The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-06-02
AUSTRALIA.

| Accounts received from this country as late
as the 4th February, represent the gold fever
to have risen TO pitch which it hardly reach.
ed even in the best days of California. I,
seems to absorb every faculty, and to put an
end TO every other vocation. At Melbourne
nothing is said to be thought. dreamed, spoken
Of, or written about, but gold, gold, gold
Business contracts of all kinds are disregarded
the social compact has grown obsoIeie-the
relations between master and servant are dis'
solved-the child no longer submits to the pa
rent-and the husband does not hesitate 10
abandon the wife, Prodigality, prohigacy, and
| crime reign triumphant throughout the REGION
| Nor is this extraordinary when the fempta-
tion is considered. Men in one, two, three,
and four weeks, from comparative. and IN some
instances absolute poverty, frequently become
enormously wealthy.
The necessaries ofIife have risen to an enor-
nous height in cost. 1t is impossible for a
man to have even so much as a shirt washed
at Melbourne, for nobody will do it at any
price. Boots were selling for 60. 10 shillings,
and shoes for 20 shillings. The consumption
of bottled beer, champagne, and other wines,
spirits and tobacco, exceeds all belief. A tav-
ern keeper on the Mount Alexander road, sent
single order to Melbourne for 1900 dozen of
bottled beer, and the same man is said TO have
sold 70.dozen in single day. The total amour
shipped from Victoria, from the 24th January
to the 4th February, was 102,479 OF; pre-.
ceding that period, 1885 OF; in round
numbers, 100000 OF, which taken at the
current price f3, is equal TO f66O,OOO, or
about 100000.
One Of the consequences Of this extraordi-
nary expectation has been the expansion of
bank circulation beyond all former example
and yet, notwithstanding the banks have scarce.
ly any notes at their counters. They are all
out in continual circulation. In four months
nine and quarter tons ofgold have been taken
from Victoria, 1.-THE region in which Melbourne
is situated,) alone, though the operations have
been of the most slovenly character, the fine
dust being passed over by the diggers because
it is too troublesome to wash. A letter from
Melbourne says:
van DleInanS LAM must cease TO be O ne.
nal colony. Let Swan river enjoy all the be-
neft she has petitioned for in a large govern
ment expenditure for the support of imperial
convicts, and improvement of her locality. Be
ISSUED Van Dieman's Land must be relieved
from all further stain she is far too near the
region of gold, and has borne long enough the
miseries of penal infection.
l fear South Australia, once the most pro.
missing of the Australian group, is on the eve
of great suffering and disaster. The accounts
are alarming; lana has ceased almost 10 pos.
sess value. The people are coming hither in
thousands. Without gold fields she will be
lost. Even Sidney begins to feel the emgra-
ton of her population for the superior diggins
OF Victoria. No person can, however, tell how
long it may be before the tables turn. The
free population of Van Dieman's Land are
fast coming to Melbourne. All the Sidney peo-
pie are returning from California and the Poly
nesian group of islands but l trust we NAV
not be favored with any of the Yankee race, or
at least OF that portion rejoicing in the estab.
lishment of vigilance committees six shooters
and bowie knives.
Another letter says:
1t will be the ruin of Adelaide. Twelve thou.
sand people arrived here on Saturday and Sum
day from that place; eight ships loaded were
OIL their way, and twelve more loading at the
port. Sidney people are coming in shoals, and
| suppose the Americans will be sending Yam.
KEGS, revolvers, bowie knives and Lynch law.
However, do not hear that these latter gen.
tlemen will meet with much sympathy here
Tor believe. upon the whole, the diggers are
well conducted.