The Express.
London, England, 1851-09-13 00:00:00

THE GOLD EXCITEMENT IN AUSTRALIA

NEWS FROM OPIIIR.
' We give in detail the contents of the advice' from
Sydney to the 2nd June, and summarised in yester-
day's Express. Every arrival, and every letter from
Bathurst, confirms the productiveness oft he mines, and
the excitement which has revolutionised Bathurst has
extended to Sydney. Numbers have set off for the
mines, and though many come back with exhausted
means, other recruits are constantly setting out.
Ophir is the grand subject of conversation, and those
who have not already started for the mines, hare
engaged in speculations connected with the supply
of the mines. One advertises cradles, another
shovels, a third magnets, and the papers are filled
with announcements relative to the subject of all
absorbing interest. We give some specimens :
MAGNETS! MAGNETS! Magnets! Magnets! Magnets!—
Every digger should purchase before he proceeds to the
mines one of Crouch's Australian gold-digger's magnets.—
To be had at the Victoria Bazaar, 3'29, George-street, op-
posite the Cathedral. Every California digger is well ac-
quainted with the value of the magnet.
RUNAWAY APPRENTICE. —My indented apprentice,
Joshua Matthews, having absconded on Wednesday last,
all persons are cautioned not to employ him, and constables
are informed that a warrant has been issued for his appre-
hension.—Charles Notts Hunt, cabinetmaker, Jamison-
street, 30th May, 1851.
GOLD FROM BATHIRST—GoId from Bathurst—Gold
from Bathurst, or a silver shilling, will be taken in exchange
for albs. of Arrowroot, at the Cooperage, near Wilsker's
Tannery, Brickfield, Sydney; or any quantity at fourpence
per lb.—Joseph Kingsbury.
BATHURST GOLD Diseases.—Notice.—Persons pro-
ceeding to the gold diggings can be supplied with superfine
steam manufactured biscuits, packed in tins containing from
25Ibs. to 401b5., soldered air tight so as to keep any length
of time.—George Wilkie, steam biscuit manufacturer,
George-street.
THE Exriaa NEWSPAPER.—The gold news for Eng-
land.—The second edition of the Empire, of Saturday laid,
31st May, contains a general historical luminary of the
Gold Discovery in New S ,uth Wales, compiled expressly
for transmission to England; with other interesting and
important information. Only a few hundred extra copies
printed for this morning's sale.
To Branum—Diggers can be supplied with good cradles,
prospecting pans and boilers, shovels, picks, and crowbars,
galvanised iron buckets, sheath knives and belts, axes, and
every other camp requisite, which eau be had home-made
and of warranted quality.—A. Gravelly, manufacturer and
ironmonger, 320, Pitt-street, Sydney.—N.B. Punched
plates always on hand.
TENTS FOR THE GOLD FIELD.—For sale by private
contract, one best canvas tent, complete, .5 feet wall, 7 feet
long, 6 feet wide, 9 feet high ; one best canvas tent, com-
plete, 5 feet wall, 71 feet long, 71 feet wide, 9 Met high ;
one best canvas tent, complete, 3 feet wall, 14 feet long, 12
feet wide, 9 feet high ; one heat canvas tent, complete, 6
feet wall, 45 feet long, 121 feet wide. 9 feet high ; Potts,
pegs, and slides, complete.—Edward Salamon, auctioneer
and agent.
GOLD DUST.—The undersigned will make advances on
consignments of gold dust to the name of Messrs. living,
Ebsworth, and Holmes, of London. Parties at Bathurst
remitting to Sydney for sale or otherwise, may depend upon
the most favourable arrangements being made in purchasing
supplies and quick despatch of drays to their destination.—
Frederick Ebsworth, Queen-street.
Mr. Hargraves, the discoverer of Ophir, has be-
come a personage at Sydney, whose movements are
followed and opinions chronicled.
"Is our article in last publication," says the
Sydney Empire, " we stated, on the authority of a
contemporary, that Mr. Hargraves on first discover-
ing the gold, organised a party of nine persons to
commence digging, &c. Mr. Hargraves affirms that
he never had any party at work at the mines, nor
yet dug for gold himself, except with one or two
gentlemen in au experimental journey." Itegarding
the origin of the discovery, it is stated that Mr.
Hargraves

Travelled over the district about sixteen years ago, whin
the scenery, and to a limited extent the geological features,
of the country made au impression un his mind. Latterly
he visited California, and while in the gold regions of that
country was struck with their resemblance to the wilderness
which he had seen iu Australia so many years before. A
resistless desire to return and explore for gold then took
possession of him, and he could not rest until he had
satisfied it by a personal search," which heat length accont-
plished, although under difficulties and privations, the
result being, according to his words, the disclosure of " un-
bounded wealth" to his fellow-colonists.
The papers also state that the Rev. Mr. Clark, a
local geologist, has all along contended that not only
was the precious metal to be found in that locality,
but throughout the principal chain of mountains
which belt the Australian continent. It is added,
that for some time past a shepherd named WGregor
had been in the habit of bringing gold to Sydney for
sale, who maintained, however, gnat secrecy re-
specting whence he gained it. Mr. Hargraves com-
menced his search about the middle of January last,
and after traversing the country for about 300 miles,
took advantage of his experience in California, and
! selecting a spot proceeded successfully to work. He
immediately named the place the " Ophir diggings,"
and they have since remained in operation. The gold
district is described as lying to the westward of Ba-
thurst, the Ophir diggings being 17 miles north-
' west, on the Summerville-creek, near its junction
with the Macquarie River.
With regard to departures from the dig,:iugs. the
Empire says:
We know of not less than ten differ.mt parties. compris-
ing, according to the usual average of via individuals to
each, about sixty persons altogether, who have arranged to
start fer the diggings in the course of to.dar. They are
well supplied with the usual camping paraphernalia, and
many of them me taking as much As three months' provi-
sions with them. If this emigration continue. we shall
soon be nothing MATO than a eity of Wks. Even now the
effects are noticeable in the number of house, •• to let,"
and the unusually large groups of the lovely portion of
creation housing together, ° Unseen by man's disturbing
eye." If any foreign miner should attempt to levy a con-
tribution on our noble city, the world would no doubt he
regaled by a splendid show of Amazonian fighting, while
the husbands were digging up the mountains for gold, the
wives would show bravely how they could dig into the
enemy for glory.
If sonic depart for the diggings others are fated
never to return. Some exaggerated statements of
mortality having prevailed, a Sydney paper says :
" It was rumoured about town on Saturday that in-
telligence had arrived of no less than 17 persons
having died at the diggings • but, from the inquiries
which we have made in different quarters, we have
reason to believe the report was wholly unfounded,
though we see no reason why people should nut die
at the diggings as well as at any other place."
The eolonuits seem to be fully determined that
their friends in the old country shall not be deficient
of information as to their good fortune. The news-
papers are making a harvest, besides an extra local
circulation and plenty of advertisements ; the papers
are bought up by hundreds to forward to England.
One paper, whiCh we shall have occasion to quote
several times, the Sydney Empire, boasts to the fol-
lowing effect under the heading of " The Gold News
in England :"
Our fellow colonists will be glad to hear that the news
of our recently discovered wealth is likely to receive ample
circulation in the mother country. We have reason to
believe that at least 1,000 copies of our journal of last Sa-
turday were sent to England per Thomas Arbuthnot.
Large numbers of the Herald have likewise been forwarded.
This, with the usual amount of private correspondence, con-
sidering the attractive nature of the subject, cannot fail to
attract the attention of the British people to our shore'.
The chief details which have come into our hands
as to the proceedings at the mines are contained in
the following article from the Empire of June 2,
being the latest date received:

In a second edition of Saturday's publication, we alluded
to a letter received from Mr. C. C. Forbes, a respectable
Bathurst storekeeper. This letter was addressed by Mr.
Forbes to his mother, under circumstances which seem to
us to give its contents a more serious and important charao-
ter than many private communications of the kind possess.
His brothers had applied to him fur correct information,
with the intention of proceeding themselves to the mines,
and Mr. Forbes writes this reply fresh from a
week's actual experience at the diggings, and evidently
impressed by a due sense of his responsibility in the advice
which he should give to his friends. We state these facts
thus plainly for the benefit of those whom such informa-
tion meet close) y concerns (laving Mrs. Forbes's permission
to make use of her son's name), but we offer no further
comment. Our duty is performed in supplying every man,
as fax as we are able to do so, with the means of judging for
himself in a matter so nearly relating to his own fortunes.
With this view, in every instance where we can obtain per-
mission, we publish the names of our informants.
Bathurst, May 29, 1851.
My dear Brother—l only returned from the diggings
yesterday, and could not answer your letter before. You
seem so anxious for information with reference to the gold
mania, that I am resolved to give you a faithful account.
I was there for a week and got two ounces, worth 6/. Bs.,
but I was more fortunate than many. It is all a lottery, the
getting of it, and worse than gambling. I saw one man dig
out 13 ounces, which I bought for 36/., and I saw at least
one hundred who had not earned more than fis. per day,
each. Every thing is very high, and the work very labo-
rious, having to stand in the water the whole day
washing the clay to earn five shillings worth of
gold, at an expense of at least 2s. 6d. for pro-
visions. As the winter advances I am sure it will kill many,
for the winter is particularly severe in the mountains. I
got quite sick of it after a day or two, when the excite•
ment was over. I should strongly advise my brother-in-

law to remain in Sydney, and not think of coming up on
such a wild goose chase ; and my mast particular reasons
for advising him thus are thc,e: As yet the gold has been
found in the bed of a creek, 12 yards wide and 400 yards
long. Below this spot or above it, it has only been found
in very small particles, and very scarce, and would not pay
for working. It would not pay for a man's provisioits.
Now, there are congreg ited at this place at least 2,400
people, and hundreds more are arriving daily. They have
I nearly dug up the whole of the creek already, and in the
course of a week more I ant sure that there will not be a
foot of ground unworked within the space I speak of.
It is a fact that no pieces of any size or any profitable place
for working has been found out of this part of the creek.
It is possible that plenty of gold will shortly be discovered
elsewhere in this district, but, if not so, whea the present
diggings are exhausted,hundreds of miserable wretches will
be sent back to Sydney starving. I would +treacly whim
Oliver to wait for another month and ace what turns up,
and, in the meantime, should there he other diggings disco-
vered which can be worked as profitably, or more so than
these, I will immediately advise him to start; but as soon
as this letter reaches you, or shortly afterwards, many
people,who are now on their mad back.will arrive in Sydney
pounds out of pocket by their week's stay at the Bathurst
diggings. I will conclude this account by stating, as a
positive fact, that where one person is lucky and finds 201.
or 501. worth in one lump, fifty persona are only earning
10s. per day, and 49 scarcely earning their rations.—l
dtc., C. C. Finings.
A gentleman of superior intelligence and high respect-
ability is now visiting the gold district in the interest of this
journal. We therefore hope in a few days to commence
the publication of a series of connected report., prepared
expressly for the information of our readers.
We republish the postscript in the second edition of our
last number.

Saturday Morning, 11 o'clock.—The following letter from
the nearest township to the mines, addressed to ourselves,
was received by this morning's mail, bearing date three
days ago :
Manchester House, Orange, May 23, 1831.
Sir,—Let me beg of you not to drive the whole colony
mad about the price of flour at the gold mine,. l'rice at the
mines this morning 40s. per cwt., and fresh mutton is sold
retail at 3d. per lb. beef, 2d. We have also plenty of
tea, sugar, and tobacco at a little advance on the
usual prices. Can you tell me where the Bathurst
gold mines arc? The mines now open are only 12 miles
from Orange, and would he more properly called tho
Orange mines. The only way that drays can t•avel in
safety is through the township of Orange. With regard to
the diggers, some persons arc fortunate, but the greater
part are not so ; many persons are leaving, not king Aldo
to get as much as will pay for thei' rations. Very few
shepherds arc leaving their toasters at present. All is going
on peaceably at the mines, and we have not heard even a
rumour of a robbery since the mining commenced.-1 am,
sir, your servant, lotus WOOIJWARD.

P.S. I hear the mail will run to Wellington throe
times a week.

A letter from a respectable stockholder within eight miles
of the diggings, dated 27th lust., received by a merchant
in Sydney, states :
I have not been at the gold diggings myself, being busy
at plough, esc., but I frequently receive intelligence from
the scene of action. Gold continues to be got, and those
who work properly are generally doing pretty well. If we
can preserve the sheep I don't much fear; but I emfess
have my doubts that the government will be too lax. A
few days will disclose their plans.
Another stockholder in the same locality writes to the
same gentleman, under date May
I do not know what to think of the gold diggings. I
am persuaded that the general earnings do not exceed 31.
per week. Those who como to the diggings without
money or food, thinking to make their fortunes,are leaving
with long faces. I saw several of your Sydney folks yester-
day on their way beck, looking for work us they went.
Some have dune well, but some have not earned their ra-
tions. One man picked up 42/1. worth in a few minutes in
small lumps, but I tear he has gone mad.
The state of things described in these letters is; certainly
not very cheering to those parties w'io are for,aking re-
spectable callings in Sydney to try their ilmtunes at the
mines, and we are bound to state that the several letters
which we have seen this morning all agree more or less is
these accounts.

Much has been said of the excitement produe-r1 by pub-
lished accounts of the golden gains of some of the °phis
adventurers ; but we are of opinion that our respectable
neighbours Messrs. Brush and Idaedutinell, did more to
drive all sihriety from the public mind by the exhibt-
thin of the great shining lumps of the real thing
itself in their shop windows than would the descrip-
tion of a dozen Bulwers. AU we know Is, that
a poor fellow employed in our office looked at It,
scraped un all his earnings immediately to buy a shovel
and a cradle, got drunk in his excitement, and lust every
shilling of his money.
Captain !Hudson received a dryer this morning from
Bathurst, dated the 2:lth instant, statiaa that Mr. Piper
had, a day. or two previously, dug a give .• of gold ono
pound weight. That gentleman has another lett. r .t.iting
that the gold brought into Bathurst average s about 1/. per
man per day.
A letter received by us this morning fr..a a gentleman at
Scone says :—" All clat.ses here arc s.v.a wish the gold
mania. Flour is not to be got for lore or in Iney. Flock .
masters expect ruin."

Subjoined is a copy of a private latter from tho
captain of the Thomas Arbuthnot. the vessel by
waiL It the present intelligence was brought to Per-
nanibu:o. whence it has reached England by the
.feviot

Ship Thomas Arlattlinof.
Pernainbueo,
Gentlemen.—l suppose you have had rumours of the
extensive gold &Ids discovered in New South Wales, causing
as sudden a revolution go I bdiVSC over could have visited
any country. '1 he colony is completely par :Used. Every
i man and boy who is able to lift a shovel is or, or going off,
to the diggings. Stations are in many pail • completely de-
serted: censequently sheep and cattle are kit to go and do
as they Wae. Nearly every article of toad has gone up, in
some Vases NO pet cent. ; and seeing that a great reduction
in the grain crops next season must ensue for want of labour,
it will necessarily tollow that maiutenanou fur man and
beast will be both scarce and high. No doubt there will be
extensive emigration from all parts of Europe when once the
news gets wind.
We have on board about 5001. worth of Australian gold,
the first shipped from the colony. It was purchased on the
spot (in fact, dug up before their eyes) by four gentlemen,
managing partners of different mercantile firms in Sydney.
It is all in lumps, nearly pure, the largest weight 41b.
less tux. When this was brought down there was a large
amount at Bathurst waiting for a military escort, which the
people were in hopes the government would allow to them.
What we have on board was brought down by tour gentle-
men, they being armed to the teeth.
I had great difficulty in getting away from Sydney.
Although I promised my crew double wages, some six or
seven left me as soon us the affair became known. Fore-
seeing what would most likely be the ease, I gut a steamer
and towed the ship down towards the Heads. I placed two
armed policemen, night and day, one at each cud of the
ship. Still those that could swim got off somehow. All this
caused much expense. I left the Lady Clark ready for sea
without a soul on board but the captain. I believe he was
about starting, with his articles in hi, pocket, on the road
towards Bathurst, thinking he might induce sonic sailors to
return and ship. They were coolly (I mean what sailors
were left in Sydney) asking 801. fur the run home, and a
guarantee of procuring them a ship to return direct to
Sydney. I paid di. and Gt. per month for what L wanted.
Yours, very faithfully,
0. 11. HEATON.
Messrs. Phillipps, Shaw, and Lowther.