The Express.
London, England, 1851-11-18 00:00:00

DISCOVERY OF AN ENORMOUS MASS OF

AUSTRALIAN GOLD.

The Bathurst Free Press records the discovery ot'l
a lump of gold whose weight far exceeds any thing which
the moat sanguine had expected of the Australian diggings.
The following is the account of the colonial newspaper :
" Mr. Sutter, a few days previously, threw out • few
misty hints about the possibility of a single individual dig-
ging four thousand pounds worth of gold in one day, but no
one believed him serious. It was thought lie was doing a
little harmless puffing for his own district and the Turow
diggings. On Sunday it began to be whispered about town
that Mr. Kerr, Mr. Suttor's brother-in-law, had found •
hundredweight of gold. Sonic few believed it, but the
townspeople generally, and amongst the rest the writer of
this article, treated the story as a piece of ridiculous exag-
geration. The following day, however, set the matter at
rest. About two o'clock in the afternoon, a pair of greys
in tandem, driven by W. H. Sutter, Esq., M.C., made their
appearance at the bottom of William-street. In a few
seconds they were pulled up opposite the Free I'reu office,
and thin first indication of the astounding fact which met
the view was two massive :pieces of the precious metal,
glittering in virgin purity, as they leaped from the rock.
The townspeople were on the gui rive, and about 150 were
collected around the gig to catch • glimpse of the
wonder. The two pieces spoken of were freely
handed about amongst the assembled throng for some
twenty minutes, and the vehicle was pointed out
as containing a square box, the repository of the remainder
of the hundredweight of gold. It was then conveyed to
the Union Bank of Australia. In the presenco of the ma-
nager, David Kennedy, W. 11. Suttor, and T. J. Hawkins,
Esqs., and the fortunate proprietor, Dr. Kerr, the weighing
commenced, Dr. Machattie officiating, and Mr. Farrand
acting as clerk. The first two pieces already alluded to
weighed severally Gibs. 4os. ld wt., and Glbs. 13d w tn., besides
which were sixteen drafts, of 51bs. 4oz. each, making in all
102Ibs. 9ax. sdwts. From Dr. Kerr we learned that he
had retained upwards of Ms. as specimens, so that
the total weight found would be 106Ibs—all disembowelled
from the earth at one time. And now for the parti-
culars of this extraordinary gathering. A few days
previous to the finding, an educated aboriginal,
formerly attached to the Wellington Mission, and
who has been in the service of W. Kerr' Esq.,
of Wallawa about seven years, returned home to his em-
ployer with the intelligence that he had discovered a large
mass of gold amongst a heap of quartz upon the run,
whilst tending the sheep. Gold being the universal theme
of conversation, this sable son of the torest was excited, and
provided with a tomahawk he hail amused himself by ex-
pkwing the country adjacent to his employer's land. His
attention was first called to the input by observing a spot
of some glittering yellow substance upon the surface of a
block of the quartz, upon which he applied his tomahawk
and broke off a portion. lie then started home and dis-
closed the discovery to his master, who was soon on the
spot, and in a very short .time the three blocks of quartz
containing the hundredweight of gold were released from
the bed where they had rested for ages. The largest of the
blocks was about a foot in diameter, and weighed 75 lbs.
gross. Out of this piece GO lbs. of pure gold was taken.
Before separation it was beautifully encased in quartz. The
other two were something smaller. The auriferous mass
weighed as nearly as could be guessed from two
to three hundred weight. Not being able to move it con-
veniently, Dr. Kerr broke tho pieces into small fragments,
and herein committed a very great error. As specimens,
the glittering block would have been invaluable. Front the
description given by him, as seen in their original state, the
world has seen nothing like them yet. The heaviest of the
two large pieces presented an appearance not unlike a
honeycomb or sponge, and consisted of particles of a crystal-1
line term, as did nearly the whole of the gold. The second
larger piece was smoother and the particles more condensed,
and seemed, as if it hail been acted upon by water. The
remainder was broken into lumps of 2lbs. to 31bs. and down-
wards, and were remarkably free from quartz or earthy
matter. The locality where the gold was found is the com-
mencement of an undulating table land, very fertile, and is
contiguous to a never-failing supply of water in the Murroo
Creek. It is distant about 53 miles from Bathurst, 18 from
Mudgee, 30 from Wellington, and 18 to the nearest point
of the Macquarie River, and is within eight miles of Dr.
Kerr's head station. The neighbouring country has been
. explored since the discovery, but, with the exception of
dust, no further indications have been found."

TEMPERANCE LEAGUE.—Yesterday evening the
second monthly meeting of the season was held at Exeter-
hall. The chair was taken by Mr. J. S. Buckingham, who
said he thought the cause of temperance trod made a
greater advance than in any preceding year. Ile could
not but congratulate the meeting on the exclusion of spi-
rituous liquors from the Exhibition. The Rev. Mr. Robin-
son, Incumbent of Christchurch, Chelsea, then addressed
the meeting. It was, he said, a lamentable fact that in
Great Britain fifty times as much was spent upon intoxi-
cating liquors as in sending the gospel to foreign lands. His
experience as the minister of a large parish first induced him
to join a teetotal society. For some time he hesitated to
do so lest his health should be injured ; but his health had
been decidedly improved by abstinence. '(Near, hear.)
The Rev. Dr. Burns regretted that they ltd not see on
the platform a greater number of those who were accus•
tonied.to address them on their great moral and philanthropic
questions. If they could not speak in favour of the tempe-
rance Cala9C, he would be glad to hear them speak against
it. (Laughter.) Ile was tired of battling against the olsl
objections, and ho would like to have some new ones. In
his opinion the entire Christian church ought to be with
them, for there was no cause more intimately connected
with the glory of God. It was one thing in their favour
that their cause could not possibly do any harm ; which
could not be said of every cause that appeared to have many
things to recommend it. In point of fact, the temperance
cause had, as everybody must confess, done good. He could
detain them for hours with narratives of good which bad
come within his own knowledge. There hod been good done
in England, in Ireland, in Scotland, and America. The
Rev. T. Spencer said he had belonged to the temperance
body for twelve years, and had never been more impressed
with its importance. He was now devoting to the cause
nearly the whole of his spare time. Mr. F. W. Kellogg,
from the United States, advocated the cause, more espe-
cially for the benefit of the working classes, contending that
it was the interest of employers and of the highest grades of
society to promote temperance amongst the masses. On the
motion of Mr. J. Guest, of Rotherham, seconded by the
Rev. W. Rutledge, of Ohio, a vote of thanks was given to
the chairman, and the meeting then separated.
- -

TUE WATER QUESTION.—Notices have been given
of intended application to parliament for new powers and
improvement of supply on the part of the principal water
companies of the metropolis. There is also a notice for next
session of a contemplated government measure, called
"Regulation of Supply of Water to the Metropolis," and
one of a character similar to that brought in by the Secre-
tary of State last session, proposed to be carried out on the
principle of private enterprise, and called " The Metropolis
Water Supply and Drainage," and founded to a great el-
tent on the results of the laboursof Sir James Graham's

—.—
eassmittee of last session. The bill propene the appoint-
ment of commiseionert for the joint purpoos of the water
=.sild drainage by a central board and executive com-
as& for the purchase by agreement of the existing
gobs eampanies. The other new measures proposed are
Shy the New River Company and the Bost Leedom
y, for the amendment of each company's acts, di-
d sewers, and improving supply of water ham
river Lee; by the Lee River Company, for the service eff
the metropolis north of the Thames ; by the Ella Londcm,,
for raising further capital; by the Southwark and Yana.
hall Water Company for additional works for obtaining
water from the Thames at Hampton, and for power to row
tract with other companies; by the Grand Junction Water
Works Company for additional works for obtaining water
from the Thames at Hampton, and power to contract with
other companies; and by the Wandle Water and Sewerage
Company for metropolitan district services south of the
Thames.
ROYAL INSTITUTE OP :BRITISH ARCHITECTS.—
Last evening the members of this society held their fist
ordinary meeting of the season at the institution in Gres-
venor-strert, Grosvenor-Ram, Mr. Fowler, vice-presidentv
in the chair. The minutes of the last meeting having bees
read and confirmed, various interesting objects were presented
to the society, and amongst them was a curious M.S. (from
Professor Donaldson), purporting to be a dictionary of arehi-
tecture by Mr. &rarely, the editor of the third volume of
" Stewares Athens." A proposition by a French gentle-
man for constructing a sob-marine railway from Dover to
Calais was also introduced, and a document was read by
Professor Donaldson relative to the foreign architects who
visited the Great Exhibition, and to their impressions upon
the architecture they had seen in this country. Thechair-
man then offered a few observations u propos of
the first meeting of the year, and congratulated
the members upon the prospect of a succeseful session.
He next alluded, in terms of regret, to the deaths of their
honorary fellow the Earl of Liverpool, and the late Mr.'
Beasley ; and afterwards expressed his satisfaction at Bed.
ing that their foreign friends who had come amongst them
during the Exhibition had given proofs that they were
much ((ratified with what they had seen, and at the recep-
tiou the had met with I. this country. A paper of mush
technial interest was thee read by Mr. Papworth, entitled
" Considerations upon some of the Productions connected
with Architecture in the Exposition of 1851." After some
formal business the meeting then separated
CHARITABLE BEHIJESTB.—The will of the late Mies
Walton, of Marsden Hall, near Colne, was proved la the
Prerogative Court of York on the Bth inst., by Edward
Parker and Edward Every Clayton, Esqs., the execaters,
by which the following charitable legscies, free from
are bequeathed:—To the Church Missionary Sedety, SOK
Church Pastoral Aid Society, 3001.; Church National Se!
ciety for Educating the Poor, 3001. ; Bible Society, 3004;
Sooety for Promoting Christianity among the Jews, 3001. ;
also, 27 annuities to various poor widows and persons in rey
indigent circumstances, and legacies to 25 servants and
labourers from 1001. to M. ilgottotelzth of this lady, the
following legacies to charipaiS seethed by her late sister,
Mn. Maw, of Millillil Muhl'. Imo from
duty :—To the Church Aid Society, 5001. ' • Church
Missionary Society, SON.; Chair National Society for
Educating the Pooklemigel.,l/204Protatant Association Society,
60W. ; Satiety for Christianity among the Jews,
6001. • the Bible
Illseisiy, 1001. • Amy,ol. ; Religiose Isetraetion
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