The Sun.
London, England, 1852-04-13 00:00:00

BALLARAT DIGGINGS.
(From the Geelong Advertiser.)
MONDAY MOANING.—I counted two hundred and
eighty cradles at Golden Point, in full work, and
from inquiries I made they all seemed to be doing
well. Still I think there are two-thirds less of
diggers than when I left some months past. The
tremendous fever fit, then at the height of delirium,
is
past,
and has been succeeded by restl.e.sness, and
an irrepressible desire of change. The wildest stories
meet with the readiest credence, and troops of diggers
hie to Mount Alexander in the full hope of gathering
gold by hat-fulls. The unparalleled yield of B,llarut
has prepared the mind to believe anything, and many
have left gold lying at their feet to seek it in a more
remote locality. Whether the reports from Mount
Alexander be exaggerated or not, the effect is appa-
rent in the thinned numbers at Bellarat. One digger
breaks away, and the rest follow, like sheep after a
bell-wether, and all that can be said is " luck go with
them," there will be more room and a richer harvest
for those who come after.
I could hardly have believed the suddenness of the
change, and seeing it, I cannot comprehend the reason.
The yield of the Geelong Gold Field is unparalleled,
and I am convinced that there is more gold left in
Golden Point than has ever been got out of it. This
may be deemed a rash assertion, considering the
thousands of ounces which have been poured into the
Geelong and Melbourne markets, but I hesitate not
to repeat it, and to asseverate that not one tithe of the
riches of Ballarat at this one point, has been up-
turned. The easier part of the process has been gone
through, the harder and more prolific one has just
commenced, at the point where the faint-hearted
abandoned it. Mining has been commenced, and at
thirty-two feet below the surface, deeply imbedded
in iron-stone, gold has been found in profusion, and
one hundred ounces have been obtained by Dr.
Johnson's party, from Monday last to Saturday mid-
day.
To Dr. Johnson appertains the credit of this dis-
covery, and I found our Esculapian townsman, sitting
Patriarch-like, in the front of his tent, turning his
discovery to the best advantage, by pounding the
iron-stone with a tomahawk, on the face of a hatchet,
and deploring the absence of his pestle and mortar. I
think this discovery will lead to important results,
and extended operations, and afford a new puzzle to
geologists, the most acute of whom would hardly
have sought for gold in a matrix of iron-stone,
through which, however, it runs in some places in
clusters of small nuggets, somewhat flattened, and
continuous in their course, and perceptible from the
surface; but in others not visible until the iron-stone
is crushed, when gold of various size and form is
easily procured. Stones of this description have been
thrown aside as useless, and thousands of them, I be-
lieve, might be picked out from the heaps piled about
in all directions, and be turned to good account even
by the rough process employed by Dr. Johnson, who
is realising half an ounce a day by intermittent
exertion.
Our Adelaide arrivals will find here, a vast and re-
munerative field for their labours. In fact, as the
above instance proves, gold digging is in its veriest
babyhood, and hence, probably, the employment of
cradles.
From one hole that turned me dizzy to look into,
about a pound and three quarters weight were taken
in two hours. Poor Joe Furby has been unsuccess-
ful. "We can't always expect to be lucky," said
Joe; "but then, d'ye see, I only come up o'Mondav,
and we a'nt got more nor thirty ounces, and what's
in the tub ;" "and this in the pannikin," added his
mate, showing about four ounces. "Yes," said Joe,
"that's all, and I thought to have had a tidy lot afore
this, only the water bust in, but better luck next
time." If there be more merit in hearing
good fortune than in submitting to bad, Joe
is a hero. " Hills," shouted another, "you
come back again I" " Yes ; how are you get-
ting on ?" "My word, first-rate; three fights and
two commissioners, in four days, about this hole.
You ought to have been here." " Well, how did it
end?" " End ! why as usual—they told us to fight
it out, to be sure ; ar'nt we licensed ? I say, Mr.
Clarke, hasn't Armstrong been going it, and nobody
at all here; we were going to send it down to Harri-
son." Well, what is it ?" " Why, you see, the long
and the short of it is this—two fellows got quarrelling
and fighting, and one of them perhaps did give a
saucy answer to Master Armstrong, but he had no
business to hit him with a loaded whip, had he ? Well,
but he did; I see him hit the man on the temple, just
here, and on the front of his head, and on the back of
his head. The poor fellow dropped stupified, and
then d—n me, if the police didn't came and
carry him off, face down'ards, on two muskets.
It's true, every word of it—there's plenty here as
see it." Many who were present verified the
statement, and wished it to be made public. If this
be a plain statement of facts, then a gross outrage
has been committed by a Government officer, 'and I
should be wanting in my duty if I did not give pub-
licity to it, for public opinion is the only protection
that the gold digger has to appeal to. I had besides
these, a whole string of complaints submitted me, the
particulars of which I have not bad time to inquire
into; so, like his Excellency, I must plead the emer-
gency as a solid reason for not producing my budget,
and give, like his Excellency again, a statesmanlikedescriptive retrospect, in lieu of something better,
and as his Excellency can afford no information,
awaiting instructions from the Home Government re-
specting the future regulations of the gold fields, I,
too, must follow in the same footsteps,. and be again,
like his Excellency, silent on the point which the
public is most interested in.
Golden Point lifts itself up into a huge reproach
of Government regulations, or rather irregularities.
To the eight feet square system, the abandonment of
Ballarat is in a great measure attributable, an aban-
donment that was more accelerated by the perver-
sion by the Government officers of the terms of the
licenses, which in themselves were bad enough, but
made worse by the purpose to which they were
applied. The diggers were huddled
.together, so that
the most might be made out of a given space, thus
creating constant bickerings about disputed claims,
to settle which the Government was impotent. Holes
were soon worked out where they were found pro-
fitable, or abandoned in other places, because there
was not sufficient space allowed by " irregularities"
to test their capabilities, and in proof of what I say
Golden Point now stands Queen's evidence against
the Government's fatuity, and blundering to grasp
all, and do nothing.
The Golden Point is not half worked; it is simply
" botched" according to license, and its water front-
age destroyed. It looks as though some withering
power had swept over it, and left huge graveyards
behind. It is frightful to contemplate the waste of
labour, and time, incurred through sheer carelessness,
and want of foresight on the part of the Government
authorities, who are prompt enough to issue regula-
tions, to raise a tax upon them, but very tardy after
that consummation to see the regulations carried into
effect. They can mulct the digger, the hut keeper,
the store, and tent keeper, with most indefatigable
alacrity, but they cannot afford to do what they pro-
mise, they never had the licensed allotments properly
laid out, for that would not have suited their pur-
pose, to distress gold diggers, and exact double, treble,
quadruple, aye and quintuple, as much as they were
entitled to by the terms of the licenses. The com-
monest surveyor would put the whole lot of them to
shame, but then on the other band it might be said in
their favour, that they have outrivalled Jeremy, not
Bentham, but Diddler.
The Creek is turned from its channel, and over-
flows the plain ; its bed is excavated with good suc-
cess, but much heavy labour in sinking, and the con-
stant influx of water entails considerable extra labour,
which, however, the yield amply repays. There is
water here in abundance, which heavy storms are
daily increasing; and if the commonest precautions
were taken, there would be an ample supply for the
next six weeks. The Creek is flowing, the water-
holes filled, the feed is abundant, and the whole
country presents a delightful aspect.
In conclusion, I think that Ballarat has a future
more glorious than its retrospect ; and, to account for
its partial abandonment, I must come to the conclu-
sion that gold diggers, like swallows, migrate at cer-
tain seasons, and, like swallows, will return to where
".they made their nests," provided that they are not
too much disturbed by spoliators. A. C.

HENSON'S SAFETY RAILWAY TRUCKS
An improvement of considerable importance in the
present system of conveying goods on railways, has
recently been effected by Mr. Henson, the success of
which is amply attested hi. the most competent prac-
tical men in all the details of this description of traffic.
Grril the glaring imp-rtections in the ordinary con-
struction of goods' trucks had been sufficiently exposed
in the gold-dust robberies on the Sow Western
Railway, it was net soppos-d that they care ained the
germ of so much mischief. But rohheries of all
descriptions of merchandise nad I 'rig been matters of
daily te:currenc,,, as may easily be conceived when
the unprotected state of the waggons is considered,
and it is remembered that, a vigilant escort
is only provided when bullion is being con-
veyed, though even then the ingenious thief has not
been foiled. Rebbery, however, is not the only inci-
dent of goods traffic by these truck,. The common
practice has been to keep together in them the most
incongruous articles—ilks and sugars, draperies and
blackings, firkins of butter, and barrels of Inciter
matches. Over these packages a tarpaulin has been
loosely spread, partly secured by ropes, the constant
shifting of which and the chafing of the goods against
the rough iron fittings of the waggon, have proved
highly destructive. From these causes it has fre-
quently happened that merchandise has arrived in a
damp state, or in a bad condition ; and we believe it
impossible to estimate the amount of losses thus
arisiog from theft, and the depreciation of perishable
commodities. These tarpaulins, moreover, besides
being no security against the weather or the thief,
are the occasion of a vast cost to every railway com-
pany, and there can be no question as to the expe-
diency of dispensing with them.
The essential points to be united in the construc-
tion of a goods' truck are, facility of loading and un-
loading when open, facility of opening and closing,
and that it should be proof' alike against water, fire,
and thieves. In Mr. Henson's waggon all these con-
ditions have been ingeniously observed, and they have
also been combined with an economy which every-
body of railway directors will be certain to appre-
ciate. By a judicious combination of wood framing
and sheet iron—sometimes plain and sometimes cor-
rugated, as the nature of the traffic may require—a
vast amount of strength has been given to these
structures, and a degree of lightness as yet unknown.
Added to thi,, great attention has been paid to the
form of each carriage, so as to reduce to a mini-
mum the resistance which the atmosphere offers
to its motion at a given velocity. In the con-
struction of the roof the same principles have
been applied, and the result is, a strong and light
covering, which, when fastened down, renders the
truck as completely secure as if it were a merchant's
safe on wheels. Either the whole, or part of the roof
may be raised, to suit the requirements of the traffic ;
but in general, so much of it only as is necessary.
Side doors are likewise provided, which can be readily
opened or closed by one man, whereas several have
hitherto been required to close each truck. By means
of a self-locking apparatus, which can only be released
by the persons in charge, perfect security is insured,
and so far as danger from robbery is to be appre-
hended and provided against, the contrivance may he
pronounced perfect. It must be obvious, too, that in
carriages of this description, merchandise cannot fail
to come to hand in proper condition—neither mois-
tened or damped by the contact of wet, nor injured
by friction against iron nuts, ropes, or tarpaulins.
To the public in general and to railway companies,
Mr. Henson's waggons must prove eminently advan-
tageous. The superseding of the extensive and in-
jurious tarpaulins is an improvement sufficient in
itself to render the new system invaluable; and it
may be mentioned incidentally, as tin illustration of
its great value, in a financial point of view, that this
simple feature of Mr. Henson's arrangement has, on
one railway alone, effected a saving of some thousands
per annum. As regards the working of golds train.,
also, a great economy of locomotive power must
necessarily arise ; for the weight of the carriages
being vastly less, and the resistance of the air upon
them diminished, they require a smaller tractive
force. The mercantile public will also profit largely
by the change, in the greater security of their pro-
perty, and the better condition in which it will reach
them, compared with the state of circumstances which
has prevailed hitherto. Altogether, the improvement
is, perhaps, the most satisfactory that has been intro-
duced for years past into the working system
of our lines of railway, and, before long, will cer-
tainly effectuate some beneficial and importanl
changes in the cost of the conveyance of goods.
FOR- L. LIP'

SIGN MUSICAL IN 1 EL LIGENCE.
(From Galignani's Messenger.)
M. Leopold de Meyer has been distinguishing
himself at a few of our recent concerts, where he has
excited a genuine enthusiasm by the brilliancy and
ige
playing. Standing perfectly aloof
front all o
fimitation,his playing.
or even resemblance to the other
great pianists of the day, M. de Meyer displays a
verve and poetry both in his compositions and execu-
tion, which, combined with his marvellous power over
the instrument, render his performance perfectly
unique, and stamp it with the rare gift of genius.
An interesting concert was giren a few days ago
by M. Tellefsee, a Norwegian pianist of distinction,
and one of the best pupils of the late Chopin. M.
Tellefsen performed several rnoreeaux in a manner
which vividly brought to mind the style and Pxecu-
'ion of the great artist. Besides the benificiaire,M.
Franchotp me, the favourite violoncellist, executed
several pieces with a mastery that obtained tor him
loud and unanimous applause ; his son, a lad of 12,
also performed in a manner truly surprising on the
i
same n.trument, and the concert was brilliantly
concluded by Mme. Sabalier, who gave some of her
chansonnet!es,in her most popular manner.
M. Berlioz 's " Benvenuto Cellini" has been pro-
duced at Weimar, and, according to a letter from M.
Listz, under whoser direction it was got up, with
great success. This noble work, which contains
more beauties than any three modern productions
(those of Meyerbeer alone excepted) produced for
years at the Grand Opera in Paris, was sacrificed to
the musical clique who reigned at the opera when it
was brought out, and whom the honest criticisms of
Hector Berlioz had made his inveterate foes. It must
be added that the indisposition of M. Duprez, who
was unfortunately taken ill at the precise moment of
its being brought out, was the immediate cause of
stopping the run of this fine work.
Mme. Alsjmo has been singing with success at
Leghorn, in Pecini's Medea.
A new opera has been successful at the Carcano, in
Milan, under the title of La Sacerdolessa d' /side, the
music by Maestro Mazza, and the libretto by M.
Torelli. Mme. Lava and MM. Scola, Righini, and
Cervini, are highly si:oken of in the principal parts.
fit Florence, Verdes Luisa Miller, with Mine.
Albertini, and MM. De Vecehi, Gorin, and Euzet, is
said to hive created great enthusiasm ; the excellence
of the ensemble must, however, needs have beenim-
paired, by the fact of M. Gorin having completely lost
his voice.

At Naples the revival of Nabucco at the San
Carlo has given great satisfaction, witb Mmes. Rin-
dazzi and Gnone ; a Mlle. Remorini, a debutante only
16 years of ag., iy highly spoken of as Fenena. At
the Fondo L'Elisire d'Amore had been successful,
with Mme. Cortesi, and MM. Gnone and Mon-
tanari.

Dime. Sanchioli i 3 at present singing with success
at Messina, especially as Norina in Don Pasquale.
MM. Prudenza, Monari, and Fieravanti are also men-
tioned in terms of warm commendation.
An Italian journal announces that an operatic
company is in course of formation at Tiflis in
Georgia! ,

At Orient, at Madrid, I Foscari has been
produced with great success, the principal parts
filled by Mine. Cattinari, MM. Sinico and Cresci.
The theatre is said to be on the brink of ruin, the
Queen having withdrawn her protection from the
management, and M. Sclera, the impressario, having
been obliged to pay Mlle. Alboni 60,000 f. for 24 re-
presentations, for which his receipts only
amounted to
27,000 f.

eGENERALpuItvyo..OAIwd
ii
etht ORDER.a:I.r
ii
ROYAL ARTILLERY.
General's-office,l,lBs2.
His Lordship the blaster-General approves each
company of the regiment having in its establishment
six acting bombardiers from this date.
H. D. Ross, Deputant-Adjutant-General.
GENERAL ORDER.
,
Deputy-Adjutant-General's 70_ftice•
Her Majesty's pleasure has been obtained for the
Woolwich, April 6•.18"
retirement upon full pay of the undermentioned
LOU,si Royal
officers, viz.:—Lieutenan -Colonels_M- 14
A. Lethbridge,
Horse Artillery; A.
J.
11.
Woodo'drier the provisions
and H. Stow, Royal Artillery•u
10, 1847, it appearing
of the royal warrant of April_
by the reports
active duties of their
are r ermanently
unfit'i.orments to take effect from the
profession. These retirements of the
tat inst. ty-Adjutant-General.
meditchaei examination that they
Depu .
11. P. doss, company (sth battalion) having
Captain Marston's
0fp....
pository instruction, they
da by -Captain Paynter's
comp .
lieved yester y
were re
companY•
completed a course

RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS.
LONDON, BRIGHTON, AND SOUTH-COAST
RAILWAY.

Traffic—Week ending April 10, 1852 ... £10,613 19 3
Traffic—Week ending April 12, 1851 ... 8,869 14 6
Total of the half-year, to this date, 1852 ... 121,370 5 3
Total of the half-year. to this date, 1851 ... 118,878 7 10
Total number of Passengers—Week ending
April 10, 18:52 ... 69,267
Passengers ...£8,157 8 7
Goods ... ... 2,•156 10 8

Total ... £10,613 19 3
Total miles open, 1852, 17314 ; ditto, 1851, 173 %,
London Terminus. April 12, 1852.

SOUTH-EASTERN RAILWAY.
Gross traffic receipts for passengers
and goods, week ending April 10,
1832
... £13,677 18 Ditto, April 12, 1851 . 10,931 196
2

Increase in 1852
...
London Terminus, April 12, 1852, £2,746 2 7

GIFTS, EASTER
Hughes d Stack, church-
having h
Yesterday Messrs. an c -
3""AY.The parish of St. Mary le-Strand, distributed the
DIPLOMATIC CONSIGNMENTS, The authorities Sr.T. MARY-LE- STRAND EASTER
wardensl f
having considered the practice under existing as left by will in the year 16q, by a lady named
with respect to officers accompanying to the regulations annuha, Easter gifts of Bs. 4d. each to 12 poor widows of the
Elizabethi Jennings. A second distribution of small sums of
nation articles directed to be delivered duty free for am.acshmosey
from the churchwardens' fund took place to poor pa.
place of desti: par
sadors or other privileged emulations, n.
Most of the recipients were far advanced in
persons, these re which
rlshioners.
have reference to certain
+; „„ xcisvee' been years, and some years ago liberally assisted in con ributing
repealed, have been rescinded, and directions whiane, deli- tcwards that fund which they thi, day received a portion of.
regulations of the E
issued that in future only spirits, tobacco, and wine,
per- THE BistioP OF GI.OIJCE:STER.—We sr,. nappy in
vexed duty free
by an ofli- ban able state that the Lord Bishop of Gloucester and
g to
of destination .
sons, be a.cornpanied to their for amhassad. is or other privilege
place
Bristol has this week been enabled to visit Stapleton, and
p•
cer of the C
I authorised to
yonce delis ered
i that his Lordship is now nearly coavalescent...G4est„
under parties
:properrown, all other articles being at
authority to the
i 6fourtiat,
receive them,