By the end of the 1850s the face of gold mining across NSW and Victoria was changing as the original alluvial fields that sparked the gold rush boom were worked out and attention shifted to reef mining activities.

4 February 1860

THE NEW GOLD-FIELD AT THE SNOWY RIVER.

THE accounts which continue to reach us from various quarters in reference to tho new diggings at the Snowy River justify the opinion previously formed that a really payable gold-field had been struck.

Gibson’s Plain is now the great point of attraction, and the prospects of the new diggings form the chief topic of conversation. By this time there must be several thousands of persons on the ground.

Tumut and Adelong, Cooma and Bombala, Queanbeyan and Braidwood, all furnish streams which swell the living tide setting towards the Australian Alps… , and even from Goulburn and the more distant Tuena a similar movement has commenced.

In the absence of any direct communication from the scene of operations, we have endeavoured to collect such infor- mation as we think may be relied on. The following is an extract from a letter received by a respect- able tradesman in Goulburn, from his son at Tumut, January 31.

He says :-” I write to tell you a little about the rush to the Snowy River Diggings, fifty miles from here. People are going there in dozens, night and day; there are not above twenty men left on the reef, and not many more here at Tumut.

There is no mistake about its being a flrst-rate diggings. A neighbour of mine come back last week from there ; he saw seven ounces washed out in the afternoon by a party of five men, and a nugget more than an ounce. Parties from the Reef went to see it, and came back and sold their claims for £150, that a few days before would have fetched £1000. I expect to go next week

My man is gone to get a claim. Every one that comes back gives a good account. A customer of mine has a daughter living up there. She sent him word that two men from her place were getting 30s. per day with a tin dish.” We have seen also a letter from a storekeeper in Tumut, dated January 31.

Speaking of the new diggings at the Snowy River, he says.-”They are getting gold there and no mistake.

There have been 1500 persons pass through Tumut these last four days, and they are still going. But they are going to a very cold place, for there is ice there now half an inch thick. There are dozens out looking for dray-roads to the nen diggings. I have been out these four days, and succeeded in finding a dray-road.

I am pay- ing £50 to cut down one belt of timber. Every one says I will not got in ; but I will. I started three drays last night. Each dray has ten bullocks and sixteen hundredweight of loading—quite enough.

The men who are cutting the road forfeit £50 if they do not take the drays in in ten days.

I am nearly sold out in Tumut. There is not a man left in the town, publican or storekeeper, except “old codgers.” Even our doctor bought a pick and shovel.

The people have all gone mad about the new diggings. It’s no use about my telling the quantity of gold they are getting. Every one is getting it.” We learn that a letter has been received in Goulburn from a party now at work on the new diggings.

The party consists of four, two of whom are from Goulburn. The letter states that in four days’ work the party had made £35 worth each ; and as support- ing this statement we may add that the letter contained a remit- tance of £20, to assist friends to join tho party, and in consequence two have left Goulburn for that purpose.

The gold was obtained in the bed of the river, and the party had commenced working into the bank, but with what success we are not yet aware.

In consequence of the sudden rush of population to a spot hitherto uninhabited, there is of course some difficulty in obtain- ing supplies, and prices of provisions are likely to be very high. We hear that flour was £30 per ton.

This has had its effect on the surrounding markets, and settlers are indisposed to part with their wheat except at high rates. Fuel seems also to be some what scarce on the diggings ; wood has to be brought from a considerable distance, and it is stated that a person engaged carting wood was getting £3 a load for it.

25 February 1860

GIBSON’S PLAINS DIGGINGS. There can no longer be any doubt of the magnitude and importance of the recent gold discovery at Gibson’s Plains.

We have unmistakeably entered a new era in the history of gold mining in the Southern Districts. So wide spread and deep seated an excitement has not possessed the minds of our people since the early days of gold mining…

And it is satisfactory to find that there is really a basis for this excitement that it is founded on no illusion like that which led thousands to Port Curtis to meet dissapointment and misery. The concurrent testimony of men of expe- rience is that one of the richest and most extensive gold- fields ever discovered in New South Wales is just now in course of development.

Nay, the more sanguine even challenge for it comparison with the richest fields of Victoria. Without going so far as this, we think there is abundant cause for congratulation in the fact of this discovery, which by the way has occured most opportunely and will have a very material effect in rousing the colony from the depression under which it has for some time suffered— a depression due in no small degree to the unhappy entanglements of our system of Government.

But the bounty of nature compensates for the blunders of human legislation. It is to be hoped that a wiser use will be made now of the opportunity offered, than has been the case in past time ; that we may be enabled, by giving every rea- sonable encouragement and protection to the miner, and by affording him facility for the invest- ment of his earnings in land, to retain amongst us at least the major portion of that valuable population which the new discovery is certain to attract to this territory.

From the prevalent impression that operations at this new gold-field must cease by the end of next month, an impression which appears to have taken firm hold of the official mind, we think there is danger that the Government may be less prompt in providing for the acquirements of the population in this region, than they otherwise would be.

They may think it right to delay the making of permanent arragements till the ensuing spring. The arrangements already made are in this view, we are aware of a temporary nature.

But we think there is a fallacy in this. At present it is a matter of opinion only how for it may be practicable to work the Kiandra gold- field, during the winter season. The experiment has never been tried.

But it will be tried during the coming season. There are men on Kiandra now as we are informed, who have already made up their minds to face the winter. We may be sure that where plenty of gold is to be had, the weather that will deter men from getting it must be something of an extraordinary character indeed.

It is to be borne in mind too, that persons going now for a temporary visit from the warmer parts of the colony would be certain to form quite an exaggerated notion of the severity of the cold at Gibson’s Plains, and but a limited conception of the power of the human frame to accommodate it- self to circumstances. Much will depend, too, on the degree of preparation.

We apprehend substantial huts will have to take the place of calico tents, and that those who really mean to face the rigour of the approaching season will take precautionary measures in providing themselves with suitable clothing and other accessories of comfort. But supposing the diggers are eventually driven from the plateau on which they are now located, can there be a doubt, looking to the nature of the country and the discoveries already made, that they will find a few miles lower down, other diggings sufficiently remu- nerative to keep them profitably employed in the interim.

There is every reason to believe that this will be the case. The present discovery is but a pre lude to others. In either event, Government must be prepared to provide for the requirements of a large population in the neighbourhood of the newly- opened field. We understand arrangements have already been made for the establishment of a branch escort to Tumut, which will come into operation at once. There is another want that should be supplied with- out delay.

At present postal communication with the new diggings is of a most uncertain and unsatis- factory character. Some sort of postal service should be at once established. There can be no excuse for deferring this to the spring.

THE SNOWY RIVER DIGGINGS. — The Goulburn Chronicle having stated, in a late issue, that the newest route to the Gibson’s Plain Diggings was via Goulburn, Mr William Prescott writes, on the 6th instant, from Eden, Twofold Bay, to the editor of the Chronicle, setting him right upon that point. He says :— “ Giving you every credit for your advocacy of your own fair town (and certainly it does deserve a large share) permit me to say that you have fallen into a great error, I will not say willfully, and to inform intending diggers from the Sydney side that Twofold Bay is the most direct, cheapest, and nearest route, both for travellers and goods intended for transit to that locality.

Eden possesses natural ad- vantages not to be found in any other port on the coast, in its commodious harbour, accessible at all times for vessels of the largest class, its acknowledged superior hotel accommodations, its capacity of receiving stores, and every attention paid to the transit of goods by teams continually travelling ; and when it is considered also that the latest and most reliable information respecting the gold fields can be furnished, combined with the access from Sydney by steam in from twenty to twenty four- hours, and not two days as stated by you, together with its short distance from the gold- fields of from 120 to 130 miles, intending travellers will I am sure see the advantages to be gained by the Twofold Bay route. The A. S. N. Co. have placed their large and efficient fleet on the berth calling at Eden going to and returning from Melbourne ; one of these, the City of Sydney, arrived here yesterday, and after landing her cargo and pas- sengers she proceeded on her voyage to Melbourne.

The steamer Tasmania a regular trader between Sydney, Hobart Town, and Eden, together with a numerous host of sailing vessels. will render the means of transit easy and frequent. I at the same time must join issue with the various correspondents whose communications have lately ap- peared in the local and metropolitan press, and caution persons from a distance who have not been accustomed to a rigid atmosphere against being too precipitate in their movements.

The winter, unless a very mild one, will certainly prevent parties from working in the snow, which is very severe it that place for months. As early as the month of April I have known the snow to fall, and continue at inter- vals until September, which latter month would be the most favourable time for intending diggers to prepare. They would then have the fine weather before them whereas parties going now from a dis- tance would have the fall of the summer season and a dreary wintry prospect to contend with.”

28 February 1860

SNOWY RIVER GOLD-FIELD.

MESSRS Brush and MacDonnell yesterday exhibited at their establishment in George-street some very fine samples of gold from the Snowy River.

The window was crowded all the day long by eager spectators, and there can be no doubt that in many instances the sight of the precious metal dispelled all thoughts of the frost, and completely melted the snow.

Many were the expressions of confidence in the richness and extensiveness of the field, and the severity of the weather was spoken of perhaps too lightly…

The gold consisted of two parcels, sent to Messrs Prince, Bray, and Ogg, weighing 30 ozs. 19 dwts. and 7 grs.; and 67 ozs. 14 dwts. from Twofold Bay, to Messrs Levy. But, in addition to this, there was the first receipt of the Gold Commissioner for the remittance of 200 ounces per escort. It is as follows : “ Kiandra, February 18, 1860.

“ Received from Messrs D. and J. Pollack two bags of gold, weighing 290 ozs. 2 dwts. 12 grs., addressed to the Deputy Master of the Mint, proceeds to be paid lo the Manager of the Union Bank, Sydney, to the credit of Messrs D. and J. Pollack, Snowy River Gold-fields.”

“We hear that a letter has been received in town from a digger, who states that he was seven days getting to the Snowy River, having been detained two days in crossing a large stream of water which flowed across their route; that the claims along the river are nearly all taken up, and that, most of the diggers were making at the rate of £50 per day.

This last statement, however, should be received with much caution. He states that the weather is very severe, and also that he and his party at the time of writing had not secured a claim.

Mr Nathaniel Weight, who reached Sydney from the Snowy River on Wednesday morning, has favoured us with the following particulars. Accom- panied by a companion, Mr Joseph Peters, he landed at Nelligen from the Hunter steamer, and proceeded thence on foot to Cooma, a distance of 100 miles; thence to Russell’s station fifty-eight miles, crossing the Snowy River twice.

Leaving Russell’s, a tramp of twelve miles brought them to the base of the mountains, on the other side of which the diggers were at work. Mr Weight estimates the number on the ground at about 1000, but numbers were arriving daily.

There was no flour, tea, or sugar to be had at any price, nor could a pick or shovel be obtained. For these reasons, and finding that he could effect no good by remaining, Mr Weight at once determined to return home till the spring of the year.

The cold is much felt by the miners, and fire wood, which has to be carted for a mile, was selling at £3 and £4 a load. Mutton and beef were reason- able, the former selling at 5s. per quarter, and the latter at 4d per lb. Mr Weight would advise no one to start till August or September next. We have been informed on respectable authority that a man with his son, who went up to the Maneroo district a few weeks back seeking work, returned to Sydney yesterday from the Snowy River diggings, bringing with them 81bs. weight of gold, and that he intents purchasing a dray, and return immediately with his family.

(From the Special Reporter of the Adelong Mining Journal.) On a close inspection of the various claims, I found that the majority of those in the creek were held by the miners of Tum- berumba, and others from the heads of the Tumut, the accident of living nearest of course giving them the first advantage in the rush; in a spirit of acquisitiveness easily pardonable under such circumstances, they had marked out claims for themselves in utter disregard of how many feet constitute a yard, claiming as their right not only the bed, but either bank from range to range.

It may be imagined that such an arrangement, however satisfactory to themselves, was not so to those who might be quite as enterprising, but who happened to live a little further off, and the arrival of Commissioner Lynch, from the Adelong, with a force of troopers, was a source of considerable pleasure to many.

Without any hesitation he announced his intention of measuring out claims from the centre of the bed of the river, allotting to each man thirty square feet; the camp immediately became a lively source of application, for one-half the river was ren- dered vacant by his decision, and fortunate many a man deemed himself as he clutched the magic permit bearing the real signature of our commissioner; but miners are no excep- tion to ordinary men, and often receive rude lessons, that betwixt the cup and the lip there is many a slip.

Hastening with their various grants to the river, and presenting them to its occupants as possessors, they very naturally demurred to such an extensive deprivation of what they considered their property, and, fully understanding the advantages of organisation, in a body left their claims, and, proceeding to the commissioner, endeavoured to prove by every law, human or divine, that it was utterly imposslble to work the river under the rules he had prescribed, and requested him to come and judge for himself.

In the language of a witty miner, the community became at once divided into splitters and fencers, and upon the commissioner appearing upon the bank of the river, the contending parties, mustering in about equal num- bers, kept up a discussion decidedly more energetic than polite, as to the possibility of carrying out the commis- sioner’s decision. Wisely refraining from giving his opinion in their excited state till ten o’clock in the succeeding day, he left what to him must have been any- thing but a pleasant scene. The morning came, and he addressed the assembled crowd. In these words, as near as I could catch them: “Owing to the physical formation of the river. I find that my first resolution of dividing its bed cannot be carried out, since I should require a troop of dragoons to keep the peace in some portions of it.

As my wish is not to govern you by dragoons or mounted troopers, but by reason and common sense, I revoke my first decision, leaving the entire bed of the river to its present occupants, and granting the immediate banks to those whose permits can now be altered.” A sudden elongation of the visage might be noticed upon the part of those who deemed them- selves the fortunates of yesterday; but miners are an elastic body – the laws that rule the deposition of gold are so many and so strange, it might often prove that the run passed through the banks, and the decision once given was immediatey accepted.

A miner, whose wit might be forgiven, but whose profanity was decidedly unpardonable, seemed to utter the sentiments of his class, as be waved a permit, whose value, in exchange phraseology, was “nil.” Lynch gave, and Lynch has taken away, blessed be the name of Lynch, too little of a miner to say whether the river, or more properly, the creek, ought to be divided or not, although the weight of impartial testimony most certainly tends to its non- division. I can only imagine that her Majesty’s authority, in wild scenes like these, would lose nothing if those who represent her were to examine and deliberate before publicly deciding, but once having uttered a decision resolutely to adhere to it.

The first small crisis in the history of these diggings having passed over, all seemed to set earnestly to work, the fortunate discovery of a large extent of surface diggings between the stores and the river giving ample occupation for all surplus population. I should be inclined to think that, for its area, it is the richest surfacing yet discovered; instances are numerous of parties making even by the tin dish from two to four ounces per man per day. Moran, Elliot, Price, Regan, and their respective parties are amongst some of the most successful claims.

Reports as to the constant finding of nuggets of all sizes are constantly flying through the diggings; the largest that I have seen was procured by John Hall, an Adel- long miner. Its weight was forty ounces, and but slightly inter- mixed with quartz; it was extracted with one or two coarse pieces of gold from a bank claim. Those from two to ten ounces appear too numerous to mention. I am happy to ray that the extreme scarcity of supplies is fast falling away, The pack-horses of the Tumut storekeepers gave it a first decided check, and now that the possibility of drays reaching the diggings, through the road opened by Messrs. Man- delson, Brothers, and Co., Tumut, is clearly proved, I have little doubt that the combined energy of Tumut, Cooma, and Yass tradesmen, will keep us pretty fairly supplied. The storm that occurred last week must teach the few who cherish the idea of wintering upon the plains the fearful risk they run, and if in summer time, the tempest can blow with such violence they need but little imagination io guess what it must be when winter holds its iron reign, a sheer act of madness on the part of any who attempt it.

We are now without authority to rule us; our two gold com- missioners of Adelong and Tumbarumba, accompanied by all the force, except two mounted troopers, took their departure this morning. A slight manifestation of feeling was shown as they passed the hill where most of the tents are congregated, of that usual uncomplimentary character called “jeeing;” with the knowledge that more than two thousand people were congregated there, – that an amount of ill-feeling existed regarding the divi- sion of claims, – that more or less gold was upon the person, or stored in the tent of every miner, – that drinking was fearfully in the ascendant, and that Adelong and Tumberumba were equally deserted, it did seem strenge to many that the discretionary power so profusely exercised in the previous week did not at least suggest the propriety of one staying, to give the weight of his presence to the efforts ol the two solitary troopers.

The Rev S Fox, of Tumut, preached in the morning, but the majority of the miners appeared unfortunately intent upon other affairs, and the presence of Mr Yates, the manager of the Bank of New South Wales, at Adelong, was certainly more attractive, since it seemed to promise an outlet for the perfect plethora of gold that exists here; he. however, persisted in his resolution to buy none, and the complaints of the miners regarding the slow operations of the banks were very numerous.

I have no hesita- tion in sajing that, independent of that conveved by the commissioner, more than one-thousaud ounces could have been purchased from £3 8s. to £3 10s. per ounce. Towards the evening the usual consequences attendant upon the known absence of authority began to show itself: fighting, drinking, rowing became the order of the day, or rather night, and up to four o’clock on Monday morning we were favoured with sights and noises that might have astonished the eyes and shaken the ears of the Prince of Pandemonium.

On Mon- day I accompanied a party of prospectors to a creek some seven miles from the site of the present diggings; in several smaller ones intervening gold was discovered; at the farthest, four men were contentedly working, and every one seemed satisfied that though the lateness of the present season might prevent it now, yet that the whole of the ground over which we passed would be ultimately worked out next spring. Reports have reached me of very rich hill sinkings being discovered, and many are starting to find them; upon my informant I can rely, and he promises to furnish me with full particulars upon his return; the established diggings upon the creek, and surface hill, are still doing first rate – and the yield of some of the claims are astonishing. Scully and party are still reaping a golden harvest, doing, to use his own words, better than ever. One party has, I hear, sold out for £250.

From Saturday’s Goulburn Chronicle. The laboure of tho bardy and adventurous diggers on tie oWk plateau of the Australian Alps, aro at length he-ginning to t»ll in sides smaller quantities In otner directions ; so that we shall not bo overstating tho amount In putting tho produce of the now diggirgs, up to tho c mmenccment of this week, at 6«00 ounoca. In other words, that Utile shirt of £ij,000 had already been added lo tlio wealth of the community.

Toe discovery Is proved thus to bo a moBt valuublo ono, and wo o innot but »¿ree ?with a correspondent in our last issue, that tho discoverers, Messrs. Pollock, are entitled to some subitantial roward, In re- cognition of lho service they have rendered the oolonj. Wo append from various sources, information relative to tho new gold-field. A fi ¡end in Corma, writing on Monday last, the 20th instant, elotes that during the past few day» diggers had passed through Ctoma for Gib un’s Pluin to tho number of fifty or sixty daily. Gold wa« coming into Cooma in «‘galores;” ho saw 20 lbs. weight en Monday at Mr. Halnes’s and about as much more in otber places.

A gentleman who had esme in from Bombala stated that “lots” of the precious metal had found its way to that ploce. The writer odds as an instance of success on tho diggings, that O’Brien’s party of six ha»e been getting 15 oz?, a day. Another correspondent, writing from Cooma on the same day, says:-’-This town has at present quite a lively and bustling ap- pearance, ov,ing to the great number of persons passing through to th» Snowy River diggings. We notice a few returned and disap- pointed diggers, but they arc for the most pirt men without tools »r money, and without the necessary protection from the weather in the shupe of clothing, tents, &o.;, and we cannot wonder that these men, with emply stomaohs, are driven away by the lato cold weather which has provailcd at these diggings, but they one and nil say there is plenty of gold, but nothing to eat.

There uro now in tho possession of one of iho storekeepers in this town fourteen psundu of tho precious metal, nine pounds of which wore ptrchaecd from one man, and we are aware that otber Btorc kee pera and publicans bave

In their possession lots from 100 ounces downwards, mostly taken in exchange fur goods urgently required at tbo diggings, und no doubt that, when the diggers are drrtcn by the cold weather to those milder parts, prospecting UB , they come, they will bring down largo quiutitios of gold with them, and verv likely difcovor winter diggings, for you ojn notput a spade into any part of the Maneroo diggings without obtaining the eolour of gold.” Large quantities of suppll s from various quarters aro by this time reaching the diggings, and the high prices of provisions and otber anieles lately obtained there will in all probability rapidly decline.

A gentleman at Tumut, writing on Wednesday last, the 22nd instant, anticipates that some of the speculators will “ blto their fingers,” and that the diggings will soon be glutted wiih every commodity. He slates that no less than thirty teams would arrive on the ground from Tumut during the week, la ad- dition to the large numbers starting from other quarters. Already, he says, mining tools are cheaper on the diggings than in Tumut. He adds that drays can now go in easy from Tumut in nine daya, with twenty-five owt. to thirty ewt. ; carriage, 20s. per cwt. Writing on Wednesday last, our Queanbeyan correspondent says :-” Yesterday morning, Mr. A. Levy, of this town, received per mail from Cooma Beven pounds weight of the Snowy Blver gold, which was brought down by the mail driver.

It is to be oped that until some protection Is afforded to the roads people will not hasard such an amount of wealth, particularly as we bad ono ease of sticking-up on the road at Gary’s dp already.” Our Gundaroo correspondent, writing on the 22nd Instant, says. -” The whole talk here now is the diggings at Gibson’s Plain. Every one is off to the diggings. Every day you will see drays Îmssing for the same destination. We sha’l shortly have no one eft, if people keep leaving here as fast as they have been doing for the past five days. Flour has got up to a very high price. Wbett Is at a premium. Flour, I believe, on tbe diggings ia £120 per ton. I learn this from a person just returned. The same person says gold i< plentiful ; every one getting it ; but provisions scarce, flour in particular ; he says he saw as much as 3s. given for a pint pot full of flour, and all they bad amongst nine men fur three days was three pounds per day.

He states the weather to be very cold, but not to prevent persons irom working. It re- quires a person to take provisions with him, and not to depend on the stores there. Business is dull in Gundaroo ; the stores I be- lieve are not doing anything worth speaking of. It looks now very much like rain, and I am afraid we are going to have another heavy fall of it.” We have been favoured with a copy of a letter received by a gentleman in Goulburn from one of the party known as Mandel – son’s party, which started to form a dray road from Tumut to Gibson’s Plain, an enterprise which was attended with success.

The letter ia dated Gibson’s Plain, February 17th, 1860. The writer says : “I have much pleasure in informing you of my safe arrival on the diggings, after a long delayed journey. We started from Tumut on the 31st January, and we are now on the diggings ; out of which time we were delayed five days at the Broken Cart Creek, and three days by bullocks lost. It is a first-rate bush- road, but we had to cut miles of scrub; now any one can find the road. After we storied, two carts and one bullock dray pulled us up, making our party twenty-four, all good work- ing hands.

Two accidents occurred on the journey, – one man hurt his ankle, and another got crushed against a sapling and broke his collar-bone. We doctered him up between us, and started him on a-head. There are sixteen teams on our tracks, and I know of nine from Tumut, so that by the time they arrive the road will be well beaten. The worst of the road is the swamps; the hills are nothing. Each of our teams had on from eighteen hundredweight to a ton; that was only for the first trip; two of them have been started back to-day. The road comes in at Mr. Brookes’s station, Tommoroumen; then they come on our tracks, now called Mandelson’s road; and well they may call it Mandelson’s road, for he paid £50 to be piloted through. The men were just starting for the diggings, and instead of going on their journey, agreed to take him through.

They earned their money. You may call them good bushmen, for they know the scrub as well as a kangaroo. Mr George Jones, sir. Thomas Jones, and Mr Joseph Brookes were the men, and they deserve great credit. We expected that the drays would break down the scrub, but we were mistaken, and we had to turn to and cut through. The only stoppage now is the logs, and I believe they could all be cleared in three weeks. We were hardly prepared for being out so long, and I believe not a man in the party has tasted beef these ten days.

The only thing we caught to eat was a porcupine; he went very well, but there was hardly enough of him Mr Mandelson started ahead of the drays two days since, but on his arrival at the Long Plain he was informed that the drays could make a short cut by coming in at the Long Plain instead of Yarngobilly.

He accordingly started into the scrub to find the drays, but to his great surprise he had to remain two days and two nights in the bush; the scrub was so thick he could not make head-way. To-day he pulled the drays up on the plain, and found that our pilots knew the track and took it, and by so doing saved seven miles.

There is one great point in this road. In coming from Tumut or Yass you have to go down the Big Hill instead of up. If the road was bad, the carriers would not go back so quick. But not alone the road, the grass and water are so good. Horse-drays can come this route in five days comfortably with 25 cwt.; a good road could be made for £100 – that is, to clear away the timber, logs, &c.;, that lie across the track. By this route, bear in mind, the drays get right on to Gibson’s Plain.

The weather on the journey was very cold, but on arriving at Gibson’s Plain we found it colder still, and a constant wind all day; men with their hats soused over their eyes to keep it off, and blankets to keep them warm. All that are at work seem to be doing well, but they will have to clear out in about a month or six weeks – they can’t stand the snow. It comes rather sharp on people from warm places. I should not advise any of our old Goulbournites to go this season, as it is rather late. When they do start the nearest way will be, first to Yass, then to Tommoroumen station, then take Mandelson’s tracks; from there all the trees are marked from the south corner of the fence.

Although the road from Yass to Tommoroumen is very rough, Mr Brookes has taken thirty-five cwt, in five days from Yass to his place. The dis- tance is 45 miles by the Weejasper; they can then make the dig- gings in six days more – that is, with bullock drays. From Tom- moroumen to the Emu Flats is eighteen miles; from Emu Flats to Broken Cart Creek is fourteen miles; from Broken Cart Creek to Pigeon Square, ten miles; from Pigeon Square to the Long Plain, ten miles. Long- Plain is where every one must come out, starting from Yass or Tumut.

The plain is six miles across; and after crossing it, the distance to the diggings is ten miles. The description of the plain is very much like Mr Bradley’s or Mr Faithfull’s Plain, towards Gundary; quartz strewed about, and slate rock rising out of the ground, pointing north ard south. Excuse the scrawl and paper; I have been writing on a sheet of bark, and the weather is very oold.” [from the Goulburn Herald.) Our Queanbeyan correspondent writes:

“ The last mail has brought several letters from our townsfolk to their friends. I am in possession of one written by Mr Gifford to his wife; be writes : ‘ I have a good claim in the bed of the River, but must abandon it for the present through the late floods; but I have no doubt of its value when able to be worked. Everything is very dear. On Thursday, man obtained a nugget four pounds weight, and ever since the same gentleman has been drunk. I have been informed since that be sold it for £100.

The Messrs Hutchinson write at the same time con- veying the pleasing intelligence of the success of their party, con- sisting of four, who have in four days obtained fifteen ounces, and that in dry diggings, having had to abandon their claims in the River for a time. Other letters I have seen, conveying news equally flattering, but recommending people who have not em- barked not to do so until the spring, as it is evident these diggings cannot be worked in the winter. As for our town, it seems to be turned upside down.

The rush is increasing tenfold. Such appears to be the activity this week that the storekeepers can hardly afford to take their meals, being constantly employed attending to the requirements of the passing diggers. A store- keeper told me this morning that he could not get supplies fast enough from Sydney to meet the present demand.

At the same time there were no less than six drays standing at his door. To- day I found a difficulty to get into another store, the doors being so completely besieged by diggers and their horses. By the next mail we expert more startling news stil.

The excitement has cause a great rise in all sorts of provisions here – flour about 3 1/2s. per 100 lbs., and beef 3d. per lb., and both articles being very scarce.” Our Cooma correspondent writes: During the last few days the rush to the diggings has greatly increased. The reports on the whole are very good; but still there are numbers who are almost starving. I know a party of six who have been getting twelve to fifteen ounces a day, and another party of those who are getting five ounces a day. Mr Samson Hain showed me an ex- cellent sample to-day of about twenty pounds in weight, and I also saw fifteen ounces brought in by one man.

It is a very coarse nuggety gold, but rather dirty in appearance. By all accounts, the Kiandra gold-field has done good to other diggings, as a gen- tleman who came from Bombala to-day, told me that the Delegate diggings are fuller than ever, and the returns and individual success better. He also states that large quantities are coming down by way of Bombala, Mr Kidd, of Albury, is about opening a public-house there, and has already sent out timber, sashes, and doors.

The following are the prices of goods and rations on the diggings: flour, 1s. to 1s. 3d. per lb.; sugar, 1s.; tea, 4s.; cheese, 1s. 6d. to 2s.; butter, 3s.; meat, 4d. to 5d.; long handled shovels, 20s. each; short-handled ditto, 12s. 6d.; picks, 12s.; prospecting pans, 10s; tobacco, 7s.; and other things in proportion.” (From, the Yass Courier.) During the past week the through traffic at Yass has been very great. Hundreds of persons have travelled through the town onwards to the Snowy River, a large number of whom came from the Bathurst district. Whole crowds of Chinamen are also wend- ing their way to the diggings.

The impression is that hundreds of these celestials will die from the extreme cold said to prevail in the district. From Yass, a great many persons have taken their departure, also allured by the fame of Gibson’s Plains. On Wed- nesday, Messrs H. Godfrey and Co. despatched four teams laden with supplies, and accompanied by a dozen persons on foot; on the previous Saturday, Mr C. S. Quail and his sons left with a team carrying tools, provisions, &c; on Thursday, Mr J. Cottrell, of the Southern Store, loaded and started two teams, which were accompanied by two or three belonging to other parties.

These have gone by the Murrumbidgee road, and crossed the river safely yesterday morning. On the same day Mr H. Turner, storekeeper, started with a couple of teams. The numbers leaving with pack horses it is impossible to estimate; but all day long, and during the whole of the past week, parties of from half-a-dozen to twenty persons were to be met en route for the diggings.

It is calculated that some fifty tons of flour have been dispatched within the last eight days from this district alone. We also learn that Mr F Smith, Superintendent for Mr Bradley, at the Maneroo, had last week thirty tons of flour on hand, and that he had forty tons then on the road from Sydney. Mr Wright, of Queanbeyan, has fifty tons on the road, and 100 tons ordered.

The population on the diggings is estimated at over 3000, and notwithstanding the immense quantities of supplies being for- warded, we learn that provisions of every description continued both scarce and dear. The weather has set in very cold, and great hardships are likely to be endured from the inadequate arrangements made by very many persons previous to their starting for the diggings. The wonderful finds reported to have been made are almost beyond credence.

A Mr Smith of Adelong was in Yass yesterday. He reports that he and his mate obtained 394 ozs in seven weeks; a seven lb. nugget and four lbs of small gold is reported to have been taken from one hole four feet deep; three miners from Adelaide are said to have got 147 lbs of gold which they had placed in charge of the police for safety; John Mobbs, a person known in the Yass district, writes that his party secured in three days’ washing, 3 1/2 oz 17 dwts., and that this is nothing compaired to what some others obtained; one man named Moody, washed 19 1/2 ozs. with a tin dish in one day.

A report prevailed on the diggings that a nugget weighing 124 lbs. had been discovered, but this appears to require confirmation, and it is also stated that a party of four persons had realised £1400 per man. Mr Thomas Davis’ party are still averaging 25 ozs. per day. The extreme richness of the diggings has been satisfactorily proved; but it should be remem- bered that some five or six weeks hence the locality will probably not be inhabitable. Next spring will be the time for commencing operations extensively, and at that time the influx of population to the district will doubtless be immense

A gentleman just arrived from Albury informs us that about 150persons were daily crossing from the Victoria side of the Murray, on their way to the Snowy River, and the arrivals from Victoria by the steamers which call at Twofold Biy are very large indeed.

1 April 1860

Kiandra

The new rush twenty miles below Russell s, has resulted, according to the testimony of some returned diggers, in another disappointment. There is gold there it appears, but is obtainable in such very small quantities that men can barely earn rations.

The place has been well tested in all directions by some 200 or 300 ot a population, but up to the present time nothing lias been done worth speaking of.

A few patches are said to have yielded tolerably well, but taken as a whole, the rush has’turned out a failme.

A man who came into Kiandra for the purpose of asking the Commissioner’s aid in deciding the ownership of some disputed claims, 5s of opinion that the place will yet turn out well.

He and his mates have ‘a hole which pays Ihem from ¿ oz. to 1| oz. a day-at least sohe says, and in support of his assertion he was -able to produce a _ small quantity of gold. There is no commissioner or other official on the spot yet, nor do I think the Kiandra establishment will be able to sendany one over.

The population at the new diggings is not likely, however, to increase, for the present at least, as the people who ave now leaving Kiandra are, for the most part, proceed ing homewards. The owners of the river claims here are strenuously exerting themselves to finish up by the close of the present month, and in order to do this many of them have put on men at wages, while others, doubtful of the ?weather holding np so long, are selling out their shares.

Many speculative individuals, puipose remaining on the ground, in the hope of being able to secure something good when the approach of winter causes the present occupants to leave. Races are being cut round Hie hills to carry water to the surfacing ground, the whole of which will be washed over in sluices.

It is likely, moreover, that the tailings and stuff thrown up in opening the bed-claims will all be washed again in like manner, so soon as the season permits – the presumption being that much gold has been thrown away in the first working.

As an instance of this I may mention that a splendid nugget of 23 ozs. 8 dwts. was found on Thursday by a brother of mine, who was working with his party (Messrs. T. Nunan, D. Forrest, and Rossiter) in a gulch about half-a-mile below the rich workings on the river.

This nugget had been struck and broken by a pick, and afterwards thrown up amongst some stones and dirt from the claim. The persons who struck it (we have since heard) found a nine ounce piece, and finding no more, they departed, leaving this fine specimen in the manner I have ‘described.

From the general appearance of the nugget, it would seem to have formed part of a large cake of gold which lias been broken by the pick into several pieces. The lucky finders are now endeavouring to come urion the remaining portions, which they believe they will find if they are not beaten by the water, which is very troublesome in this particular spot.

The men whom I have fre- quently mentioned in connection with a large race abont a mile and a half up the river, have opened some portions of the river bank during the week, but have not yet commenced washing. On the lower part of the river the claims are being vigorously ?worked, but it is impossible that all the ground can be worked out before the winter-some parties having as much as twenty or thirty yards of their claims untouched.

A week’s rain would bind them completely up, and unless, therefore, they put on men or enlarge their companies, they will shortly find themselves brought to a stand-still by tho flooding of the river. Just now, they are pretty much in the position of the dog in the manger. T

hey have exces- sively large claims, cannot work them them- selves, and will not allow any one else to do so, except upon the most exorbitant terms.

We, of the Snowy River, were gratified on Wednesday evening last, with a magnificent view of that beautiful phenomena, the Aurora Australis, or southern lights. I doubt if it has ever been seen to greater perfection.

For some i three hours the whole volume of the heavens from south-east round to south-west was illumined with a rich crimson light, radiating fionx a bright circle of blue which rose as it were directly from the pole. At intervals, the odylic rays would shoot upwards till they seemed to reach the milky way-the stars, meanwhile, shining through the crimson curtain with peculiar brilliancy.

Subsequently, the crimson colouring melted into purple, then into a blight green, and finally, died away in a succes- sion of changes, embracing all the hues of the rainbow. Some of the diggers “were a little alarmed at the appearance of this lumi- nous visitation, but beyond a dayis rain, on Thursday, no remarkable change of weather has taken place. There is now (Sunday), however, every indication of heavy rain, the surcharged clouds hanging over the mountains with a very dark and threatening aspect.

Since posting my last letter, I have travelled for some distance up and down the Snowy River, and have visited that remarkable spot known _ as Lob’s Hole-one of the most romantic and picturesque localities to be found in any part of Australia. The fine timber which grows there contrasts strongly with the snow crushed trees found on these mountains and on the table land around, while the change of temperature which is cxpeiienced on descending the mam- moth ravines, proves conclusively that snow seldom or never enters there.

In the val- ley which is situate at the extremity of the vast gulch, copper has been found, and, from the fact of there being quartz ridges on the sum- mits of the sunounding mountains, it is not im- probable that Lob’s Hole also contains gold.

The road to Tumbarumba passes through the hole, and I need scarcely say it is a caution to travellers ; it ia hard to tell, indeed, which is worst.-going down or coming up. I shall en- deavour to furnish a fuller description of this singular locality at a future time.

My other travels were devoted to an inspection of the dig- gings down the river. They extend for several miles, but it is onlv within a space of three or four “miles that the claims yield profitably. In some places the work is very heavy, the miners being ob- liged to blast away the rock piecemeal from the river bed in order to get at the primitive deposits. With the decrease of population I am happy to say there is also a decrease of crime and disorder, though not to a very great extent.

A man named James Crawley has been committed to’ihe Goulburn Assizes for horsestealing, and another worthy named Noles has received sentence of six months’ imprisonment for larceny. Noles was a grog-seller, and a man of known bad character- His trip to the Snowy has pioved anything but a successful venture. Only last_ week his wife died in a “t_ of delirium tremens, brought on by «rink, and he is now consigned to durance vile, with the knowledge that all his grog, his tools, his tent, and stock-in-trade have been confiscated to her Majesty the Queen. A .medical map, lately connected with the Duncan Dunbar, was robbed, and severely maltreated the other night, a short distance from the town- ship, his assailants having blacked both his eyes, and otherwise disfigured his countenance, after robbing him.

Two or three persons are in custody at the camp, on various charges, chiefly under the Vagrant Act. The thimble rigs and card-sharpers have taken alarm at recent proceedings, and are particularly careful in keeping out of harm’s way. The volunteer police, or Protection Committee, have men employed^- watching at night, and their assist- ance has no doubt been useful in preventing many robberies.

In connection with this protection movement, I may observe that the decision of the Government respecting the establishment of a winter encampment is anxiously looked for by the storekeepers and others who puiposo wintering here. Mr. James Pollock is about applying to the Government for the gold reward in respect to the discovery of the Snowy River Diggings.

He feels confident that he will be able to pro . duce conclusive proof that he was the first individual who found gold here, and made the discovery public.

The committee appointed some time since to investigate the claims of the different claimants has decided that the weight, of testimony is in his favour. They purpose communicating the result of their deliberations io the Colonial Secretary by the next mail.

Since his return, Dr. Lynch has been fully occupied by Court work-the civil business, if I may so call it, having been pretty heavy. He leaves to-morrow in command of the escorts to Tumut. During Iris absence, Mr. J. I. Lynch will have the entire control and management. The office, under present circumstances, I can assure you is no sinecure.

There is enough work to occupy at least three or four persons. With the exception of a fall in the price of flour (now quoted at 8d.), there is no change in the list of quotations previously forwarded. A ton or two of blasting powder would find ready sale just now, if it were here. Since writing the above, I learn that the man Crawley managed to effect his escape from’the camp tins morning at daybreak.

The circum- stance is not to be wondered at when the strength of the present police force is con sideredT How the man got rid of his handcuffs is a mystery. Mr. J. I. Lynch paid a visit to the Nine-mile Rush yesterday. He reports about 800 or 1000 persons there-some of them doing very well. The place lies due S. from this. I shall try and send full particulars in my next. This is the nish which has been so much talked of latterly, and which has been kept so great a secret.

23 July 1860

GOLD NEWS :THE CHINESE.

The Courier states that considerable numbers of Chinese have passed through Yass during the last week or ten days. Their destination is the Snowy River diggings.

These people must be constitutionally hardy and inured to exposure to a varying atmosphere, as their wearing apparel is not only scant, but made of light material. We learn from Albury that there is a Chinese movement from Victoria towards Kiandra. The light work in gold digging there has, no doubt, induced this exodus.

24 August 1860

Gold-fields, however distant, will attract a cer- tain set of folks, who believe in their “ luck,” -as they phrase it, and are possessed with a strong conviction that they will some day stumble «pon nuggets and a fortune

Advice is thrown away upon them, and experience preaches in Vain.They must suffer. It is curious to observe in contradistinction how the Chinese adap themselves to adverse circumstances at Kiandra. ¡Mining being just now impossible, we find that these fellows instead of prowling about and loafing, have organised themselves as carriers of goods and provisions from the township (Russell’s station) to Kiandra,-a distance of thirteen miles.

They sling the goods upon poles which they then shoulder, and carry along “with great alacrity. They earn good wages by this meanB, and bring in provisions, &c;, when horses and mules would be useless on account of the snow. Europeans would scarcely be able to endure this strain upon the shoulders,

Tmt the Chinese are to the manner bom, and ?carry heavy burdens with facility. It is worth aioticing that at these diggings the Chinese are located by themselves, on ground appointed by ‘ he Chief Commissioner. This was done to ‘ lessen the chances of collision with Europeans, who complain of the Chinamen on account of their dirty habits, and particularly for defiling water-holes. As to their dirty habits, we are aware that Chinamen wash their feet with far greater regularity than their faces.

But that may be a peculiarity of theirs. It cannot be denied, however, considering that leprosy exists amongst them, that it is a wise precaution to make them encamp by themselves.

21 August 1860

KIANDRA GOLDFIELD

The diggings at Kiandra have already yielded some 50,000 ounces of gold. If not another ounce were to be procured, they would still have had a most beneficial effect upon the Southern I country in particular.

They have already given a stimulus to trade in the metropolis and the in- land towns lying on the route to the Snowy, and further, have tended to create ports on the sea coast which before were almost deserted.

Eden for instance, a port nearly midway between Sydney and Melbourne, where diggers land coming from Victoria bound for the Snowy, has grown into quite a bustling place since Kiandra has become famous.

Buildings are springing up in every direction, and something of the activity is observable there which caused San Francisco to rise out of the plain almost in a day.

In addition to this, the country about the Alps will be taken up for agriculture and squatting, and thereby the general prosperity of the colony will be augmented.

Our English readers will be able to comprehend how these new diggings have attracted the people, when we inform them that from the 16th July to the 20th July, there crossed the border into New South Wales from Victoria alone, 14 wagons, 110 drays, 230 horsemen, and 500 pedestrians.

And this is only a portion of the migration which has been setting in towards the Snowy. Lately, it has suffered a check ; butFix this text next month, will probably see a stampede un- equalled in this colony at all events.

2 October 1860

THE RUSH TO THE SNOWY RIVER

The season has now arrived when we may expect that the long talked or monster rush to the Kiandra gold-field will fairly set in, and there is every reason to anticipate that the numbers who will soon be wending their way thitherward will far exceed even the most extravagant hopes or fears of those interested in their prosperity or failure.

The rumoured terrors of the Alpine olimate, which had they been confirmed, would have served to deter many from venturing to so inhospitable a region, have given way before the stubborn fact, that some hundreds of persons have not only weathered out the most inclement season of the year with- out severe inornvenience, but have in many Instances succeeded in finding gold beyond their most sanguine expec tations.

The doubts insinuated of the weal th of the new field by the “Victorian Press, which-dreading the probable exodus of the population from its own colony, and consequent diminution of Its ohief source of revenue-has “out-Herodtd Herod” in its denuncia lons of Kiandra, have vanished bofore the strong testi- mony of the escort returns; and the result will be, that from every corner of Vlotoiia, South Australia, and Tasmania, from the whole length ard breadth of New South Wales and Q leons land, will the people flock to the new £1 Dorado by thousandsupon thousand«.

21 November 1860

OUR GOLD FIELDS.

THE past month has been exceedingly unpropitious at Kiandra, and the unsettled weather has prevented the diggers from doing full justice to the Snowy River gold-field.

Even in this summer season that district has been visited by snow and hail, and continuous steady labour has consequently been an impossibility. But de- spite this, the returns keep up remarkably well, and the receipt per escort of fourteen or fifteen hundred ounces a week shews clearly there is gold still at Kiandra.

The diggings, however, are now Buffering from a bad name, given them by persons who have Rone there without any means, and who were quite unable to test their productiveness.

Kiandra is not the place for the poor man, and that is now beginning to be thoroughly understood. Yet at first it was the penniless who rushed there, as if “ a light heart and a thin pair of breeches,” as the old song has it, w ere capital enough to start at gold digging.

And it is these people who now rail at Kiandra, and perhaps they have cause to do so. But there are expe- rienced diggers on the spot who are well satis – tied with the prospects before thom, and who are expending large sums of money in cutting races and making tunnels, preparatory to set- tling down steadily to work.

A discovery of auriferous quartz has lately created quite an excitement at Kiandra, and if the reef should bear out the promise of the specimen forwarded to Sydney, there can bo no doubt that a valu- able discovery has been made.

These specimens are strongly impregnated with gold, and some judges have pronounced it as their opinion that the samples contain 25 per cent, of their weight of gold. 1 his per centago would give a yield of 500 ozs. of gold to the ton of quartz. The quartz generally is of a dull milky character, much water worn, and the gold lies in thin flakes or laminas on the surface, over which from the debris remaining, a vein of ironstone greatly decomposed has run. In some of the specimens the laminaj appear to be embedded in the quattz itself, and with no apparent admixture of iron- stone.

No such rich specimens have over been seen before in Sydney. This quartz was dis- covered by a party of three men, who obtained from a storekeeper in the neighbourhood £800 for a half-share in the claim.

In our next summary we may, probably, be able to com- municate whether the reef itself is as auriferous as these specimens, found whilst sinking in search of it, It was supposed, sometime ago, that there was only a patch in the river that was payable, but the contrary has now been proved, and- for some eight miles the Snowy has been taken up, and many patties have gone to great expense in blasting rocks and cutting flood races, for the purpose of turning the river. Some claims have been worked a third time, and still paid tolerably well.

The new arrivals, it appears, are more disposed to purchase shares in these river claims than to open new ground. Some Bhares readily fetch from £100 to £280, whilst others do not range so high. At present New Chum Hill, supposed to be made ground, has not answered the expecta- tions formed of it. One party bottomed at fifty feet, and obtained a quarter of an ounce to the tub, but afterwards lost the run of the gold.

It is supposed they are not deep enough, for another shaft near them is down seventy feet, and although not bottomed, gold is being obtained. The sluicing claims are not yet at work, for they have great difficulty in getting their races on to the hills, having a dis- tance of rock which requires blasting before it can be accomplished. But whatever doubt may exist as to the sinking on this hill being pay- able, these Bluicing claims are certain to turn out well. Several parties would willingly give £8 per week rent for any race to sluice part of this hill.

A fourth share in a claim here was lately sold for £100. A fine specimen of gold and quartz, weighing about an ounce, has been found in the hill at a depth of thirty feet, and various prospects that have been made have been sufficiently good to induce the prospectors to continue at their work. Surface Hill is pay- | ing all engaged upon it, and a five pound nugget was turned out the week before last. Some sinking has been made in this hill for a quartz reef, at a depth of sixty feet. Some stone was taken out which contained specks of gold, but nothing payable. All the sluicing claims are being worked with good results, and one party realised, after eight days’ sluicing, 80 oze. gold.

At the Nine Mile, the tunnels have been abandoned in consequence of their commencing at too low a level; the rock dips into the hill so greatly that they are unable to drain it; so for all purposes of prospecting, the work done is useless.

At this place four leases of an acre each, have been granted to parties who purpose sluicing and puddling. One party are bringing a race six miles to work their ground. One of these tunnels was 240 feet long. Notwith- standing that the Nine Mile has been reported as flat lately, the average returns thence have been upwards of two ounces a man per week. At this place they have commenced erecting puddling machines. The Four Mile still continues to enjoy a good reputation, and many of the new arrivals make their way thither, this being a place where anybody who likes can make wages. At the Rocky Plains the popu- lation is increasing, since many of the claims pay an ounce per man per day.

It is thought Bome very rich ground will be worked here, but fine weather is required to develope it. Several parties have made from £15 to £20 per man per week, and one party was fortunate enough to obtain thirty ounces in a day. The river at this place is being dammed, and its bed is expected to _ prove as rich as at the township of Kiandra. On the Township-hill the prospecting shaft is down about thirty-five ieet. They are going through a hard clay conglomerate, but expect to have much further to sink. The shallow surfacing near Kidd’s Hotel yields between two and three ounces for each man per week. At the flood-race below Jackass Flat a very rich vein has been struck, full of small nuggets and coarse gold. The vein, however, is narrow, and will Boon be worked out.

The Tumut has not yet been worked properly, the ever-recurring floods preventing the turning of the stream. The prospects obtained have been encouraging, and several parties are prepared to divert the river when the weather becomes more settled. These are all the special localities de- serving notice at present. There is no doubt that when the miners really have a continuance of fine weather, the returns from Kiandra will be largely increased. It is stated by some that the working population does not just now exceed five hundred men. If this be so, the returns from Kiandra are greater than from any other gold-field in the colony.

19 April 1862

At Kiandra the cold weather has already set in, the nights and mornings being exceedingly sharp.

A few of the miners have been tempted away by the news ‘from other quarters, but those who remain are obtain, ing handsome returns for their labour.

The Gulph Diggings are rapidly extending up the creek, and almost every point on it has been worked > with success. The gold is found principally on these points and on the ridges above the creek, little, if any, having yet been turned up out of the bed of the creek itself.

The great drawback to these diggings is ‘that the country is so thickly and heavily timbered, that it is impossible for any but the most experienced bushmen to carry on a proipect amongst the dense scrub.

The number of working hands has bien steadily increasing for some time past, aud the township already assumes an imposing appearance.

There being no escort from the Gulph, the actual , yield of gold from that locality cannot be ascertained, and this has in a great measure tended to keep these ? diggings back from occupying the position that it is said they ought to assume.

21 October 1864

Writing from Kiandra, a correspondent gives us the following picture of the present state of this gold-field, from which at one time such great things were expected:

Kiandra is a very different place at the present day. Neither banks nor ballrooms are needed here now. Two stores and two public-houses are only to be found in the once busy township.

Two public-houses in Camp Town, and two more on the outskirts of the diggings;- none of them doing anything like a trade, are all that remain of the numerous “hotels “ of four years since. The river bed has been worked and re-worked since that time, and is now in the almost exclusive possession of the Chinese.

A few Europeans are still engaged upon the old spots in the gullies about the township, but the greater part of the white population is scattered about on the outlying diggings, where most of them possess large, and upon the whole, well-paying claims.

At New Chum Hill, at the Four, Six, Nine, and Twelve mile diggings, small parties of miners are to all appearances permanently settled down. At New Chum Hill extensive ground-Bluioing operations are being carried on. Banka from fifty to seventy feet in depth are tolng washed bodily away, water having been oonveyed to the top of the hill by means of long expensive races.

ClaimB of this kind are necessarily few in number, as tho water supply is limited and every available stream has long since been appropriated. Several tunnels have also been di i ven Into this hill.

These works are of considerable magnitude, and an immense expenditure of labour has been hcurred upon them ; they have been out through the solid rock, the greater portion of whioh It has been noooasary’to blast. One of these tunnels is now nearly a thousand feet long. They bave all to be closely timbered throughout their whole length, and are worked by means of a truck running npon a miniature railway.