The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-04-29

that place states that after full and repeated in
q1riss no was unable 70 meet With "a single person
however, the earth had become 30 hard that itc0uld
only be broken with q pickaxe, and general de-
sertion was therefore taking place. -Four months
commenced. This compulsory retirement, however,
would be likely to lead to new explorations The
counts of the conduct of the population at Melbourne
not favorable. Scenes Of violence and depravity
had been common, and they are alleged to have been
increased by the influx of the convict population of
Van Diemens Land, which is within thirty hours
steaming distance, the deck fare from Launceston
being twenty-one shillings. With regard to the
New South Wales, or Sydney mines, it appears that
all the indications on the Turon continued to pro-
mise great results after the subsistence of the floods
Meanwhile new deposits had been discovered in
what is called the Maneroo district and about the
Snowy River, which, it was believed, would prove
of a remarkable character. The Sydney writer's
contend that the Victoria mines are not richer than
their own, and that the greater produce is solely
owing to the larger number of persons employed
This, however, does not agree with the fact that
disappontments are frequently spoken of at Sydney,
while none had occurred at Mount Alexander. The
report made to the government by Mr.. Hargrave,
upon his return from his exploratory expedition,
had not yet been allowed to transpire, and it was
consequently rumored that it too exciting to be
published until after the harvest had been got in.
The proprietor Of the gold field in Fredericks
valley had proposed to make over his title to that
spot, consisting Of l,033 acres, to company to be
called tho Wentworth Godield Company, with q
capital Of EDO 900, in 5000 shares, of El0 each, of
which .e25,000 was to be paid to himself, the
remaining $4,000 forming the working funds
The price of gold at Sydney had fallen to Cos.
per ounce, and the miners in consequence held
back their earnings. Nevertheless, on the 9h
January, the ship Kate sailed for London 10Th
1924 ounces Of dust, pal.cd at f3 5s. per ounce,
and amounting to EGO, l4l. From Adelaide, South
Australia the latest dates received ut Sydney were
to the 9th December, and it is probable that the
next arrival would bring news of equal wealth in
that colony. reward of Gl 900 having been
offered by the government for tho discovery Of any
gold fields that should yield Gl0,0 within two
months, a Mr. Stephen, a barrster, had announced
his knowledge of two very extensive districts, and
day had been appointed for him 10 proceed to peint
them out. There were, also, rumors of discoveries
in many other localities in the neghborhood of
Adelaide. Expectations were likewise entertained
Of the confirmation Of sislilar statements from Van
Diemens Land fine specimen ofquarta gold had
been shown by man. who asserted that he had
found it at Hobart Town, and that it existed there
in abundance and there were other less question
able stories of deposits between Launccston and
George Town.
From the London Chronicle April 1ol
A Blue Rock which has lately been published,
containing the official correspondence relative to the
discoveries Of gold in Australia, affords much valua-
bic information respecting the rise and progress of
the mines in New South Wales. We suspect that
to large portion of the public, the mere names of
tHe iocdlIteS III WHICH precious metal Is t0unu
convey but very vague notion of its whereabouts
The two principal gold fields are the . Land of
Ophr,' as it is called, situate about 100 miles to
the west ofSydncy. and containing part Of the
ties OF Wellington, Bathurst, Georgiana, and West
moreland and portion of the province of Victoria,
about 40 miles inland from Melbourne. II appears
from the correspondence before that the existence
of gold in Ophir first made known to the govern
ment in the year lS49 by Mr.. Smith, who had
picked up specimen near place called Berrima.
He offered to state the exact locality upon the re-
ceipt of a considerable sum of money, but the 60
vernment declined buy his secret, and he was un-
willing TO trust to their generosity. He was fol-
lowed by a Mr.. Hargrave, gentleman who had
had much minimizing experience in California; and
who, after failing in an attempt to get $500 for his
discovery, gave the necessary information gratut-
ously, when the Governor ut once took steps which
confirmed the truth of the statement.
The excitement at Sydney, when the news be-
came public, is described as having been so intense
that, according to Sir c. Fitzroys despatch of the
18th May, 1851, the population had visibly di-
minished.' The price of provisions rose to an ex-
travagant height, and the whole framework of
society appears to have received violent and even
dangerous shock. Such was the panic created by
the supposed economical and social perils of the dis
covery, that some of the colonst recommended
that martial law should be proclaimed and ali gold
digging peremptorily prohibited, in order that the
ordinary industrial pursuits of the country should
not be intcrfered with But, happily, the spirit of
protection was not strong enough in Sir C. Fitzroy to
induce him to accedc to this notable piece of advice;
and the measures which he adopted fell far short of
the suggestions Of the aarmists. The diggels were
obliged to take out licenses Mt the rate OF el los.
Ier month, and force of ten extra mounted con-
stables was enrolled. So far ms Learn from
the Blue Book, the only breach of the peace perpe-
tratcd by any Of the dggers in the Land of Ophir,
consisted i'll tresspass committed by truculent
butcher on his neighbours territory; aud the
offender was promptly brought to a sense Of
his duty by the proper authority and a pair
Of handouts. The license system appears to
in a strirf
but there is considerable controversy as
to the amount to be exactcd in Victoria Our
accounts from the latter colony are to the 10th Of
December last. The first discovery of gold within
its frontiers took place in the month Of July, and
up to the date of the latest intelligence less than
ESQ 600 worth of the metal is said to have been
obtained. OF this amount, upwards Of EI00.000
worth is positively ascertained to have been pro-
curcd and the remainder is the estimated value of
the gold removed by private individuals, or still in
the hands of the miners. 1t is, however, very diff
cult to arrive at anything like precise account of
the total produce of the mines, in consequence of
the convenient portability of the metal in the form
in which it is most commonly found. 1t is equally
difficult to speak definitely as to the extent of the
gold felds-ncw discoveries constantly widening the
auriferous territory, from month to month, and
almost from day to day. Thus, in the first despatch
of Lieut.. Governor Latrobe, received in the course
of last January, we are informed that gold had
been found within sixteen miles of Melbourne; but
we learn from the article upon the subject which
we published on Wednesday last from the Melbourne
argus, that the diggings have now reached a dis
lance of 20 miles from that town.
1t would be premature, under present circum-
stances, to enterinto any specuatons either to the
probable yield Of the new mines, as to the effect
which the late discoveries may may not produce on
the relative values Of the precious metals On these
points we will simply state our conviction that no.
thing can he more fallacious than the attempts
which often made to turn science into prophecy,
and to enunciate mathematical propositions, the
elements of which are the probable number of cubic
feet of quartz to be found in the gold districts and
the average amount of gold which they contain. A
more profitable and more pleasing subject for con-
sderation is the prosperity which these discoveries
have brought to our Southern colonies. We have
already noticed the tranquil condition of the land Of
ophttb Great as is the contrast be-
tralian FL Dorado, and the Hanging committees
appointed to keep the body suspended till daylight,
which figure SO largely in the records of California,
we must not give the whole credit ofthe difference TO
the superiority of British colony American
republic. The fact is, not only the mining