3 January 1862

. THE LACHLAN GOLD-FIELD.

We have been favoured with the following extract ,from a letter respecting the LacMan, . It bears date 27th December, 1861 and is written by a gentleman .of considerable experience on other Australian gold- fields :

During my stay here I have taken some trouble to i form, from my own observation, a correct estimate of this gold-field.

I have gone down several of the! shafts and thoroughly examined the deposit of gold, ! ,and have seen the gold as it was got, and from my old « -acquaintance with several of the claim holders, I, . think that the richness of the deposit (or lead, as it is ! now proved to be, though of a peculiar kind), can “ scarcely be exaggerated.

It would be but guesswork j to attempt to estimate the ultimate produce of any particular claim, for few claims con be worked out under nine to twelve months, and the nature of the ground makes it necessary to get out the washing stuff as quickly as possible, leaving the washing of -the same until a later period.

Though generally the work is well done enough, I believe that thousands of pounds worth of gold will be buried beyond recovery, when the earth is sufficiently undermined to become dangerous, and a few accidents, such as mest inevitably will occur, shall have frightened others from running the risks so common among gold-diggers.

ThiB lead is, without doubt, the richest yet dis – covered in New South Wales, and it is only a matter of time to prove how far it may rival the rich finds of; Victoria.

After what I have seen, both of the nature of the deposit underground and the quantity of gold got, nothing would surprise me in point of richness.

As an example, Stott and Co.’s claim has yielded for ¡ some weeks 300 ounces per week to a party of four, ‘ ‘ simply by washing the richest ot the stuff, in which the gold could be plainly seen, and which has given as much’ as twenty and forty ounces to two or ihree -quarts of dirt-the great bulk of the washing stuff being stacked in immense heaps, to be washed here- after.

£2000 would be cheap for a one-fourth share’ of several claims I could name, out of which that much per man has already been taken. So regular is the deposit when once upon the lead, that claims dis- tant from a quarter to half a mile from the last golden hole sell readily at from JEoO to £100 a share before a , sod has been turned ; and I have but little doubt but ‘ that” as soon as the holidays are over, some very rich holes will be struck on the south end of the lead.

‘ The frontage system, of which so much is said just now, is good in the main and applicable to this gold- field, in spite of what prejudiced parties may say ; at “ the same time it may indirectly tend to prevent pro- specting tor parallel, or even diverging leads (or , deposits without leads) for some time.

But as no rule can be found without exceptions, I think the frontage system will best tend to develop the resources of this field-at least until the extent of the present lead north and south has been discovered.

I fear you will find these details both tedious and difficult to make out, but knowing your experience on – gold-fields, I thought my remarks might be of some interest, as my information is from observations and not hearsay, as is the case with newspaper correa . jpondents. The escorts must not be taken as a guide, although they will rapidly increase.

18 March 1862

OUR GOLD FIELDS.

The almost unparalleled success at the Lachlan have been circulated very freely through the city for this week past. To those rumours, although thoy cSmo to us from an unimpeachable source, we declined to givo pub- licity, knowing, from past exporionco, tho sad effects that result from raising up anticipations, too often doomed to disappointment,

Tho telegraphio despatch from our corre- spondent at tho Lachlan showed that there had boen somo foundation for tho report ; 11510 ounces of gold having boen forwarded thauco by tho .last escort, an additional 5000 ounces having been loft behind, in consoquenco of tho boxes not boing largo onough to contain thom.

Somo excitement was, no doubt to bo ex- pected on tho fact becoming known that thero had boon so ‘largan deposit; but it is at such times that the greatest caro is necessary in ordor that the strict truth, and tho truth only bo publicly circulated, and that persona should not bo led away by too glowing accounts, or statemonts too highly coloured,

As yet wo aro not in a position to say lho causo to which this sudden and largo increase is to bo Attributed.

We aro in possession ot tho fact that both on tho Caledonian and tho Canadian loads, tho proprietors havo struck gold, but in both instances it has leen since tho gold was lodged at tho camp, or at all ovonts co immediately before it, as not to havo left timo for wash- ing out.

It is probably owing to tho parties ou tho old lead having sot in to wash up tho dirt, which thoy havo boen accumulating. It ia tho custom of partios having claims that aro expected to turn out very rich to fonco thom in, as it is called-that is, when thoy sink on thoir claim, thoy at onco proceed to tunnel all round ita underground boundary, thus excavating oil the wash-dirt that adjoins thoir noigh Jiour’s boundary.

By this means they secure thomsolvosfrom encroachment, as if tho next party breaks through, tho fact at once becomes known. Where this ÍB not dono, tho wholo of tho wash dirt is excavated as rapidly as possiblo until nil is taken out, nono being washed up until tho wholo of tho gold bearing stratum is removed.

Wo havo it on tho boat authority that many of tho thoso bolos on tho main load Chavo been exceedingly rich, and tho owners of thom would 1)0 almost certain to secure themselves, by ono or other of lheso methods, and thus tho present largo amount sont -down by escort is accounted for.

At tho sauio timo it cannot bo denied that tbo prospects of | tho Lachlan gold-field aro most encouraging, and that I lhoy .will continuo to improve if no undue rush bo brought I about when this escort return becomes known.

25 March 1862

LACHLAN

Sunday. The Escort tokes down 7000 ozs. gold and £3700 cash, leaving behind, for want of boxes, 5000 ozs. and £2000. Mining and business generally improving steadily. Kain is now much requited, aa several of the puddling machines have been obliged to stop for want of water. Gardiner, the bushranger, is again on the road between this and Lambing Plat, and on Friday stuck up and robbed two drays, taking provisions and spirits, also clothing for his winter supply, as he termed it.

LACHLAN. 8 April ‘ The escort takes 8702 ounces gold, and £«376 cash.

All the gold and money deposited at’ the camp is taken by this escort. Our next returns will show the produce weekly. ‘ On ¡saturday we had a plentiful supply of rain,’ which was much wanted.

The township is a sea of mud. With a week’s rain the streets would be quit« impassable.

The roads leading here are described as having become very bad with the rain that fell last week. A nugget weighing 117 ounces has been found on the South lead, The Canadian, Caledonian, and South leads are the favourite ones.

Shares are ranging from £50 to £600. The population is considerably greater than it Was during my last visit, and is increasing by hundreds daily. The township ia extending rapidly, and busi- ness has much improved.

Thj population is orderly, and crime decreasing. ‘ Branches of the Commercial and Oriental Banka are established here, and the Bank of Near South Wales opens next week.

Our next escort will be a large one. Storekeepers and merchants will do well to forward their goods without delay, for with our present population the consumption must be great ; and in the winter it ia certain that carriage will be very high, the roads leading to this place being almost level and very boggy.

31 July 1862

“ GENERAL GARDINER’S RULE.

The precise line where Sir John Young’s [NSW Governor] rule ends, and that of General Gardiner [the bushranger] begins, is not as yet, we believe, accurately laid down.

If, however, Gardiner and his men continue to show such energy and address, and the officers of the Sydney Government such apathy in the performance of their duty and so much discreet regard for their personal safety, as they have lately evinced, the whole of the territory to the west of the Blue Mountains must shortly come under the sway of the freebooters; and, ultimately, those who object to be robbed, shot, or have their throats cut, may expect to find themselves cooped up in a small space around the shores of Botany Bay and Port Jackson.

We need not, however, anticipate. “Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof.”

But we cannot refrain from taking a glance at the causes which have led to so complete a change in the ruling powers throughout a large portion of her Majesty’s dominions in Australia.

Eight or nine months since the Chief Secretary, then the most powerful man in the country, and, even now, second only to Gar- diner himself, was so pestered by a number of needy, greedy, and importunate members of Parliament, broken down fast young gen- tlemen, and used-up roues, that he was dri- ven to the necessity of getting rid of them at any cost.

Always fertile in resource, he invented the new Police Act to meet the emergency.

If they were fit for nothing else, he thought they might be made useful as thief- catchers. He doubtless concluded that it was much better to employ them in that way than allow them to take to take to preying on the public.

They were, accordingly, metamor- phosed into superintendents, inspectors, sub- inspectors, clerks of benches, &c.;, &c.;, and scattered broadcast, south, west, and north, over the interior districts.

The seed thus planted germinated at once, and we are now reaping the harvest. The police, under the old system, especially after their disgraceful retreat from Burrangong, were sufficiently unpopular with the diggers and others; but they had not merited that depth of ridicule and contempt which attaches to their successors under the new Act.

Instead of clothing their persons in a suitable and serviceable bush dress, Mr. Cowper made the mistake of equipping them as semi-military dandies, and attempted to disguise them as gentlemen.

This not only made them objects of ridicule but rendered them utterly useless as police, for owing to their clothing and trappings, they could be seen and heard a mile off.

It is now about five months since the new Act came into operation, and ample time has elapsed to give it a fair trial. It has had a fair trial, and the result, if not exactly what was anticipated by its opponents, is certainly very much worse.

So far as an Act of a Legislature could inflict injury on a commu- nity, and encourage criminals at the expense of honest men, the new Police Act has done so.

From the time of its passing into law to the present moment, hardly a day has elapsed without the occurrence of some daring robbery or outrage ; and in nearly every case the per- petrators have escaped unpunished.

Any law to be efficient must be in accordance with the feelings, sympathies, and even prejudices of those for whose benefit it is enacted. The Act in question being based on the French centralising system, might do very well for people of French origin, if carried out by French gendarmes; but it is evidently wholly unsuited to the circumstances of this colony.

Things have arrived at such a pass in the Western districts, that the Legislative As- sembly, unless it is prepared to abandon its functions altogether, can no longer refrain from inquiry into the causes which have led to the crimes and robberies which are contin- ually occurring there.

The operation of the New Police Act has been such that few per- sons of any class in Gardiner’s dominions— now extending from a little beyond Bathurst to the Victorian border—willingly afford help, succour, or information to the military gentle- men scouring the country.

3 March 1862

APPOINTMENTS UNDER THE NEW POLICE REGULATION ACT.

A Supplement to the Government Gazette, issued on Saturday last, contains the following appointments in the police under the Police Regulation Act of 1862. The police districts are not yet, we believe, defined, but the superintendents will be stationed in the places mentioned, being the centres of their respective districts.

lNSPECTOR-GENERAL. John McLerie, Esq. SUPERINTENDENTS. Mr. Henry Zouch (Goulburn). Mr. Laurence Hartshorne Scott (Armidale). Mr. William Chatfield (Campbelltown). Mr. John Aitcheson McLerie (Maitland). Mr. George Markham (Cooma). Mr. Thomas Broughton Carne (Deniliquin). Mr. Edric Norfolk Vaux Morisset (Bathurst). Mr. James Garland (Tamworth). Inspectors. Sir Frederick Wm. Pottinger, Bart. (the Lachlan). Mr. Critchett Walker (Braidwood). Mr. Frederick Robertson Wilshire (Scone). Mr. Edward Marlay (Albury). Mr. Edward Montague Battye (Lambing Flat).

SUB-lNSPECTORS. Mr. William Benson. Mr. Francis Augustus Blake. Mr. John Henry Hector Bruyeers. Mr. Arthur Hartington Abbott. Mr. Thomas Andrew Moore White. Mr. John Garda Hussey. Mr. John Devenish Meares. Mr. James Singleton. Mr. George Read. Mr. James Augustus Black. Mr. William O’Neill. Mr. Thomas Hogg.

SUB-INSPECTOR OF DETECTIVES. Mr. Charles Edward Harrison. In preparation for the coming into operation of the Police Regulation Act of 1862, a Code of Rules has been drawn up and issued by the Government for the management of the newly organised force ; a copy of these is to be given to every officer and man on join- ing the force.

It is generally known that the system now initiated is based partly on those in operation in Ireland and in Victoria ; and that certain portions of the system already existing in this colony are retained —the most important feature of the new organisation being, that the entire force is now placed under one central authority.

In drawing up these rules, the regulations which were considered the most important and desirable in the systems referred to have been either adopted or modified, and the result is a com- prehensive and compendious manual of the duties of officers and members of the police force, forming a neat octavo volume of nearly a hundred pages.

In- terspersed with the directions how to act in specific cases, are some judicious and valuable counsels as to the spirit and bearing which the members of the force should display in the general discharge of their duties ; their adherence to these counsels will effectually ob- viate the complaints which, whether justly or unjustly, have not unfrequently been preferred against the police.

As a supplement to these Rules, the Parlia- mentary Draftsman is engaged in the preparation of a digest of all the Acts or parts of Acts having reference to the duties of constables. We subjoin an abstract of the more important directions

:— The “Rules for the Police Force” are prefaced with a short introduction, which states that the rules have been established by the Government in order that the force “may be conducted upon one uniform system, and that its members may not be embarrassed in the execution of their several duties from the want of proper instructions,” the leading features em- braced by the system of police being “ centralisation of authority and unity of action.”

With reference generally to the manner in which the police will be required to perform their duties, it is stated to be “impossible to give precise directions for the execution of every duty which the police may be required to perform, or to anticipate every difficulty which the members of the force may have to encounter, as from the nature of the service its duties must vary, and consequently the mode of execution must vary with them.

Every member of the force should, there- fore, endeavour to become acquainted with the nature of the duty which he may be called on to execute, and, by individual zeal, energy, discretion, and intel- ligence, endeavour to supply the unavoidable defi- ciency of general instructions.”

Officers of police who are in the commission of the Peace are not expected to take Bench duty ; but where a magistrate is absent, or where another magistrate is required, they may sit, provided their doing so would be advantageous to the interests of the public.

They are not, however, to act judicially in cases in which any member of the police force is concerned. The officers and men are to be held accountable not only for the execution of all orders given them, but also for their acts in cases which cannot be pro- vided by the instructions ; and they are reminded that their exertions will be more advantageously directed to the prevention of crime than to its punishment.

A subsequent rule impresses on the force the necessity of discharging their duties with forbearance and civility, and advises them under no provocation to conduct themselves rudely or harshly, the efficiency of the force being greatly aided by their possessing the respect end confidence of the com- munity. B

oth officers and men are directed to observe neutrality in political matters, to cultivate a proper regard for the respectability and general character of the force ; and are informed that zeal and attention in the performance of duty will be rewarded, and that neglect or disobedience of orders will render the mem- bers liable to removal.

The members of the police force are divided into the following grades :-inspector-general, superintendents, inspectors, sub-inspectors, sergeants, constables, and aboriginal trackers ; the detective police consisting of a sub-inspector and constables.

The colony is, for the purpose of police supervision, to be divided into districts and sub-districts ; each district to be placed under the charge of a superin- tendent ; and all members of the force below the rank of a sub-inspector to be distinguished by a letter and number, indicating the district and the sergeant or constable wearing it. The depot, or head-quarters of the whole force is to be in Sydney, under the immediate supervision of the Inspector-General,to whom all applications for enrol- ment are to be made.

The conditions of enrolment specify that the appli- cant is to be under thirty years of age ; of a strong constitution ; able to read and write well, and provided with satisfactory testimonials of character. He is to understand that he engages not only for police duties, but for any work he may be ordered to perform.

Before enrolment, he is to be for three days on trial without pay. The oath to be taken on entering the force is the same as that hitherto administered, excepting that the allusion to secret societies is omitted.

In order to afford newly-appointed constables the means of acquiring a knowledge of drill, a number of supernumeraries will be maintained at the depot, so as to supply vacancies in the various divisions, these receiving while there three-fourths of the pay of an ordinary constable.

Constables are to be sworn in for one year, are to devote their whole time to the public service, and are forbidden to take gratuities without the express per- mission of the Inspector-General. They are to give three months’ notice before quitting the force, and are not to marry without the permission of their superin- tendent.

The whole of the accruing pay of dismissed constables is to be forfeited. Disobedience of the orders of a superior officer will be severely punished. The members of the force are reminded that they are accountable for their conduct to the Government and the officers of their department ; and “it is there- fore not only inexpedient and unnecessary, but directly opposed to orders, that individuals in the employment of the Government should have recourse to the public journals in order to defend themselves against any reflections cast upon them.”

The rules relating to discipline point out the neces- city of establishing a gradation of responsibility, so that every individual may know his duty and position. Orders are to be given in the language of moderation, and to be received with deference and respect.

The force is divided into mounted, foot, water police, and detectives. The mounted and foot police will be distributed amongst the various districts, and the officer in charge of a district is empowered to receive and forward to the Inspector-General applica- tions for additional police protection. The rules relating to Sydney premise that the city is divided successively into divisions, sections, and beats; and proceed to state the hours of duty, the various services required of the officers and constables, who are expected (whether on duty or not), to turn out on all such emergencies as fire, accidents, or dis- turbances.

There are to be no grades in the detective body, but there are first and second cliss detectives, the former receiving 3s. per day, and the latter 2s. per day in excess of the pay of an ordinary constable. The rules next following describe the general duties of the different ranks.

The Inspector-General has the entire management and control of the whole force under the direction of the Colonial Secretary, and all communications be- tween the officers and the Government are to be for- warded through him. The duties of the superintendent are those of con- stant and active supervision and inspection ; and he is responsible for the prevention of crime, the detec- tion of criminals, and the general preservation of peace within his district.

He is to attend every morn- ing at his office at nine o’clock, to hear complaints made against any of the men of his district. The duties assigned to the superintendent are very nume- rous, and much stress is laid upon his displaying ca- pacity, discretion, and good management.

The inspector is described as being in his division what the superintendent is in his district. He should be governed by the spirit and principle of the insti- tructions to that officer ; and will be held equally responsible for the execution of his own duties as well as tor the general conduct, discipline, and appearance of his men. He has to pay strict and prompt obe- dience to all the lawful orders and directions of the magistrates, and to report to them the results of all warrants and processes issued.

Amongst the various duties of an inspector are the following : -To take opportunities of drilling the sergeants and men ; to establish a system of patrols ; to inspect minutely the men, horses, arms, and appoint- ments ; to make himself and his men acquainted with the persons and haunts of all disre- putable characters in his division ; to keep an order book and an occurrence book ; and to make up a weekly-duty and a monthly forage return.

The duties of a sub-inspector are similar, but sub- ordinate to those of the inspector. In each district, and in the city police, in each division one sergeant is selected to become responsible for the conduct and appearance of the constables, and for the state of the barracks and quarters, the arms, ammunition, and appointments at the principal sta- tion in the district ; and also to a great extent for the drill of the men of the district.

He is to report any irregularity or neglect of duty on the part of consta- bles to the inspector, and represent that officer in his absence.

The rules for the guidance of the constables enforce the necessity of perfect obedience to his superiors, and of being ever on the alert for the prevention of crime and the protection of person and property ; though frequeutly acting on specific orders applicable to the occasion, he is very generally, in the execution of his duty as a police officer, called upon to act on his own responsibility ; he therefore requires discre- tion, intelligence, decision, and perfect command of temper.

“As it is of great importance that constables should be respected by all classes, and obtain their good opinion, they should be extremely cautious in their demeanour, and by sober, orderly, and regular habits, respectful attention to every gen- tleman, and ready zeal to execute the lawful orders and commands of the magistrates, endeavour to obtain their approbation.”

The constable is expected to pos- sess such a knowledge of the inhabitants of each house as to enable him to recognise their persons, and be enabled to render them assistance when called for ; and also to see every part of his beat in the time allotted. He is only to sound his whistle when he cannot in any other way obtain immediate assistance ; nor is he on any pretence to enter a public-house except in the immediate execution of his duty.

The rules relating to the officers’ uniform require all officers to be dressed alike, but to have a distin- guishing mark of their rank ; they are to provide their own uniform. The men are supplied with a uniform on entering the force. The prospect of promotion in the force is held out as an inducement for men of a good class to enter it, and to exert themselves while in it.

Though seniority, length of service, and good conduct, will have their due weight as recommendations for promotion, effi- ciency and adaptation for the particular vacancy will be the principal considerations. The applications for promotion are to be made through the usual official channels, and no officer is to receive any gift, address, or other token of respect from the men who have served under him.

Special rewards are to be given out of the Police Reward Fund for bravery or other meritorious con- duct; and rewards are also offered by the Government and private individuals for various services. These are to be divided according to the value of the services rendered, but no officer is to receive any part of the reward unless under special authority.

Provision is made for the infliction of punishments upon the subordinates by the officers under certain restrictions. The Inspector-General is alone invested with the power of dismissing a man. Superintendents, and inspectors having charge of districts during the absence of superintendents, may inflict a fine not ex- ceeding three pounds ; inspectors in charge of sub- . districts may inflict a fine not exceeding forty shil- lings ; sub-inspectors in a like position may inflict a fine not exceeding twenty shillings ;—the punishments in these cases being subject to the approval of the superintendent and the confirmation of the Inspector General.

Rules are next given, providing for leave of absence, for complaints, and for the supply of arms, ammuni- tion, and appointments. It being necessary that the Police Force should be able to act in concert as an armed body, instructions in drill are to be given. For this purpose the con- stables will be instructed at the depot in marching and the platoon exercises ; and those selected for mounted duty will be taught riding and the sword exercise.

They are, however, reminded that, “they belong not to a military, but to a civil force, and that unne- cessary military parade and show is discountenanced,” and that their principal object in exercises in the use of arms should be to render the force effective.

The rules following convey directions with respect to barracks, stables, horses, forage, escorts, patrols, duties at the watchhouse, conveyance of letters and despatches, and instructions respecting correspondence, reports, &c.;

The second part of the Manual consists of “Gene- ral instructions for the guidance of the Police Force, issued by the Inspector-General.” By these constables are informed as to how they are to act upon informa- tion of the commission of felonies and misdemeanours, and in what cases they may arrest without a warrant.

The instructions also relate to the serving of sum- monses, to the procedure of constables in cases of violent or sudden death, and to the circumstances in which they will be justified in the use of arms. The volume concludes with rules for the distribu- tion and appropriation of the superannuation and police reward funds, and regulations for police pensions.

26 March 1862

GAMBLING.

AN occasion has very fortunately arisen, just after the initiation of the now police system, for the administration of a public and strong rebuke, by the Colonial Secretary, as the ultimate and responsible head of the police department, to an officer high in the service.

Sir Frederick Pottinger, formerly a clerk of petty sessions, more recently employed in an offioial oapacity on the gold fields, and who has boen appointed one of tho inspectors of police under the new system, and a magistrate, was unlucky enough, in a quarrel in tho gambling room of a publio house, to assault a Mr. Watt.

Mr. Watt sued him for damages for tho assault in the District Court, and the whole particulars of the gambling scene came before the publio, and were duly reported in the local newspapers.

Our oolonial moralists have very frequently commented on the prevalence of the degrading vice of drunkonness in the colony. And they have had ample grounds for the statement, that it was the speoial vice of theso colonies, dragging down its hundreds and thousands of votaries to destruction, here and hereaftor.

But we have never observed any publio comments on the second groat vice of tho Australian colonies gambling. Yet it is as fatally prevalent as drunkenness, and corrupts the very vitals of our society.

Drunkenness corrupts principally the poorer men in our community : gambling consigns to perdition numerous victims from the middle and the upper ranks of colonial society.

To a man coming fresh from the non gambling life of England, nothing appears more striking, or more alarming, than the easy cool- ness with whioh jieople in those colonies speak of frequonting billiard rooms, and other gambling scenes.

Tho foot ia that habit Imo so inured’the colonists to the generality of the practioet that they do not regard gambling with any horror, fow of the non-gamblers even speak- ing of it as that fatal vice which it is thought in England.

Sir Frederick Pottinger has had the ill-for- tune-not to gamble, for that others have done, with impunity-but to drag his gambling habits into notoriety. And for nearly the first time within our colonial experience, of over twenty years, a publio rebuke has been deservedly ad- ministered to a high police officer, and a magis- trate, for frequenting a gambling room, and .pending hours in a publio-house.

We trust the preoedent now set by the Colo- nial Secretary will be rigidly followed up, and that in future policemen, high and low, fro quonting public-houses, and beooming well known (locally) gamblers and betters, will bo severely reprimanded, and the reprimands made publio through the newspapers (as now), or be dismissed the sorvico.

The majority of our police force, and most of their officers, have, we believe, been entirely free from the fatal habit of gambling-but the defeot of our practioo hitherto has been that where a policeman acquired the habit, and prac- tised it, although it might be well known in the locality, his superiors never notioed it in the way of reprimand.

Unless, indeed, as in the present caso, the policeman was unwise enough to so conduct himself as to force tho gambling ‘ scenes he shared into publio notoriety, and into the columns of the newipapcrs. Nothing will, we fear, absolutely cure the evil unless some vital chango comes over oolo- nial publio opinion in respeot to gambling.

So long as the repute of being a gambler-that is, of frequenting gambling places,-is held gene- rally as not seriously damaging a man’s charac- ter as a man of business, as a citizen, as a Chris- tian, so long will policemen naturally think it no great sin to do as their neighbours, provided they do not create any publio scandal.

The following is tho Colonial Secretary’s reprimand, as published in the Sydney daily papers of Wednesday : Colonial Secretary’s Office,

THE CONDUCT OF SIR FREDERICK POTTINGER.

THE following letter, conveying an official reprimand to Sir Frederick Pottinger, one of the police inspectors, on account of charges upon which he was recently found guilty in the District Court at Yass, was, yesterday, forwarded from the Colonial Secre- tary to the Inspector-General of Police

: — “ Colonial Secretary’s Office, “ Sydney, 25th March, 1862. “ Sir,—I am directed by the Colonial Secretary to in- form you that he much regrets to be obliged to address you in reference to the conduct of an officer in the police depart- ment which has recently been brought under his notice. “

2. In the public newspapers an account has lately appeared of proceedings in the District Court at Yass, in which Sir Frederick Pottinger was defendant, and a verdict was obtained against him for an assault under circum- stances which the Colonial Secretary feels bound to say were highly discreditable to that gentleman. “

3. In the rules established under the Police Regulation Act, officers, as well as other members of the police force generally, are cautioned against frequenting public- houses, and Mr. Cowper cannot too strongly impress upon them the absolute necessity which exists for a strict observance of this salutary regulation. “

4. It is impossible for the community to entertain any respect or confidence in officials whose conduct is charac- terised by proceedings such as those which it was proved in evidence disgraced the night when Sir Frederick Pottinger committed the assault of which he was found guilty.

To be occupied in gambling and betting during the whole night must unfit those who indulge in such un- seemly practices for the efficient performance of their duty. “

5. It occasions the Colonial Secretary considerable pain to be under the necessity of animadverting in such strong terms upon the conduct of an officer of whom he has enter- tained a high opinion, and who had just been promoted. But, considering the state of the country, more especially at the present crisis, from the large influx of diggers from the neighbouring colony and elsewhere, the officers whose par- ticular duty it is to protect life and property, especially at the gold-fields, cannot be too circumspect in their general behaviour, and the Government will feel called upon to visit with the severest mark of their displeasure those who may be found acting at variance with this principle. “

6. Mr. Cowper requests further that you will send a copy of this letter to each superintendent, in order that its purport may be communicated to the officers of the police force. “ I have, &c.;, “ W. ELYARD. “The Inspector-General of Police.”

1 May 1862

POLICE COURT – April 25th.

Benjamin Hall, described as a settler in the Wheago district, was brought before the Court charged with highway robbery under arms.

Sir F. Pottinger, sworn, stated from information received I apprehended prisoner on Wednesday last I on the racecourse, charged with highway robbery, in company with others, on the road between the Lachlan and Lambing Flat ; he denied the charge.

‘William Bacon being duly sworn stated : I am a cartier ; I know the prisoner now before the Court ; last Monday week, the 14th instant, I was coming with my loaded teams to this place at about 11 o’clock, when I was about two miles the other side of Green Station (about sixteen miles from the Lachlan diggings), two men on horseback, with revolvers, came up to my drays and ordered me to turn into the bush ;

when we had proceeded about a quarter of a mile into the bush I was ordered to stop ; we were still in sight of the road; two other men then came up both on horseback and armed ; one (the prisoner) leading a grey horse ;

I cannot recollect the brands of any of the horses ; one of the men that stopped us first, and whom I supposed to be Gardner, commenced to open the cases on my dray with an axe ;

prisoner went to the other dray with his revolver or pistol in his hand ; while there the man I supposed to be Gardner, noticed two men on horseback passing along the road and ordered the prisoner, with another, to go and fetch them in ;

they did so ; they bailed them up also, and took a saddle from them ; prisoners opened a case of tobacco ; the man supposed to be Gardner told pri- soner to strap the tobacco and bottles of gin on the Eack-noise, which he did ;

I was requested to help im, which I did ; in doini; so prisoner said to me, “ You never saw me before,” to which I replied that I had, and drank with him ; they then ordered us to pack up, and left us, prisoner leading the pack-horse away; I swear positively that the prisoner is the mon;

I cannot be mistaken-when he robbed the drays some chaff passed between us with respect to a woman I knew he waa acquainted with ;

my loading was for Mr. Greig, storekeeper on these diggings, for whom I have carried, almost exclusively, more than fourteen months ;

I have not yet been paid for the loading. Edward Horsenail, being duly sworn, stated : I am driving for the last witness, I have been in his employ fully fifteen months ; I know the prisoner-have seen him on several occasions ;

on Monday week last, as far as I can judge about ten o’clock, when about two or three miles from Green’s, I noticed two men ride out of the bush, and cried out to Bacon,

“ Look out, Bill,’ here are the boys!” they came up and presented their revolvers, and ordered us into the bush, one kept rear the dray I was driving, the other by the side of Bacon’s dray ;

when a short distance off the road, two other men rode up, one the prisoner, lead- ing a pack-horse on which there were two or three saddles ; I can positively swear to the prisoner ;

the man we supposed to be Gardner then commenced to open the cases on the dray; prisoner stood by with a revolver in his hand ; a case of gin was opened, and a bottle passed round for all hands to drink ;

prisoner and another left by order of the man sup- posed to be Gardner, and brought two other men from the road ; prisoner, by order of the same man, searched my dray ; he broke a case of tobacco open, and packed two bags containing tobacco and other things on a horse ; they soon after left ;

I know pri- soner ; the last two trips we have made, on both occasions I saw him at the Pinacle Station (Mrs. Peeley’s publichouse) ; I can positively swear to him ; I cannot be mistaken. Henry Greig, being sworn, stated :

I am a store keener; Bacon has been carrying for me nearly eighteen months ; I believe him to be thoroughly trustworthy ; I would trust him with loading again to ten times the amount ; I was ia Sydney., at the time of the robbery, and cannot give full p irticulars of what is missingvfrom the loading, having only re turned-last night. < ., ;

Prisoner, uno declined saying anything, was .re- manded until Saturday (this da}), when he Was again brought before the Court and committed for trial ; bail refused,

29 April 1862

GARDINER THE HIGHWAYMAN*.-The Lachlan Miner of the 19th instant publishes a letter from this incorrigible desperado, with tho annexed endorsement as to its authen- ticity:

-”We have rcoeived the following letter, purporting to be from the hand nf Frank Gardiner, the notorious highwayman of Lachlan and Lambing Flat roads.

The circumstances under which wo became possessed of the . documents con bo known, and the original copies, with tho envelopes and seals, seen by the curious, on application at this office, and they can then use what judgment they chooso as to the gonuineness of thom.

Wo give it to our ‘ readers as we received it :-

To tho Editor of the Burran ‘gong Miner, Lambing Flat.-Sir,-Having seen a para , graph in one of tho papers, wherein it is said that I took. 1 the boots ofT a man’s feot, and that I also took the last few. ‘ shillings that anothor man had, I wish it to bo made known.. that I did not do anything of tho kind. The man who took the hoots was in my company, and foe so doing I discharged him the following day.

Silver I never took from a maa yot, and the shot that was fired at the sticking-up of Messrs. Horsington and Hewitt was by accident, and the ‘ man who did it I also discharged.

As for a moan, low, or petty action, I never committed it in my life. The letter that I last sent to the press, there had not half of what I said put in it.

In all that has hoon Baid there never waa any mention mado of my taking tin» sergeant’s horse and trjinghim, and that when I found-ho was no good, I went back and got my own. As for Mr. Torpy, ho is a porfecfc coward.

After I Bpared his lifo- as ho fell out of the window, be fired at mo as I rodo away; but I hopo that Mr. Torpy and I have not done just yet, until, we balance our accounts properly. Mr. Greig has accused mo of robbing his teams, but it is falsa, for I know nothing about tho robbery whatever.

In fact, I would not rob Mr. Groig or anyono bedongingto him, on aocount of his taking things so easy at Bogolong. Mr. Torpy was too bounceaolo or ho would not have boon robbed. A word, to Sir W. F. Pottinger. He wanted to know how it was the man who led my horse up to mo at the Pinnacle did not I out my horse’s reins as ho gave mo tho horse.

I should ! Uke to knov; if Mr. Pottinger would do 30 ? I shall answer for him by saying no. It has been Baid that it would ho ‘ advisable to placo a trap at each shanty on the road, to put a stop to tho depredations dono on the road. ,1 certainly think that it would be a great acquisition to mo, for I should then hayo intreaf 8 of revolvers and carbinoB.

Whon savon or eight men could do nothing with me at the Pinnacle, ono would looli well at a shanty. Three of your troopers wore at a, byii-o tho other night and got drinking and gambling till “1 hours. I carno there towards moraing, when all-TIS silent. The first room that I went into.

I found revolver» and carbines to nnv amount, but seeing nono as good as my own, I left them, I than went out, and in the verandah, found tho troopers sound asleep.

Satisfying myself that noither Battye nor Pottinger wore there, I left them as 1 found them, in the arms of Morpheus. Fearing nothing, 1 remain, Trinco of Tobymen, FRANCIS GARDXCK, the Highwayman. InsertMhe foregoing, and rest satufiod you shall bo paid.”

21 May 1862

OUR GOLD FIELDS.

Mining affairs during the paBt month have been more than ordinarily quiescent, the continuance of the drought having” hud a deadening effect upon almost every gold- field in the colony, preventing any- thing like a”general washing-up.

THE WESTERN GOLD-FIELDS. From the last communication received from our special commissioner at the Lachlan, it would appear ‘ that the miners had been favoured by a few heavy showers, which had once more set the puddling machines at work. Upon the state of mining affairs there he says :

“ In mining there ia little or nothing to report. A few days Blncoit was stated that a claim on tho Victoria lead had Btruck gold : knowing some of tho claimholdcrs In tho particular olaim. mentioned, I made enquiries, and ascertained that at present thoy liad not struck gold.

With the exception of two or thrco claims on the Caledonian, none of tho others aro at present getting any- thing. Great confidence is, however, expressed that tho lead will yet bo traced. Tho South lead still continues to yield hand Bomo returns, and is extending daily, ultliough not so fast as report would make it appear-many having sutod gold had been etiuckontho otherside oftho river; such, however, is not tho

“ Our population is increasing at present in a far greater ratio than payable ground is bciug opened to employ them, for slnco tho Lachlan has been a gold-field-now some seven or eight months-with all the work that has been done, with all the sup- posed leads, and the amount of money expended in shepherding, we Tcally havo only one lead producing gold of any consequence, and that is the firtt or main lead opened. Like all gold-holds of . a similar character, or, mole properly speaking, gold-fields with proclaim! d leads, deep sinking, and the frontage system-wo sbull be subject to panics.

A few months since there was a cer- tain despondency noticeable, and a fear that the gold found would not be extended-shaies in the main lead were to bo bought at nominal prices-wheu, suddenly, No. 6% on the South lead, struck payable gold,

cleaily proving it to boa lead, and then most parties rushed to the other extreme ; but it must not bo forgotten that since that time no discovery’ of auy account has taken place, and the same uneasiness that was to be noticed here a few months since is again making its appearance-pcoplo aro beginning to feel the ettect, both on their patience and their pockets, of the shepherding without any, or ut least very distant, chanco of regaining their money.”

Our correspondent, in explaining the cause of the fluctuation in amount of the quantities of gold sent down by escort, says, in reference te the banks hold- ing back 4000 ounces of gold, whilst only some 3000 ounces were sent by the escorts,

“ Many w ill, I doubt not, wonder why the banks hore hold this amount of gold. I will explain : when a party of men wash a , paddock of dirt-it may be two or three weeks’ work for them, ‘ every machino that is puddled and sluiced-the proceeds are deposited with the banks for safety, it is not until the whole of the gold Is obtained from the paddock that tbo parcel is sold,-so that five or six good claims washing at the Burne time, and holding their gold, in the cause of the great fluctuations in our’escorts ;

and, when it so happens that these largo parcels aro sold in tho samo weck, our escort reaches a very large amount ; but it must alvv ays he horno In mind that it is very often rho proceeds of several weeks’ work. A very large amount of the gold forwarded to Sj dncy during tho past five or six weeks was obtained hero as many months ago, the washing of the paddocks of dirt, out.of the fiist giound washed, produced the gold that has in that time been forwarded to Sydney.

“On the Bomb lead, at present, numbers of claimholdcrs have largo paddocks of dirt from which, as yat, they have not washed a ungle load, Many will work their ground out and bring the w bolo of their w ash to the surface before they commence puddling. So that it may happen that one week’s escort may take down the produce of several months’ work. No. 78 o» this lead struck gold last week, and the greatest confidence still prevails in con- tinuation of this (south) lead ; shares still being very high.

“Ihave been thus paiticular in pointing out the great fluctua- tions in our escorts, for miners at a distance, when they Bee a large return, often think it the produce of one week, and trouulo themselves but little to ascertain ii such is the case.

When five or six claims hold their gold, our escorts fall considerably. This will bo sufficient to show the comparative few that aro at present obtaining the precious metal ; hut that few aro certainly fortunato in (possessing the ‘jeweller’s shop’ they do; and whatever amount of caution I may endeavout to give mluerB making their woy to this field will, 1 know, bo in a gi-cut measure thrown away -they will chance it. Hundreds and hundreds of them would sooner shepherd some supposed lend on a baro c.xistcnco for monthB and months than accept good and certain wages (me- chanics and tradesmen of all kuids, with all our largo population, being difficult to obtain).

Thev live and hope that they may ono j day bo lucky enough to get a ‘jeweller’s shop’-anything Uko payable ground that would turn out good wages being thought nothing of at present, pilo holes alone being looked for.”

At Sofala there appears to be some disposition to go i heavily into the quartz crushing business. Already, | some three or four reefs have been opined, and several crushing mnchines erected ; whilst additional reefs are spoken of as about to be worked, and two engines | are on their way to uid the miners. Mr. Cowper has paid a flying visit to the gold-fields of the South and West ; but, arriving in most cases over night, and departing the next morning, the miners begin to think that the lion, gentleman is not really bo desirous of gaining correct information as he w ould have it believed he is. THE

SOUTHERN GOLD-FIELDS. From Lambing Flat there is no mining news of in- terest. There have been no new rushes reported during the past month, but the diggers appear to be working steadily, as the escort returns keep up their amount pretty regularly. Although we get little, if any, direct news from the Snowy Riyr, it is apparent lrom the steady returns by escort that the minéis must be doing remark- ably well.

The Braidwood gold-fields still flourish as of old, in spite of the many fluctuations of population to which they have been latterly subjected. Water, however, is getting scarce, and the diggers are be- ginning to look anxiously for rain. It is said that a new gold-fiald has been opened on the upper waters of the Moruya, between the Gulph diggings and the coast, but no authentic par- ticulars have yet reached Sydney in respect to it.

THE NORTHERN GOLD-FIELDS. The Peel and Hanging Rock diggings are suffering severely from the want of water ; work being almost at a stand still. At Boonoo Boonoo great excitement has been caused by the opening up of a quartz reef, from which some very rich stone has been drawn out. A crushing machine is about to be erected there.

20 May 1862

20 May 1862 FORBES.

The escort takes down 2700 ounces of gold and £2000 cash, leaving upwards of 4000 ounce« of gold in the banks. The Caledonian lead is extending, and the popula- tion steadily on the increase.

27 May 1862

LACHLAN. The escort leaves this morning with 3516 or.j, gold, and £2814 caen. The prospectors on the Arcadian lead report a fair prospect of gold. Mining news is quiet, but the population is steadily increasing. Yesterday (Queen’s birthday), a cricket match was played between New South Wales players and Vic- torians, which resulted in the defeat of the latter, the score being 151 against 42.

21 June 1862

OUR GOLD FIELDS

We have been this month startled by a most daring robbery, successfully committed by a gang of armed bushrangers, said to have been fifteen in number, upon the Lachlan escort.

The particulars of the attack and robbery are as yet only meagre, having been furnished us by electric telegraph before full details were known,

The first news received, under date Menday, 3 p.m., was from Orange, as follows :

The Lachlan Escott was stuck np last night between four and fire o’clock,near Mr. Clements’.about forty-tiicmilcs from Orange. All the escort guards, excepting one nnd the coachman, were irounded.

All the gold was taken, and tho mall bags open LI].

Our telegram from the Lachlan, dated Sunday evening, immediately after the departure of the escort, informed us of the fact that 2719 ozs. of gold and £3700 m cash had been forwarded thence en route to Sydney under charge of this escort.

On the following day, Tuesday, the details of the robbery, in so far as they could be gathered, were furnished us through the electric telegraph, by our Lachlan correspondent, in the following terms :

Between four and flv e o’clock on Sunday evening, tho E«cort from the Lachlan arm ed at a creek near Mr, Clements’, fortj – flvo miles’from Orange, when they saw two bullock teams and .ne horse team placid across the road in a peculiar position.

The coachman bad to drive round them, and while doing so six men carne out from behind some rocks and tired on the 1 scott. They then retired, and six others followed their example. Tho Escort then fired on the bushrangers.

At the occond volley, tho horsca bolted and the coach turned over, Hftccnmcn, alt in red shirts and caps, with blackened faces, then rushed on tho Escort and fired en them, Thoy took the horsLB from the coach, and took two with them to carry the gold, tho mail-bags, two rifles, and troopers’ cloaks

The senior Bcrgcint receiv ed three ball wounds, Moran two. Neither of them was seriously hurt. The coachman received one ball through his hat, and another through the skirt of his coat. It was then dark. I ho Escort and co-ichman went to Mr. Clements’.

One of tho men, tho co-ichman, and others returned and gathered up tho letters, Mr Clements, accom- panied by one of the escort, started immediately to give informa- tion of the occurrence to tho police.

About six o’clock yesterday morning, Sir V. Pottinger, with eleven troopers, twenty settlers, and two trackers, got on tho track of the bushrangers.

About three miles from the coach thoy found, near a camp lire, tbo gold-boxes, -» bich had been opened. Tho mails were delivered here about sut lost evening, registered letters were all saved. It appears that the barricade, which had diverted the mail from the road, and brought it so immediately under the fire of the ambushed rufflanB, had been formed of the drays of carriers who had been bailed np by the villains shortly before.

On this point, our correspondent telegrams : When the carrie« arrived at the place where the robbery sub. sceiucntly occurred, they wero stopped by an armed mon, and ordered to draw their teams across the road, and take down a case of gin and open it. They were then marched behind the rocks, and made to lie flat on their faces, an armed man standing over them.

Thoy had been in this unpleasant posture three hours when the escort carne up.

Instead of ourselves offering any comment here upon this desperate and blood-thirsty robbery, we in sert a letter from Mr. John A, HUT, for many months eur Special Commissioner on the Gold Fields, a gentleman who has been residing on the Lachlan or Lambing Flat Gold Fields as Correspondent for this .Jtnminl ever-»ince tbo latter was first opened.

He is thus in a position to speak from the experienceac quired as well by long residence, as by his avocation, having peculiarly directed his attention in this direc- tion. He writes, addressing the editor of this journal, under date June 17th .

“ That -which BOB been so long foretold has at last taken place ; and to anyone thut knows the way in which tho escorts ire for- warded to Sydney from tho voriou» gold-fields, the surprise is not nt the robbery, but that the escorts should hai o so long escaped.

Four or five police in charge of gold and notes varying from £10,000 to £40,000, are expected to protect it. This is morally impossible, they ore cooped up in a coach, and whtttcv cr amount of discipline and courage they may possess, they hav e scarce room enough to more-they are nothing less than a target for any six or eight villains who may think the possession of such a sum of money worth trying for, and who arc certain it can be ob- tained, thinking, as they do, nothing about committing murder. The way tho various escorts are guarded is holding out a premium to robbery and murder.

Those th-it know the roads the Western and Southern Lscorta have to trav c1 must bo aware of the many places in which six determined men can station themselves and Bhoot down tho escort, before the} have a chance of eccmg their murderers or returning a single shot.

Is this fair to the men composing the escorts, or giving them the least chance Î The Gov ernment cannot plead that they have not rocen ed infor- mation enough with respect to the assembly, both in numbers and determination, of the most outrageous bushrangers and v agabonds in the Lambine Flat and Lachlan districts, of tbo Insufficiency of the police force in thoBe;districts, and of the disaffection amongst the police stationed there.

If they have not received such infor- mation from their officials, tho numerous robberies that have been committed with impunity, and reported in tho Press fhroughoughout the colony, ought to hav e nw akencd them to the necessity of taking stringent measures for the suppression of these outrages.

If the Government wish to suppress the robberies and violence in these districts, protect the lives of travellers through- out the colony, and secure tho arrival of the escorts in Sydney, the police force in those districts must bo considerably increased, a mounted force must bo established to protect the escort, and some little official ingenuity must be exercised, so that the escort will not be expected (as they oro now) to be capable of undergoing the fatigue of doing duty for three days and nights consecutively.

The system of mounted escorts has been adopted by all other Governments hiving the chargo of gold escorts, and the necessity of it has been repeatedly pointed out to our sapient authorities , but the Government and police onthoriUcs havo pooh-poohed the matter, and still continue to pack police and gold into a coach like sardines m a box, and. think by se doing they afford efficient protection-receiv o the escort fees and gold duty, and listen to no reasonable warning. Perhaps the occurrence of the daring robber) reported in your issue to-day may in a measure show them the ncces«ty of aefopt ing n ByBtem that has been established both in Victoria and hew Zealand since the discovery of gold in those places 1 et, with these examples before them, the good old system of the Gov em- inent of New South Wales has been continued, and, without those who aro interested in the safe amv al of the escorts stir in the matfor, I do not expect our paternal Gov eminent will even now sec the necessity of altering their good old system.

Many will, I doubt not, be surprised if the mounted police that started in pursuit of the robbers arc not successful, I for one shall not be surprised-having a lively recollection of the appear- ance and condition of the horses belonging to the police force some few weeks «ince : without stabling accommodauon, with great scarcity of forage, and with plenty of work, thev aro not tho »ort of horses one w ould expect to follow successfully the well bred and well-fed horses that are obtained by the bushrangers in these particular district«.

With respect to the mounted and foot police stationed on the gold-fields, I do not think thero is a better disciplined or more courageous body of men in anv service, but they cannot do impossibilities ; and until the force is considerably increased, and the horses of the mounted police better careel for, the public must he prepared to hear of the continuation of rob- beries and violence in these districts.

The latest information we have received, prior to penning this article, is that the particulars of the Escort robbery were not yet (.fueadav, 11.30 a m.) known at the Lachlan ;* that “ Sergeant Condell and two troopers had returned slightly wounded ; and that the supposed robbers had been tracked to Fenn’s, “Wowingragong.” A circumstance that subsequently occurred has given an additionally tragic appearance to this already serious affair.

Soon after the mail left the post office, Haviland, one of the escort (the only man who escaped being wounded), was shot under the chin. He never spoke afterwards, but fell down in the coach. At the inqusst held on the body on Tuesday the verdict given was, “ Died from a wound by a bullet, whether by intenf or accident not known.”

The death of this unfortunate man has already given birth to surmises of all kinds, and adds materially to the general discon- tent that prevails in regard to the conduct of the Go- vernment in respect to these escorts. _

Turning now to more encouraging informa- tion. The Lachlan gold-field is producing gold to a very much larger extent than is generally imagined, cr than is ascertained by merely taking the escort returns as a guide. It is now certain that a large amount of gold from this field reaches Sydney by piivate hand. In our lost Saturday’s issue we had the following paragraph :

LACHLAN GOLD,-Yesterday we were shown a splendid speci- men of the Lachlan gold, in weight about eighty ounces. In ap- pearance It was remarkably clean and pure, and presented that PMunanty of “1 the Lachlan gold, as if it had just teen pressed .at of the quartz.

It was obtained on the South lead, IUshapo «watty resembled a trowel, and one could almost imagine that it was one of those elaborate fancy articles, so often used in laving uc fcnAüítiw tima or («nie pi the »pre top ort-t public bimi-. inRF.

ThiB nugget was only one out of upwards of £17,000 worth of gold, that waa sold to tho Oriental Bank by a party of four miners, who arc proceeding to longland. Tint is no solitary in- stance, for, during tho pott three mon hp, numbers of Lachlan miners have taken ship for borne, with from £(¡000 to £7000 each, Hie result of from ttnee to six months work on tho Lachlan. V hen filch ptires an tlicbc are to bo obtained it ii not surpruing that vc hear of the mining populition still pouring tow link tin-, field.

If the prizes aro not no numerous as many would wish, their vainc is such that, whitevcr amount of cannon mi} bo given, and all that can bo said, will not prevent tbc [.neuem from hav ing a population larger than nnj other gold-field lu the colonies for a considerable length of time.

In addition to the above, we have the best authority for stating that there have been sent home through the Oriental Bank Corporation, either in cash or drafts, by the last two mails, no less a sum than £80,000. This money is the property of diggers who have returned successful from their labours on the Lachlan gold-field. No more conclusive evidence than this could be required, either of the richness of this field or of the fact that much more gold comes down thence to Sjdney than is forwarded by escort.

24 June 1862

THE GOLD ESCORT

WHAT everybody has foreseen for some time past has at length happened. The gold escort has been attacked by a band of armed ruffians, who biased upon their unfortunate victims from a scrub, and wounded one, it is feared, mortally, and two others less seriously.

The’intelligence of this event, although by no means unexpected, has created a strong feeling of mingled sorrow and indignation.

The people of Forbes feel that these unfortunate men have been handed over to the Philistines, as it were, bound hand and foot, and arc persuaded that if the suggestions which hive from time to time been put forth from this locality had been adopted, the sacrifice, pecuniary and otherwise, which we are now called upon to lament, might have been prevented.

The mode in which the escort business is conducted is neither more nor less than a premium upon crime. The coach with its four guards, cooped up m a box, containing the precious treasures of the Lachlan, is, to all intents’and purposes; a loco motive advertisement to the vile and the criminal to «Tail themselves of » splendid hurest, «ai tbftt (ho invitation has been responded to, is no matter of aston. ishment to any one at alt conversant with the facts of the case.

True to its instt-icts of plunder and profit Vtllaiíyihas done ita best and its worst, and if it hid rented in a’ state of-inaction with such prospects of success, the circumstance would have been somothine little less than wonderful. ^

In al) great rushes there is sure to he a considerable sprinkling of otiminality amongst the first population and it is not to be expected that Forbes would prove en exception to the rule.

If the incident which calls forth these remarks had occurred six months ago, something like a valid excuse might have been offered fir the gross neglect of the preventive measures which ore dictated by the very circumstances of the cose. Of what – mortal use, pray, as a fighting body, are four men stuck in a wooden frame in two rows, with their firelocks in their handB,. as if placed there for the express purpose of shooting only in one direction, or being shot down»

Perhaps, in an old settled community, nineteen-twen tietris of whom were well known, or had some recog- nised position in Bocicty, it would he impossible to bring together a dozen scoundrels who were prepared to shed human blood, or to jeopardise their own lives and liberties for so dazzling a prize even as a cargo of gold,.

But all our circumstances are new. The dis- covery of gold is an event, comparatively speaking, of ycsteiday, and it has attracted hither hordes of the most deeply-dyed villains, from all the surrounding colonies, California, and the mother country, who are prepared for any enterprise, no matter what its hazards, if tiie rewards are rich.

Will the Government now understand that it bas other duties to perform than the mere collection of > revenue from this gold-field, and that the duty of pro- tecting the lives and properties of her Majesty’s subjects assembled thereupon, has thus far been disgracefully neglected r

In the present instance about £10,000 wotth of money and gold has been forcibly taken from its rightful owners, and the lives of its temporary custodians jeopardised. And unless steps be promptly token to prevent a recurrence of the attempt, these ruffians, or some others of the same stamp, will do so again at the first convenient oppor- tunity. Whilst such things prevail, we can under- stand why people should talk ol Vigilance Committees and Lynch Law as desirable agencies for the expulsion of the Ecoundrclicm which flourishes in this township and ‘ its vicinity.

But, whilst we discountenance such chimeras as altogether at war with the letter and spirit of our constitution, we tell the Government that we require and must have protection under the – law,’ administered by constitutional authority-that we pay for it, and are in every respect entitled to it. It is alBO a question whether men will be found, who, for the sake of a mere pittance, will subject themselves to the chance of being shot down like dogs.

Under such circumstances braviry is of little avail, the assailants taking good care that the advantage shall all be-on their side, both as regards numbers, po- sition, and the first volley.

The mechanism of the escort requires alteration, and until it is remodelled and strengthened, we consider neither the persons nor the property in charge of the escort safe, after the excitement caused j,by the present onslaught has subsided.

It is hardly necessary we should explain that the escort, to be of any avail in the way of protection, ought to consist of mounted troopers instead of boxed up policemen, who, to render them as useless as needs lie, arc ciibbed, cabined, and confined, as if intended as human targets for Vaademoniau banditti.

The force, moreover, would require doubling, at least one half to precede, and tue other to follow the vehiclo containing the gold. Such a body, provided with aims, and well drilled for their work, would be very unlikely to meet with interference from bush- rangers or bandits.

What we suggest, therefore and we are hoppy to learn that our views receive the sanction of a number of influential citizens-is that a public meeting be called at au early opportunity to discuss the question, and that, at its instance, our rulers may be taught the relation- ship rwhich exists between our rights and their duties.

No rime is to be lost-no dawdling is to be mani- fested. Promptitude is often the secret of success. Where life is unsafe and property insecure capitalists lose ‘ confidence and commerce languishes.

We are sick of the heroism of highwaymen and of stories of their manliness. There is only one way of dealing with men who are too lazy to earn honest bread, and who are mean enough to seek a maintenance at the hands of their honestcr and more indus- trious neighbours, and that is, to punish them according to the measure of their crimes, and where person al violence is resorted to, to inflict the severest penalty.

It was because such a course was not pursued in the earlier days of California, that Vigiiance committees usurped tho seats of justice, and Judge Lynch dispensed the rude law whose behests were equally prompt and terrible.

Let us, then, have what is much better-an efficient police, powerful alike for prevention and detection, and- so organised as to protect both the diggings and their approaches.

From out own observation, they will receive the moral, and when necessary the material support of the vast mass of the population. It will bo the busi- ness of the meeting to insist upon this, and the Go- vernment will scarcely venture io ignore its demands.

22 July 1862

ACCOUNT OF THE ROBBERY AND LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

The particulars of the robbery are this

The attack upon the escort took place at ’tlie Rocks, near the station of Mr. John ‘ Fi Clement«, »Eugowra Creek, and it was the discharge of about a dozen shots which first attracted the attention of his brother, Mr. Hanbury Clements, about four o’clock in the afternoon.

Suspecting something wrong, he took horse and galloped in the direction whence the sound proceeded.

The first man he met was thu coachman, by whom he was informed that the escort had been stuck-up, and all the men shot. Mr. Clements succeeded, shortly afterwards, in bringing all the men together, save one. and taking them to His residence; end, after attending as best he waa able to the injuries of two who were wounded, started ito Forbes with infoimation of the occurrence, where he arrived at nine o’clock .in the evening.

About an hour afterwards the missing man arrived also. In the course of the night. Sir Frederick Pottinger reached Eugowra with his force, and at daylight, reinforced by Messrs. Cropper, Clements, Campbell, and a blackfellow, started on the tracks.

At about a mile distance the gold-boxes were found, the mail bagB having been picked uo the previous evening by Mr. Clements’ brother. Judging by the tracks, the robbers have evidently made off as fast as their horses and moonlight would permit, crossing the Canowindra road, and running down the southern side of the dividing fence between Mr. Clements’ and Mr. Camp- bell’s runs.

In making along between this fence and the back of the creek, which at the point is very steep, one of the body who had, apparently, approached too close to the brink, had evidently been precipitated to the bottom, from the tracks, about the spot near wHch Mr. Cropper found a broken bottle of old tom.

After running down the creek about six miles, the tracks passed through the fence, which had beon I cut with a cold chisel – across the Eugowra road, and in a straight direction for Forbes.

The robbers had then gradually wheeled back, re croesed the road and made for the river, over which they passed into Newell’« paddook at Waugan, where they tied up their horses under a bank, and partook of a meal of half-cooked meat, the remains of which and some torn envelopes were found scattered about.

Judging by appearances, the pursuing party arrived at the conclusion that the robbers had divided at this spot. For some time considerable difficulty was ex- perienced in taking up the tracks from this paddock, the traffic throughout having been so great!

Eventually they were found-sometimes on the ground but generally through the bush, the track pursued being scroBB the Wowineragong plains to wkhin five miles of Fenn’s Hotel, where it became so dark that, after tracking a mile on foot, the spot was marked by rearing up a log of wood against a tree in a patch of dead myall.

22 July 1862

ACCOUNT OF THE ROBBERY AND LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

Sir F. Fottinger continued on the track of the party he was pursuing, running them down towards the Victorian boundary.

On the 7th July, the following telegram was received from this officer, via Wagga Wagga : “This afternoon, about 1.30 p.m., when within a quarter of a mile of Merool (an outstation on this road, about seventeen miles from this station, and forty-seven miles from Narandara), Sir F. Pottinger and party suddenly at a turn of the road came on three mounted men, each leading a spare horse.

They were immediately stopped, when while the other two were being interrogated, one took occasion to bolt into the bush, leaving his led horse behind him, whereupon the inspector contented himself by at once securing the other two. The horses of himself and party having been already out twenty days, and being still some 150 miles from home, were not in a con- dition to give chase.

On searching the two prisoners, who gave the names of Dacey atid Turner, on the person of the former was found £2 15s., on that of the latter, £185 in notes, and in the sack before his saddle, one escort bas, containing 185 ounces of gold.

Turner also made a desperate effort to escape after being led back to the station, but immediately subsided at the sight of a revolver.

Both prisoners decline to give any information touching their absconding mate.” 1 The robber«, however, seem to have got to the pitch of setting the police at defiance, for the next telegraphic account we receive, dated Lambing Flat, July 12, is the following :

“A messenger arrived at the camp on Thursday evening, with his horse jaded and covered with foam, bringing intelligence ot an encounter with the bushrangers who stuck up and robbed the escort, and Sir F. Fottinger and two members of the police force.”

The party of robbers appear to have gone towards the Victorian border, to about 200 miles from the spot wheie the attack upon the gold escort was com- mitted, and then wheeled round and made for the Weddin Mountains.

Sir Frederick Pottinger, with, detective Lyons, who was wounded in the encounter with the bushranger Davis at Brewer’s shanty, and a trooper, were re- turning along the road, when three mounted men, with two led horses, were perceived in advance.

An attack immediately followed, when two of the men were captured. On the pack-horses was found a quantity of gold, amounting to 240 ounces, and a roll ot notes.

The third man, depending on the swiftness of his horse, escaped. The prisoners, having been secured, were escorted along the road towards the nearest police station, where an additional force might be obtained.

The night was spent quietly, and the men were carefully watched, and all attempts at escape prevented. On the following day, when about forty-five miles from this township, seven or eight men, on horseback, swept out of the bush into the road and attacked the escort.

The firing lasted but a short time. Lyons’ horse was shot under him, but neither he, Sir F. Pottinger, nor the other trooper received injury. Two of the attacking party were wounded, and taken away by their companions, and the two prisoners were rescued.

It is stated that one of the attacking party is the man who escaped at the time of the capture of the two robbers by Sir F. Fottinger, and it may be supposed that he made arrangements for the rescue.

On riding off with the men who were prisoners, the leader of the gang intimated that the party would return and fight for the gold and money that had been secured by the police.

“Sir F*. Pottinger has entrenched himself and awaits the arrival of assistance from our camp. It is con- fidently believed here that, in the event of an attack, Sir Frederick will hold the gold and money, and beat off the bushrangers.

Captain Battye and all the avail-! able force left here at one a.m., yesterday, Friday, to succour him at Beckham’s station, about four miles off.

The bushrangers are in the vicinity of Gardiner’s’ old haunts, and it is believed by many that he headed’ the rescuing party. At the same time, few suppose that he had anything to do with the cowardly attack -volley after volley ha ing been fired from behind rocks-upon the comparatively defenceless troopers.

22 July 1862

ACCOUNT OF THE ROBBERY AND LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

The last telegram from Sir F. Pottinger, dated Monday, July 14th, was the following :

“Dacey, one of the men rescued from the police, hast been retaken by sergeant Flanagan. “Just arrived safely with the gold (213 ounces) and two horses. ;

“ Captain Battye, with nine troopers, reached Beck ham’s station on Friday afternoon, at four o’clock, and ‘ thence escorted us home. !

“ The bushrangers were sworn to re-take the gold, i as we were subsequently informed by travellers who were also bailed up. Every possible precaution was ‘ necessarily taken.” Besides these 213 eza. a still larger amount was | recovered by sergeant Sanderson, a few days after the ¡ robbery.

That officer with his party, consisting of five troopers, accompanied by a blackfellow, left! Forbes on Sunday evening and took the Lambing Flat road, along which they proceeded as far as i Bogolong.

Thence they made for Eugowra Creek, i and from information obtained in that quarter, turned ¡ their course towards the Billabong, and upon their arrival -ere perceived a horseman about a mile and 1 a half ahead, to whom they gave chase. T

his i was about half-past ten o’clock of Thura-1 dav,, and the pursuit continued till night- fall.

The tracks . led up the Weeogo Mountains I upon the top of which they found a camp recently deBeited, where port wine, gin, plates, tea with milk, I and other indications of a sumptuous repast lay scattered about. P

ortions of red tape were also lying i around, which afforded, strong circumstantial evidence of complicity in the gold robbery.

From this spot the i tracks wereagain followed at a hand gallop for another i hour, when the pursuing party came upon a pack» , horse, laden with two rifle«, a police cloak, and as , nearly as could be guessed, 1400 to 1600 ounce« of gold.

Finding themselves so hotly pressed, the party divided, two taking one direction, and’ two another, the tracks showing five horses, in- cluding the pack-horse. The .diversion of the tracks created > some -, confusion and loss of time, and the bush being uncommonly dense, they were several times completely lost.

In all probability the scoundrel« would have been caught had daylight con- tinued another couple of hours, as nothing short of , the closest pressure could have induced them to drop the pack-horse carrying the gold.

Sergeant Sander, son and his party arrived’at Forbes on Saturday after- noon last with the gold, which had evidently been shared among the robbers, from the’ manner in’ which it was divided.

Confidence has been once more restored by the alterations’rrm’âc tyy the Government in conyeytngV .the ^old|eyery precaution being taken to” present surprise and the troopers being mounted On horse- back instead of riding in the mail cart,

26 November 1862

Turner, alias Ginger, who was rescued from Sir Frederick Pottinger after being apprehended for the late escort robbery, was again captured at Yass on Tuesday.

It appears from certain marks on his person that Turner is a ticket of-leave man from Ballarat, 1860, illegally at large.

With reference to Pottinger’s late encounter with Gardiner, it appears from that officer’s- statement in the police-court at Forbes, that he had learned privately that Gardiner was^in’ the habit of paying migljit visits to^the’ Wifelpf a settler riaraed. Brown;’ on the Wheeogo mountains.

He lay in ambush in the cedar scrub for him ; along with eight others. Gardiner made his appearance shortly after mid night, mounted on a spirited white horse.

He ap proached; .within i’t-hree-^yards rjofI’PqtUnger. who levelled his carbine to shoot’liim, but ^tha piece missed Are Gardiner immediately fled to the scrub and escaped, but a boy, his groom, was apprehended and is in custody.

Next morning, black trackers discovered that Gardiner had dismounted about fire hundred yards from the scene of the meeting, and seated himself- for, a^time- ur.^er,!! large tree.

Pot tinger is much blamed for’ nol following up his niaa when backed by so strong a party of police, Gardiner being alone.

GARDINER THE BUSHRANGER. From the evidence given below by Sir Frederick Pottinger, at the Police Office, Forbes, on Monday, it appears that he and senior sergeant Saunderson, with eight men, came face to face with tbe notorious bushranger in the vicinity of the Weddin Mountains, shortly after midnight, last Saturday.

Gardiner himself escaped, but a boy, who is said to act as groom to him, was captured. The following is the evidence:- Walsh, a boy aged seventeen years, was brought up in custody, and charged with being an accomplice of Gardiner.

Sir Frederick Pottinger deposed: On Sunday morning, at half-past three, I apprehended the prisoner now before the court at his brother’s residence, at Wheogo, on the charge of being implicated in the Escort robbery. I arrested him under the following cir- cumstances:- Being aware that Frank Gardiner, the bushranger, is enamored of Mrs Brown, and be- lieving he would take advantage of her husband’s absence to tender his addresses, I proceeded on Saturday with eight men to the said premise;

I arrived at 12 p.m., and leaving four men in charge, I went with senior sergeant Saunderson and trooper Holster to watch the place. I subsequently sent sub-inspector .

Norton and trooper Holster to guard the front, while sergeant Saunderson and I hid our- selves in the bush.

We discovered the house dark and silent, as if everybody was asleep. After wait- ing half an hour, we saw a light struck, and in a few minutes a woman made her appear- ance, and commenced to collect wood for the purpose of making a fire; but neither sergeant Saunderson nor I can identify the woman, as we were concealed at a distance of 150 yards from where she was standing, in a thick pine tree scrub.

It might be twenty or twenty-five min- utes after seeing the woman that I observed a man, mounted on a white horse, approaching Brown’s house at a quiet pace, upon which I called upon San- derson to fall back, and we both did so to our origi- nal positions. Suddenly the noise of horses’ hooves sounded nearer and nearer – when I saw Gardiner cantering leisurely along ; I waited till he came within five yards of us, and levelling my carbine at him across his horse’s shoulder (the weapon, I swear, being about three yards from his body), I called upon him to stand.

I cannot be mistaken, and on my oath I declare that the man on the white horse was Frank Gardiner. Deeming it not advisable to lose a chance, I prepared to shoot him, but the cap of my piece missed fire. Gardiner’s horse began to rear and plunge, and before I had time to adjust my gun, he bolted into the bush.

As Gardiner was riding away on the back of the frightened animal, Sergeant San- derson fired upon him, as did Sub-Inspector Holster but without any apparent effect.

I called out to those who could hear me to shoot the wretch. Gar- diner, however, made his escape. We then pro- ceeded to Mrs Brown’s house; and, having seen her she frankly admitted that Gardiner had been at her place.

There was a bed made upon a sofa, and a four-post bedstead with a bed upon it, on which two persons had been reposing. The prisoner was in it asleep, and declared that he had heard no noise, and did not know what had happened.

He (the prisoner) had lodgings at his mother’s, and was not obliged to sleep where he was found. I immediately arrested him. On the table in the kitchen I saw the debris of a supper, a bottle of gin, a flask of powder, and a box of revolver caps.

Some few days ago I received information that Gar- diner had been seen, accompanied by a lad answering to the description of the prisoner, near to Mrs Welsh’s, and that, when a man named Humphrey was stuck up, a youth in appearance similar to the accused held Gardiner’s horse while be perpetrate the robbery alluded to.

When I came upon the bush- ranger’s camp a short time since, I picked up a small monkey-jacket only large enough for a boy to wear. The prisoner says he is 17 years of age, but I do not think he is older than 15.

I may add that the gun missing fire was purely an accident, as Sergeant Condell, when he loaded it took every care to pre- vent a misadventure. Sir Frederick prayed for a remand for seven days, which the Bench granted.

Walsh was then removed.- In another version of the affair, it is stated that Gardiner was actually in bed with his paramour, when the police surrounded Brown’s house.

If such was really the case, it does seem strange that ten men, all fully armed, let one man slip through their fingers, especially when he (Gardiner) was boxed up within four walls. There must have been gross mismanagement some- where.

It seems that the black trackers found in the morning that Gardiner had dismounted about five hundred yards away, and actually seated himself down at the foot of a tree,- Lachlan Miner, 12th August.

17 September 1862

THE LACHLAN ESCORT ROBBERY.

It has been ascertained that the Lachlan escort robbers were all sons of settlers in the district. Two of them have “peached.” All will soon be in custody.

4 October 1862

THE LACHLAN ESCORT ROBBERY.

The four men brought down in custody from Forbes, and who are charged with being concerned in the , famous gold robbery, were on Wednesday brought up for examination before the Bathurst Bench.

It is reported that two of them have turned approvers. The examination, which lasted several hours, being conducted with closed doors, we are unable to say what transpired, except that the men were remanded.-Bathurst Free Press.

16 October 1862

The Crown witnesses in the escort robbery case state that Gardiner concocttd the robberj. and the settlers’ aons assisted him in carrying it out.

The Carcoar mail has been stuck up by a a mere lnd, who was afterwards arrested. Rumours are about of Gardiner’s re-appear ance in Weddin mountains, and that he has I bpen concoaled there since the escort robbery, his pack-horse, with gold, being that found by the polipe. October 10.

WEDNESDAY, October 20. 1862

(Beforo Dr. Palmer, P.M., T. J. Hawkins and J. F. Clements, Esqs., J.P.’s.) John McGuire, Alexander Fordyce, John Bow, and John O’Malley, on remand, charged with being concerned in the escort robbery. The prisoners were further remanded for seven days ; but in the case of O’Malley bail was allowed, himself in £200 and two sureties of £100 each.

3 November 1862

the following particulars respecting such of the offenders concerned in the Lachlan gold escort robbery as are still at large:

Francis Gardiner, the leader, has been traced through Goulburn to Portland Bay, where he has two married sisters. He is now believed to have left Portlaad for the inland district, south of Forbes, NS.VV.

Francis Clarke, Jones, otic* Gardiner, a ticket-of-leave bolder, illegally at taree from his district; a native of Goulburn, Kew-, i South Wales-, 31 years of age (in 1861), 5 feet 8J ? inches high; a laborer; dark sallow complexion, 1 ! black hair, brown eyes, small raised scar in left eye brow, small scar on right chin, scar on knuckle of ‘ right fore-finger, round scar ou left elbow joint, two slight scars on back of left thumb, short finger nails, round scar on cap of right knee, hairy legs; j wounded in thc encounter with Sergeant Middleton and Trooper Hazi, 16th July, 1861, on the temple, by pistol ball or whip.

John Gilbert was one of the three men captured by Sir F. Pottinger. He subsequently escaped and rescued his two mates, who are now supposed to accompany him. Ile is reported as 1 laving gone through Merro Creek towards Victoria, and to be now about Kilmore, where he lias been before.

He is 22 or 24 years of agc, boyish appearance, 5 feet 7 or 8 inches high, 9 or 10 stone weight, slight build, light brown hair, worn long in native iasliion, no whiskers, no beard, nondescript features, very flieh address and clothing, and general appearance that of a fast young squatter or stockman.

Charlie, supposed to be a brother of John Gilbert, was one of thc two men rescued by seven others at Spreoli’s station. When arrested be gave the name of Turner. He is between 19 and 22 years of age, about S feet 6 inches high, 9 stone weight, light I brown bair, worn long in native fashion, light eyes, clean shaved, but witfi indications of a strong beard, I seems to have been shaved also round the nape of the neck; neck: very long, shoulders narrow and sloping, I unusually long from the top of the head to the points ot the shoulders; very active, a good rider, very flash; general appearance that of a jockey or stockman.

Bill, surname unknown, was rescued from cus I tody at the same time with Charlie. He is a parti cularly fine square-built young man, aged 23 or 25, about 5 feet ll or 11} inches higb.^about 12 stone weight, fresh brown complexion, high cheek bones, brown eyes, hair dark, wiry and long, worn native fashion, large mouth, fine teetii, small downy mous tache, and tuft at the tip of the chin.

He described himself as a Yankee, arrived some years ago in a revenue cutter ; he seems, however, more like a native. He has evidently been in New York, and was also well acquainted with tbe Victorian gold fie’.ds.

He is very welt informed, and of good address. He rode well»- and was mounted on a half broken three-year old. When arrested be had boils all over hii bands and arms; he then gave thc name of D’Arcy.

Ile is now supposed to be with John and Charley Gilbert. He is believed to be a horse breaker from the neighborhood of Bnrrowa. The last of the gang was a man only known as Harry.

ne is described as a dark sallow man, about 25 years cf age, S feet 9 or 10 inches high, square built, dark hair and eyes, large nose, knocked aside as if broken, and lately clean shaved. He ii supposed to be a bullock driver from Burrowa. Charlie, Bill, and Harry were fetched out from Forbes the night before thc robbery, and returned oe tbe Thursday night following.