Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-09-20
THE GOLD FEVER IN AT7STRAr1A

LIE OOLD FEFER IN AUSTRALIA
Respecting the gold discoveries IN New South
Wales, the Bathurst Press of the 18th May has the
following statements:
1.-The discovery of the fact by Mr.. Hargraves that
the country from the Mountain Ranges to an indef.
nlte extent OF the interior, is immense gold field
has produced tremendous excitement in the town ri
Bathurst and the surrounding districts For several
days alter our disqualification the business of the town
was utterly paraly A complete mental madness
appears TO have seized almost every member of The
community; and, natural CONSEQUENCES there has
been universal rush TO the diggings. The black
smiths OF the town could not turn off the picks fest
enough, and the manufacture of cradles was the sec
ond brisk es business of the place. few left town
on Monday, equipped for the diggings; but onsTues-
day, Wedne sday and Thursday the roads to Summer
Hill Greek became literally alive with new made mi
ners from every quarter armed with picks
others shoulderng crow bars or shoyels and moi
few strung around with wash-hand basins tin pots
and cullenders, garden and agricultural implements
OF every variety either hang from the saddle bow or
dang ling about the persons OF the pilgrims to Ophir
We have the authority of experienced man insist
ing that from the imparfect and unsuitable Implements
used by all who have left for the diggings coupled
with their miserable provision in other respects suc
cess is impossible; that the labor necessary to sue
cess is extremely severe; and he ventures, as his
oPlnlon, that not more than per cent. will become
permanent miners. One Of the consequences has been
permanent rise in the price of provisions Flour
which ranged from 26s. to 2Ss per 100 lbs, has been
sold tor 45s. tea sugar. and almost every other eat
able commodity, have advanced in equal proportion.
"What assisted very materially to fan the excite
ment into flame was the arrival of a son of Mr..
ing IL ounces, which was purchased by Mr.. Austin
for 30 pounds, who started to Sydney by the follow
ing days mail with the gold and the news Since
that an old man arrived in town with several pieces
in mass, weighing in all from two to three pounds -
He also started for Sydney with his prize. Mr. Ken
nedy, the manager of the Bathurst Branch of the
Union Bank of Australia, visited the diggngs on Sat
urday last in company with Messrs Hawkins and
Green, and each of these gentlemen picked up small
piece of the pure metal ; and few handfuis of the
loose earth from the bed of the creek which were
brought home by MIR. Kennedy from motives of curl
osity, have been since assayed by Mr.. Korff, from
Sydney, and piece of gold extracted therefrom of
the size of small pea. Besides these have not
heard of any particular instances of success.
Son Wednesday morning last, Mr.. Hargraves, ac-
companied by Mr.. Stutchbury, the Government geo
logist went to the dlgglngs, and with his hands
washed pan of earth in his presence, from which
2l grains Of fine gold were produced He afterwards
washed several baskets of earth, and produced gold
therefrom Mr.. Stutchbury hereupon expressed his
satisfaction, and Immediately furnished himself with
credentials, which have since been forwarded to
Government.