The Sun.
London, England, 1856-11-22 00:00:00

THE ROCKY RIVER DIGGINGS.

Concerning these digginis;e—anne2Cainv; additional
particulars from the Armidale Express of Saturday, the
2d inst. :

We have been favoured with the following communi-
cation from a gentleman who is a resident of Armidale,
and who has just returned from a visit to the Rocky
River Diggings :—" Having been out at the Rocky
River Diggings for some time lately, I embrace the op-
portunity of my return to Armidale to give you, and
through you the public, some particulars respecting
them. The diggers generally are doing well. Mount
Walsh is being resuscitated, and many parties have
lately been successful in that locality. The diggings are
extending nearer Armidale. From what I perceived, I
should judge that only about one shaft out of eight has
proved a blank. Oat of several claims lam aware that
half an ounce to a dishful of earth has been repeatedly
obtained. I understand that the Rev. W. B. Clarke,
when here, predicted the existence of rich deposits in
some of the very ridges that are now being worked.
He, however, considered that the heaviest deposits
would probably be found between the spot where the
diggings are situated and Boorolong, via the Barley
Field, and that, in his opinion, the sinking wculd
become very deep as the leads were opened towards
Boorolong. I have much pleasure in saying that there
is every probability of Mr. Clarke's opinions being
verified ; and it is now the belief of many who have
had great experience in gold diggings that we are only
at the beginning of our gold discoveries in New
England. Many new arrivals are taking place.
On leaving I flaw about twenty arrive in a
body, with the usual knapsacks of blankets,
&c. A gentleman informed me that he had passed
about 600 Chinamen on the road from Maitland, bound
for the Rocky. The severe weather some time, ago
was the principal reason for so many new hands leav-
ing. There are also others at present at the Rocky who
have arrived with little, or no capital—some without a
shilling—and are looking in vain for employment. The
influx of this class has been so great that the demand
for labour cannot keep pace with the supply ; besides,
many of the new arrivals are unfit for the work. It is the
general opinion of those best qualified to kelp correctly,
that if parties bring sufficient capital to keep them for a
month or two, until they can sink a shaft, they have a
very good chance of doing well. From the nature of the
soil, and the great traffic to and fro, the ground at the
diggings is very muddy, and walking slippery and dis-
agreeable. The public-houses are becoming numerous,
and they all seem to be doing a `great stroke.' Fining
them greatly thronged, and the attention of the Boni-
faces so engrossed in dispensing liquids to thirsty cus-
tomers that there was little hope of obtaining any for
edibles, I preferred adjourning to a restaurant, that I
might receive justice in the latter department. At the
Commercial, oppoeite Halinbourg's store, I was perfectly
satisfied—nay, astonished—at the bill of fare. Break-
fast, lunch, dinner—all were excellent, winding up with
the best supper I have bad in the di,triet. Gold averages
about 3/. 83. 61 per oz , but a large quantity remains
unsold, as purchasers, have not sufficient cash to buy up
what is raised. Flour is 6/. per bag, potatoes 17s. per
cwt., maize 1/. per bushel, salt and sugar are both ex-
ceedingly scarce, bacon, ham, or cheese none. The in-
formation we have received during the week from the
Rocky River is to the effect that diggers generally are
doifig well, and that the number of those who • are un-
succei.eful is comparatively small. The trade in cradles
is increasing ; a day or two ago many were sent out on
drays from Armidale. Goods are so scarce that store-
keepers are eagerly purchasing consignments not yet
delivered. One storekeeper from Armidale purchased
over 300 OZ3. of gold in a iew hours. Large quantities
remain unsold for the want of buyers.

Extract of a letter received from Armidale, dated Ith
August :—" I was out at the mines on Friday ; great
numbers are daily arriving, and a good many going
away. Shafts are being sunk to the depth of ninety
feet, and those diggers who are so fortunate as to pos-
sess the means of subsistence during this operation are
well repaid for their trouble. I came upon one indivi-
dual working of a cradle, who told me he was getting on
an average 50 czs. to the load, anti another from,2s to
30 'OM. per load. Ido not know that these are isolated
instances ; in fact, I am confident they are not, and
that the resources of this gold field are only bdginning
to be found out.

"The reason you hear of so many returning iv, that,
in nine cases out of a dozen, the individuals have never
undergone the test of experience, or, if so, their previous
knowledge has been gained from shallow digging, and
probably mere surface operations; thus they come with
a fund barely able to maintain them for a fortnight or
so, when they aro obliged to quit the scene."