The Sun.
London, England, 1853-03-16 00:00:00

Total ...
RECAPITULATION.

Ounces.
154,746
227,431

'By Government escort
Private escort ...
Amount conveyed to Adelaide by November
escort 43,875
Ditto by December escort ... 27,033
Ditto by October escort (previously omitted) 42,019

- Total ... ... 495,104
The following statement exhibits the total amounts
brought down by escorts from their estAblisbment to the
end of 1852 :

BY GOVERNMENT ESCORT.

Ounces.
From Oct. 1, 1851, to Aug. 26, 1852 896,810
From Aug. 26 to Sept. 25 ... ... 128,830
From Sept. 25 to Nov. 15 ... 225,358
From Nov. 15 to Dec. 30 ... ... 154,746

Total . ... 1, 405, 744

BY PRIVATE ESCORT.
Ounces.
207,588
• 197,959
▪ 245,981
• 227,431

From June 21 to Aug. 21...
From Aug. 21 to Sept. 25...
From Sept. 25 to Nov. 15...
From Nov. 15 to Dec. 30...

Conveyed to Adelaide by escorts..

Total conveyed by escorts... 2,513,232
" But this amount 'by no means represents the total
yield of our gold • fields. In a previous st"•r'nary we
proved that a large proportion of the precious metal was
carried from the diggings by private hand, by comparing
the amount known to have been brought to Melbourne
by the far larger amount actually shipped from the port.
Our first summary showed the result of a very careful
estimate as proving that up to the end of August last the
total yield of gold was 2,532,422 oz. The escorts have
brought down since then as tinder :

From Aug. 26 to Sept. 27
From Sept. 27 to Nov. 15
From Nov. 15 to Dec. 30
976u6167131e0935393.

Total 1,332,636
" But to this amount something must be added for the
quantity conveyed by private hand within that period.
Of course no definite data exist for ascertaining this ; but
it will not be over-estimated by taking it at 10 per cent.
of the quantity brought by escort. The totals would,
therefore, stand thus :

Ounces.

Estimated total of the yield up till
August 2,532,422
Conveyed by escort since then 1,332,636
Conveyed by private hand 133,263

Estimated grand total of the yield up
to 30th December, 1852
"We =may say, in round numbers, 4,000,000 oz.,
which, at 70s. per oz., is 14,000,000/. sterling ; but its
intrinsic value is certainly more, nearly 16,000,0001.
sterling. The world has never, perhaps, exhibited so
astounding a result as these figures show.
" The number of diggers at the various gold fields may
now be estimated at 100,000 ; and the average earnings
may probably still be calculated at an ounce per man
per week. There has been a slight falling off in the
quantities sent down by escort during the last month ;
but this is partly to be referred to the departure of
diggers to spend their Christmas at their respective
homes.

"It will be seen from the preceding summary that
three several gold fields—viz., Mount Alexander, Bal-
larat, and the Ovens are now being advantageously
worked. The astonishing richness of Mount Alexander
is evidenced in the large amounts which it yields, not-
withstanding the • immense quantities that have already
been drawn from it. The whole country thereabouts
appears to be more or less auriferous.

- -"Ballarat diggings are again rising into favour, and
their productiveness is being more fully developed. The
gold at Ballarat is more unequally distributed than at
Mount Alexander, and therefore the propoi Lion of suc-
cessful to unsuccessful diggers is not co great as at the
latter place. But then the individual gains are in some
cases greater. The labour is more severe, also, than at
the Mount, as the gold lies deeper, and more numerous
trials have to be made before the deposits are struck
upon. There is no doubt that Ballarat will continue to
give out considerable quantities for a long time to come,
and will be a resort, for many diggers who have failed at
the Mount.
" The capabilities of the Ovens, as a very rich field,
may now be deemed an admitted fact. The amount
brought into Melbourne as has yet been comparatively
small, but it is known that large quantities have been
carried
rvaattesting te ly
Sydney papers state, for instance, that a gold buyer in
inp overlandtherichness
ehtnoesSayd of
fey) and all reports
the locality. The
agree
that city lately purchased 500 ounces in one lot, 11-om
two men who had just come down from the Ovens. The
data for determining the value of these digging are in-
complete, but enough has been shown to indicate the
existence of large quantities of the precious metal there.
The labour is severe, owing to a superabundance of
water, but the chances are greatly in favour of the in-
dustrious worker.

" There are various minor spots throughout the ter-
ritory where gold has been found by explorers, and in
paying quantities. Some of these cases are kept secret
by the discoverers ; others are know a, but the limited
extent of the deposits prevents any numerous party frond
engaging upon them. But the three fields already men-
tioned may be considered the grand centres of gold-
digging operations in Victoria."

We extract the following from the correspond-
ence of the Times
:
MELBOURNE, Jan. 1.
Much dissatisfaction and disappointment have
been felt and expressed here at the iiregularity of
the steamers from England, some of them having
been beaten by sailing vessels, and it appears that
arrangements must be made by the coral,
England as to securing a full supply of
betterpanies
coals at the different stations before any depend