The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-01-28

parteS engaged IN That occupation; ana THIS calcu
aton afterwards found reason to believe to have
been very near the truth We will fix the same ave-
rage now, which will give total under this head Of
100000 ounces.
Let us now recapituate the amounts stated under
their several heads, and we shall have tolerably
fair opinion ofhe whole yield of the Victorian gold
fields up to this day.
Ounces.
Amount actually shipped. ............ 1,240 ,52S
Amount deposited in the treasury, Private
Escort Company, and banks. ........ 9l0,377
Amount paid into Adelaide assay Office. 264,3l7
Probable amount exported in private Gus
Probable amount in private hands in Mel
bourne and Geelong ................. 100000
Probable amount in the hands Of dig
gers, &C., at the gold fields and on the
r0aus. ........... ............... LrUOuU
Grand general total of the yield of the
Victoria gold fields to this date ..... 1852 ,422
Or los tons, 10 cwt 35 lbs, and ounces.
As 10 the money value OF this enormous export we
may remark that we appear to have got into the
habit of very seriously undertaking. it. Before we
had any means OF arriving at knowledge OF its ac
tua value, the price was fixed at its current figure in
the market; and we have hitherto still adhered to
the old calculation of three pounds per ounce. This
now however, has been proved to be ridculousylow
and the account sales already received would seem
to justify much higher valuation. 1t is safe, pro-
baby, to take it at ten shngs higher, at least as,
although the current price in the market is still be-
low that the profits Of the exporter may just as fairly
be considered portion of our national income as
the price really received by the digger and between
6 los and the price that Victorian gold realizes in
London, an ample margin still exists for the share OF
the British capitalist, in freight, insurance, ex-
change, &c.
Calculating, then, our gold at the price we have
stated. we find that it represents an export OF fS
S63,477 since October last.
1t is but fair to remark, however, that although we
furnish these calculations being near the truth
as we can make them, we have in every instance
a
we believe the total yield to be good deal under
stated: and although we would not pledge ourselves
to any higher valuation we entertain strong inter
nal conviction that the total value of the yield of gold
up to this date will be much nearer twelve millions
than the sum above stated
Its rate of increase and present amount readers
can judge Of for themselves by the elaborate tables
presented.
THE PERAANENcE OF TIE GOLD FIELDS.
On this subject various opinions are entertained;
some people boldly asserting that the very existence
OF these mines win be matter Of history in two or
three years; and Others with equal confidence, pro-
nouncing them inexhaustible. Our own impressions,
formed upon a tOeraby attentive study of the sub
ject and confirmed by constant intercourse with
tegent men OF all classes who have visited or worked
at the mines, decidedly in favor OF their contnu
ance and of their very considerable further develope
ment. The whole history OF gold discovery in Aus
tralia to point to the almost unlimited extent
OF the gold fields Of the continent, and in spite of all
the activity engendered by the desirable nature Of
the object sought for it seems unlikely that we have
as yet discovered all the gold mines, or even the
richest lands which the whole continent contains.
Science has done little or nothing for Our pro-
in obtaining the gold Of the rudest nature
The search is characterised almost solely by what
the sailors well call sheer strength and stupidity"
From the very extended diffusion Of gold throughout
the country, it seems unlikely that the field will be
exhausted within any reasonable time
Events, we conceive, have shown that vast belt
of highly anrferous land extends across the conti
nent from our own fields to those Of Bathurst and its
sfybh nod IN fha hop GS AZ tha
Hunter, and the back of Moreton Bay; belt of land
Of hundreds Of miles in length, and Of unknown
width. This colony, in particular. seems to contain
gold in every direction. 1t has been found at the
Pyrenees at the wardy Yallock at Ballarat, at the
Clunes, at Mount Alexander, and Bendigo; at An
dersons Creek sixteen mles from Melbourne, near
Wangaratta on the Ovens, at Militia Militia, on the
Murray it has been found even in the streets of Mel
bourne itself.
Even while these lines are being written, news has
arrived from Adelaide, announcing that an available
gold field has been found within eighteen miles of
that city 1t is not indeed, likely to prove equal 10
Mount Alexander, but it appears, upon competent
authority, TO be, at all events, remunerative.
Even supposing then, that the days Of rapid for
tunes should pass by and that by some singular CO.
incidence, ignorant men, in hurried and desultory
search, have stumbled upon all the large nuggets"
by which 40 many OF them have been raised to COM
peence in day, we hold that there are sufficient
indications of the almost universal diffusion of gold
in this country to Justify belief that an ample re-
capable of hard work, and willing to exert himself
with industry and steadness.
OUR OTHER EXPORTS.
Next upon the list OF matters interesting to people
at home we presume that we may place the article
Of wool Recent advices have apprised us how
large proportion our production in that way bears
to the great quantity of wool now absolutely re-
CURED for the consumption of Great Britain and Of
the anxiety betrayed by the manufacturers as to any
delay in the arrival, or falling off in the quantity Of
an article in the regular supply OF which they are
so Immediately interested.
We are unable to supply details so authentic upon
this, which 80 lately our principal article OF
port as we have done with regard 20 its new and
formidable rival As TO the last clip, the people in
terested viii he able ere this to form their own
opinion. The next clip, the note of preparation for
which is even now sounding is matter of far more
Importance; and as to its actual fate, il would per-
haps, be hazardous to venture distinct assertion.
With wages at very high rate, and the gold fields,
as well as all other empoyments, highly remunerl-
tive the probability Of al the hocks Of the colony
being properly shorn, and the feeccs duly conveyed
70 market il matter upon which opinions differ.
Our own belief is that the shearng will be effected
without much unusual delay or inconvenience. High
wages viii have 70 be given probably; but with that
drawback, most male labor is attainable, even de-
spite tie exaggerated prosperity OF the colony,
There j. large class OF men here who have been so
accustomed 70 look for little employment in shear
ina III it, particular season. that il has become sort
Of second nature with them, and between them and
the guatters anxious to get their sheep sorn at al
haIfs, there - htt!e lear but an cement viii
be made. The rate Of wages will probably be hioh
but we fear that do not over estimatc the usual
aefshncss of trade, in believing that the English
manufacturers will not take tie heavy CHARGES of
tie squatters very seriously to heart provided ONLY
they eventually get the wool.
The carriage Of this important article TO market
particularly from the more di slant stations il nat
ter Of more serious doubt. The rate Of carriage of
stores 70 the diggings, distance Of less than eighty
miles, has lately averaged as high as $50 per t1i
English manufacturers can calculate for themelvat
how far wool at fourteen or fifteen pence q pound
cen afford such rate for Transmission as this If mu
TRIED by the much greater distance OF many OF our
grazing districts. 1t viii be some consolation FOR
fi.cm 10 looln, then, that this extrlragant rate
as arisen from the absolute necessity for the trans
mission Of stores for the actual subsistence Of men
well able to pay high prices for them and also from
The terrible coaditon OF the roads, never properly
made constantly wet from severe winter, and cut
~ - an ncessaut ti.,ffic As The season advances