The Sun.
London, England, 1853-03-30 00:00:00

THE AUSTRALIAN GOLD DISCOVERIES.

Some further papers just presented to Parliament on
the Australian gold discoveries bring the correspondence
which has taken place between the authorities of the
respective colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, and
South Australia and the Home Government down to
the latest period. With regard to New South Wales,
the most interesting point to be noticed in these docu-
ments is the general concurrence of opinion as to the ex-
traordinary extent of the deposits in that colony, and
the complete way in which it will cause all mere ru-
mours that may hereafter be circulated of a failing supply
to be disregarded. The reports are from Mr. Hargraves,
Mr. Hardy, the Rev. W. B. Clarke, and others. Mr.
Hargraves, after an experience of seven months in the
western portion of the colony, concludes his description
by saying, that " no part of California which he has seen
has produced gold so generally, and to such an extent, as
Summer Hill Creek, the Turon River, and its tributaries."
The Rev. Mr. Clarke states, that " his geological re-
searches enable him to assert that gold is distributed,
although in variable quantities, over a region in the
colony of New South Wales alone embracing an area of
16,000 square miles." Under date of June 3, 1852, he
further states—" For nearly nine months I have been
travelling from day to day over fresh evidences of the
general distribution of gold." In a detailed review of
the existing condition of the eight principal fields in the
western and southern part of New South Wales, Mr.
Hardy, the Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands, de-
scribes them all as offering ample remuneration for la-
bour, and as being at present comparatively unwoiked,
owing to the superior attractions of the neighbouring
colony at Victoria. At Ophir, he says, although
there were at one time 800 persons there making
1/. per day, the gold has scarcely been touched. The
bed of the river has never been attempted. At the
Turon also, " there is no doubt that a most rich
andl abundant gold field remains comparatively un-
disturbed." At the Meroo, where the Great Nugget
Vein Company were about to commence operations,
" repeated observations had convinced him that there is
no creek for a great many miles about that part of the
country that does not produce gold in abundance." "In
fact, this district, the great basin of the Macquarie, has
been only sufficiently worked to show that its produc-
tion is very great, and that it may almost be called un-
limited in extent." At Tamboroura, where there are
about 800 diggers, there is "room for thousands." On
the Abercrombie, at Tuena-creek, the production of
gold is as great as anywhere else, but there are only
a hundred persons at work, and "nowhere is the want
of a population in developing a gold field more ob-
served." There are hundreds of spots the appear-
ance of which " would justify the expectation of finding
a great yield of gold, but which are untouched." In the
southern district, at Major's Creek, on the Araluen,
" thousands of persons will at some future day find em-
ployment." In all cases of perseverance very large
gains were invariably obtained, but from here, as else-
where, a large number of the diggers had emigrated to
Victoria, and the place remained undeveloped from want
of labourers. On the Mungarlow River, again, another
instance is presented of the necessity of a large number
of diggers to develope the resources ascertained to exist.
" There is no reason to doubt but that that river and its
tributaries, through an extent of 50 miles, will be found
ultimately to produce as much gold as any, other
place. Rich fields for the employment of thousands
lie in the neighbourhood, but little will be known
of their real value until a much larger proportion is
collected. Quartz veins, apparently of much promise,
have likewise been found." With regard to the
northern field, comprising the Peel River &c., there
are several communications from Mr. Durbin, the com-
missioner in that district, but the population has yet
been too limited to admit of any defined results. It had
been indubitably established, however, that gold existed
over a very large space, and that at Bingara, on the
Gwydir, a field is reported to have been discovered
which seemed richer than any yet known in the colony.
"One or two experienced diggers had said that they had
never seen anything approaching to it. A man named
James Watson sold 22 ounces of gold, all obtained with
a tin dish and a spear blade between Saturday and
Thursday ; and another scraped out a pound avoirdu-
pois in two days with no other tools than an iron spoon
and a knife." This information is dated the 19th of
July last, and looking at the remote and solitary part of
the country whence it comes, some time will probably
elapse before more ample particulars are received. With
regard to the prospects of the Australian Agricultural
Company, there are no new details, and the only pas-
sages about them in the commissioner's reports, dated
respectively May 14 and July 7, are as follows :
" I anticipate that rich diggings will eventually be
opened over the Australian Agricultural Company's grant.
The geological structure of this grant appears to be schis-
tose slate, intersected by veins of quartz ; the slate pro-
trudes in all the creeks, and very generally over the whole
extent of country from the dividing range to Tamworth.
" The bank diggings on the River Peel, wherever the
water permits of their being worked, are highly remune-
rative.
"The quartz ridge on the Australian Agricultural Com-
pany's land is, I conceive, of great richness and I have
every reason to believe that other quartz veins of equal
richness will be found extending, not only over the Aus-
tralian Agricultural Company's grant, but also over the
Crown lands on the right bank of the River Peel."

TUB CONVICT SPARKES.—A most unusual mode has
been adopted with respect to this convicted murderer.
Notice has been given in five of the churches at Exeter
that Divine service will be performed every day until
the execution, and that the churches will be opened half
an hour before and half an hour after the service, that
persons may at the altar offer up their prayers for the
salvation of the unhappy convict; and a manual of
prayers has been printed and circulated for that purpose.
Notice has also been given that service will be performed
at the hour of the execution. These matters have caused
a very great sensation throughout the city of Exeter.
THE GREAT BRlTAlN.—According to the intelligence
from the Cape by the screw-steamer Calcutta, it appears
that the Great Britain started from that port four days
before her, and is consequently to be expected every
hour. It was understood that upon leaving Melbourne
the Great Britain would have 700,0001. on board, and
that this would probably be increased by subsequent
shipments from Adelaide.
ANOTHER CHURCH DESTROYED BY FIRE.—On Saturday
last the parish church of St. Hilary, Cornwall, situated
about six miles east of Penzance, was totally destroyed
by fire, its interior contents being entirely consumed,
and nothing now remaining but the bare walls and the
tower—a melancholy wreck of a time-honoured and
venerable structure. The church was an unpretending
stone structure, with early English details, and posses-
sing but little attractions for the eye of the architect.
There were no stained windows, and it was altogether a
plain building. The exact date of its erection has not
been ascertained ; but it would seem by the tombstones
that burials were made in the churchyard in the year
1662. The origin of the fire is as yet matter of conjec-
ture ; but the generally received belief is that the stove
for warming the church was the cause. It was situated
at the east end, near the communion table ; and a pipe
for conveying the smoke ran up perpendicularly through
the open roof, and a few feet above. There was no flue
of any kind—this one stove having sufficed to warm the
church. Friday last being Good Friday, there was ser-
vice morning and afternoon, and therefore the stove was
lighted on that day. Hence it is presumed the fire ori-
ginated. There is every reason to hope that the church
will be rebuilt in a style in many respects much su-
perior to that of the edifice which is now lying in ruins.
FALL OF A CHURCH STEEPLE.—The steeple of East
Keal Church—which has, for a long time past, been in a
very dilapidated state, from old age and decay—has fallen,
with a tremendous crash, on the north side, forcing the
earth up into an embankment to the height oftmhraenenoerr
p
four feet ; and, by the to alighting in a singular
in its descent, almost perpendicularly, a great
it is embedded some feet in the ground Th portion ofe
body of
the church, which is also fast decaying, has been
the fall, and has had to beshocroen
siderably shaken by d-
up, and the whole of the edifice, it is expected, will have
to be pulled down, and divine service be entirely sue.
pended.feared The fine peal of bells contained in the steeple,
Pe was was entirely demolished, but four of the
six have been extricated in a perfect state, except the
•
loss of the fastenings on the tops of some of them.
Some workmen, who were employed in
had
steeple, by inserting additional ties t o the structure,
only left the building three hours previously to the oc- • currence, and were to have resumed their work on the
day following.—ZincolnAirc Cltronk c.