main body, and there handcuffed Some of the police threatened him with their swords, and asked, for leave to shoot him ; one of the offi- cers would not allow this ; ami as an opportu- nity offei ed ho mado a dash, and although fired at again succeeded in reaching his own tent, where he now lies severely, but I hope not dan- gerously, w undod.
Another instance of a simi- lar kind occurred a little further on. in which the poor victim was severely wounded j and in one or two cases individuals, who considered themselves safe after the firing had ceased, were I brutally Wounded. In addition to Mr. Haslam’s wound, 1 bear that the special of th« Argut has been sufferer from the police ; *’ an anonymous «* ‘ 1 .7 i i j , » i I r scribbler’’ occupies an enviable position here just now. i ‘ The e. itor of the Times has not been arrested, nor is-ho likely tobe. Whatever may be the reason fir it, I have, remarked that tho ordinary’ roports in circulation are less to be reliod on of late than they formerly were ; there is sorno poi- soning influence at work, this is evident from the rumours sot in motion by some party in.town re- port hero of tho seizure of our delegates. Several bodies of those around the harneado, were claimed by their fr end«. I think five of them were uncl.iimod and buried yesterday at tbo same time as the two soldiers. F
rom all that I can make out, there are either 23 or 24 among the killed on the side of the in- surgents, and some 30 wounded ; on the side of the military, 2 privates dead, one dying, and many wounded. Yesterday, about mid-day, the follow- ing waa issued. V. R. Notice, , Government Camp, Ballarat, Dec. 3rd, 1854. Her .Majesty’s forces were this morning fired upon by n large body of evil-disposed persons of various nations, who lind entrenched themselves in a stockade on the Eureka, and some officers and men killed. Several of the rioters have paid, the penalty of their crime, and a large number are in custody.
All well-disposed persons are earnestly requested to return io their ordia ¡ry occupations, and to abstain from assembling in large groups, and every protection will be afforded to them by the authorities. “ ‘; ROBSRT REOS, Resident Commissioner. God save the Queen. I hear that many persons express their deter- mination to go on with their work as usual, It is nearly time that something was done, as many of the ‘ claims on Gravel Pits u-e nearly ruined, owing to the height which the water has riten in the shafts. But is the affair over ? I sincerely hope so, though 1 fear not. Had I somewhat more accu- rate information, I could form an opinion on the subject ; but as we are, no one wishes to appear more than wise than his neighbour regarding the movements of either the insurgents or of the camp. The principal leaders of the insurgents arc still fiec, they made their escape after the Euieka conflict.
Tno facts uf tho unfortunate encounter at Bal- larat, ns we have been enabled to galher them, in addition to the hurried statement received at a late hour yest-rdiy morning, appetr to bo ns follow-. -Up to Sunday morning the offioors and men attached to tho Government Camp, after having fortified their position in as strong ii manner as tim lime would allow, had romaine.) closely enscome I behind their entrenchments. On that day however, having receivod intelli- gence that the main body of the insurgents (ns I hey now appear to bo called) had started off io intercept tho advance of tho anticipated rein forcemeitS i of military from ¿Melbourne, the au- thorities at the Camp determined upon taking the camp of the diggers by surprise; and con- sequently a short timo before daybreak the troops and police were under arms, and just at tho first lil’ith uf dawn (hoy marched upon the camp at Euri ki.
The attack upon the Govern- ment Camp had been so frequently spoken of. that tho ullbiuls determined t» forestal any suuh attempt, and to tako the initiative. From iu qnii Ns we have made we aro Io 1 to believe that this thn a1 of an attack upoi tho camp is uno of the many fabrications that have helped on the present entanglement. At daylight rather moro than three hundred men, military and police, marobed upon tho Eureka camp, tho military f’rniiiig tho centro, and the troopers and police the two winga. ‘1 ho | police on tho right anil left of tho m iin body of soldiers wero enabled, under the heavy fire kept I up, to surround or rather to outfl ink thoso who defended tho insurgent position ¡ tho Bevere firo maintained by the troops soon obliged the diggers to withdtaw from before it ¡ and, as they re troatol, thoy nore pounced upon liy tho polioc, who had covered tho flank and rear of their posi- tion. In this way, the discomfiture of the insur- gents was most complete.
It was leckoued that there wore about two hundred ami fifi y men in in the camp when attacked; and when we reckon about twenty killed, one hundred and twenty-five prisoners, and perhaps three times as many woundod as killed, it will be found that only a very few of the number holding the camp can have escaped altogether. On the two preceding days, during the skir- mishes that had ensued between the diggers and the police, tho diggers had appeared to have lather the bettor of the work, and this moro than aught else induced ‘the authorities to strike a heavy blow, not only to prevent the organization that was going on, but to retrieve their lost honors beforo tho arrival of reinforcements took the chance out of their hands The insurgents, as wo loam, are all, with very few exceptions, diggers, and wo regret to hoar it reported, that vory ro-my of thom aro French, Americans and Germans.
Our informant tells us that groat intimidation is used by those under arms towards tho peaceful and industrious dig- gers no work being allowed, and any maa seen going to his hole being threatened with tho coo sequences. . At Creswlck’s Creek this was more particularly tho eise. Tho men wore all work- ing steadily enough there, until the detachment from Eureka reached them and then they wero told by the leader of this detachment that every one of them that did not come out and fight would be marked, and would be sura to gain i nothing in the end.
Tho principal leader of the insurgents ha» been apprehended. He is stated to have for- merly been in the military profeesion, and has been, for the last few days, indefatigable in his endeavour to give something like organisation to the men under his command. H
e is stated to he an atholio and prepossessing young man, of about thirty years of age, with «vary disposition to enforuo the most rigorous discipline. “ Any man1’ he is reported to have said, “ who is found stealing, or in any way interfering with private property, may look to himself, for as sure as death my gun shall find him out “ Our informant is of opinion that a maia body of the insurgents are still lying in the Warraneed j Ranges, unawar« of the number of ‘troops scut i up against them, and consequently hoping to fall I upon and cut.them off very-easily/ Here they are lying in wait for the troops, stopping or firing on many passengers on the road, our own express having had two shots fired after him. In this they have been wofully deceived,’for whilst they will meet (if they do meet at all with a detachment that on Sunday had reached no farther Bacchus Marsh) with an enemy of far superior numbers to them- selves, they will have left their comrades behind them to be cut off in detail, ‘ and thus complete their discomfiture. All placeB of business ia the camp are closed.
The banks, stores, gold-buying offices-every place Is shut up, men being too engrossed with the pre- sent movement even to read< a newspaper, but walking about silent .and- sullen, as if staggered with the ‘ suddenness and. weight of the present crisis. Those well disposed to the cause of order, ‘who, weare given to understand, form the very large majority of the diggers, are praying anxiously ,for the, arrival of the anticipated reinforcement, as the sound of their tramp upon the diggings is expected at once io restore order ¡ whilst a most anxious wish has been expressed that the Governor would go up on the ground, as it is thought that everything dight be much more’ readily arranged on the spot between HU Excellency aud the dig- gers themselves, than it ever could be by the in- tervention of delegates, proclamations, or peti- tions.
Colonial Times HOBART TOWN, DECEMBER 8. 1854.