The Express.
London, England, 1853-06-14 00:00:00

I THE AUSTRALIAN GOLD FIELDS.

The following are the most recent items of infor- I
matiun from the gold diggings as contained in the
.31elbourne Argus of Feb. 23:
SYDNEY.
15th February, 1853.
The news from the southern gold fields has, as might
have been anticipated, caused a great deal of excitement
here. It must at the present juncture have the effect of
still further emptying the valleys of the west, and sending
the hardy race of miners who have hitherto laboured there
to try their fortunes is Victoria.
The rage for emigration to the Ovens which has pre-
vailed during the last few months, has been a most for-
tunate thing for oar government and its subordinate*. It
has been as a sluice-gate in time of flood. The insane and
suicidal piece of legislation called the gold fields manage-
ment, which was produced by the Macquarie-street con-
dom, last session, has roused to the most extreme indigna-
tkes all the western diggers, and had there not been the
Oven and Victoria to fly to, they would have been
desperate.
By a portion of the press, as well as by the government,
the position and the power of the western diggers ere sadly
misunderstood. Although this class is burthencd by the
set to nearly twice their former extent, and threatened with
punishment es felons in the event of their being unable to
meet the demands upon them, it is held that they have no
real cause to complain of this measure. For their remon-
strances they have been ridiculed. The indirect menaces
conveyed by the recent demoostratioos at the furon have
been commented upon in a tone of scoffing defiance. All
this is much to be regretted. The western miners are quite
excited enough already, and need no spur. The commis-
sioners, who, residing on the spot, were the best judges.
were perfectly aware of this fact, and of the dangers and
difficulties in which they were placed. Their whole mea-
sures, therefore, were as conciliatory as was at all consistent
with their duty. Yet, notwithstanding this wise policy,
they barely escaped an actual collision, which would have
been sanguinary in the extreme.
The commissioners had made extensive and skilful prepa-
ratioas for defence, while the miners, although numerous
and armed, were without discipline or competent leaders.
At the Ant brush, therefore, on open gronad, the troopers
would have lead the hist of it. Bat this would have been
their only advantages. So soon as they emerged from the
small spot of high grounds were their quarters were
situated, and got among the broken ground about the
river, they would have been cut off to a man; nay, their
very quarters are commanded by higher ground, from
whence a few rides would have done fearful execution.
And there were men among the diggers quite alive to the
advantages derivable from broken ground, when occupied
by an undisciplined force acting against one better or-
ganised. And if blood be once shed for the maintenance of
des detested law, it will be like a spark applied to a barrel
or gunpowder. The diggers, it must be remembered, are
or armed population, leading a life of hardship, not die-
shailar to that of the soldier on active service, and having,
with but few exceptions, no domestic ties to restrain them.
What would be the effect of even 600 or 800 such men
taking to arms in the mountains ? The question is rather
a startling one, but it is one which ought to be well con-
sidered.
The diggings in the vicinity of Gundagai, de. are
turning out pretty well. From Adelong Creek, parcels of
fine scale gold have been sent to Sydney, of which as much
as an ounce and an ounce and a half was got in an hour or
two by a couple of diggers.
The gold anniversary dinner passed of tolerably well, no
allusion, of course, being made to the troubles which bad
legislation bad brought upon our mining interests. The
absence of Mr. Hargraves, indeed, threw somewhat of a
damp over the proceedings, particularly as it was generally
known that his indisposition was not a mere excuse, as in
many cases, but a sad reality. The hero of the day was
in fact labouring under a high fever, and could net have
attended without endangering his life.
The arrival of the Overland Mail, this morning,
brings a letter from a highly respectable commercial
firm in your city, to a gentleman here, stating that at
the Canadian Oully three more monster nuggets had
been found, one weighing 77 lbs., one 69 lbs., and one 175
lbs. weight. Although abate doubt exists as to the authen-
ticity of this statement, it has excited a great deal of
sensation here, and will probably have soots effect on mer-
eentile affairs as it will certainly turn the tide of emigra-
tion in your direction again.
At present, however, though there is a steady business
doing, no signs of speculative spirit are evinced.
Prices are very much as they were, although there is a
decided tendency in brandies to look up.
Teas and sugars are much in demand and stooks keep
ontremely ban.
Bottled beer is still on the rise, and for the most inferior
hands excessive rates am asked. None can be bought
ander 141. 6d.
Beer in wood is almost unobtainable.
Flour remains steady at 231., but I de not think it is so
Mandy as it was.
Invoices of every description are eagerly sought after,
mid merlins% are making immense profits.
Gold 'slut at last rates, say 31. 13s. 9d. for Port Phillip,
Urge easserts are being looked out for. The supply from
tell our Wise ere on the increase, and taken generally,
sae nalsorijorgation have done very well I and by
*air assumption of clothing, luxuries, end
asithees of all deeeripuon, give what promises to be a
permanency to our present commercial prosperity. The
Sydney Escort from the Ovens is being looked for, and
it is anticipated will bring a considerable amount of gold
hens the Adelong diggings.
February 18th, 1863.
The news to-day from the mining districts is iatareettag.
Front Braidwood I learn that the greater poetise of the
southern diggers have paid their lianas fee quietly. Is the
west appearances are still threatening. A reartheeemosat et
about a dozen troopers, and forty men of the 11th Regi-
ment having arrived at Wale, the ONIIIIIIIIIIOIIIIIII. have

commenced,-with great caution, to put the obnoxious pro-
visions of the act in force. Tea unlicensed diggers have
been taken into custody, and each fined ten shilling, ;
eight paid the fine at once, and the remaining two on the
following gday. In the meantime, however, the miners
have held secret meetings, and have pledged themselves to
resist she payment of the license.fee under the present act,
even to the death. The commissioners, having heard pro-
bably of these secret associations, were wise enough to
abstain for the next two days from any further coercive
roceedings. Thus the matter stands at present. Somedisturbances are ,almest inevitable. Their extent will de-
pend mainly upon the course pursued by the commissioners.
The proothdinks at the Ovens will have anything hut a
thothing effect upon the miners.
Trade continues brisk for actual demand from the dealers,
but it is still remarkable for the absence of anything like
speculation. I should, however, perhaps modify this last
observation, by confining it to the transaction& for the sale
of imported goods.
The sales of produce for exportation are not, I an con-
vinced, characterised by a similar discretion, and it is to be
repotted.
The price, now being readily glen for produce leave
a very small margin indeed between them and latest
reported London rates.
Boma lots of wool at yesterday's gale realised Is. 11d. per
lb., and a large quad% was sold from Is. 6d. to Is. bd.
Even admitting that the late sales have been favourable,
these pnoa most be looked on as extremely speculative.
Tallow is also very high, Wag sold at 271. and 281.,
while hides fetched es musk as lie. 6d. to 9s. id.
Prices ma hardly he said to have varied, although in
some deacelptioss of articles the importations have both
large.
Flour is firm at 231. ; a large quantity, say 1,300 bar-
rels, arrived per Clarendon, joststtlly, nowitid tx
Mew as s. Barker, the large nallms ; but it been
expected to arrive for some time, it will not in any way
affect the market.
Brandy is still very muck in demand, and disposed to
rise, whether from some private imethlatiens in the market
I cannot say ; I think, however, this is net the ease. for
moderate quantities, it swath be quoted under lls. 6d.
to 12s.
OM is also eagerly sought after, and realises high and
somewhat increasing rates.
Rums.—The stock on hand is both large and a large
portion of it of good quality. Priem remain at tut quota-
thus.