Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1853-08-11
DEpnAvrD srArr on soC,r,v :, Aus.

DEPRAvzD STATE or socrKrs IN Aus
rRALrA.-The Newark Daily Advert
ser has letter from Melbourne, Aus
tralia, dated Feb. 90, which says:
This is not the place Il Is represented
to be. The climate is very unhealthy.
the weather being so chsngeable. So
ciety is very low, and it Is impossible
for any person to venture out Of doors
after dark, unless with party Of three
or four, on account Of the great num-
Der of English convicts from Van
Dieman's Land, who infest the place.
They number about FIVE hundred, and
meeting you in the street, present q
pistol to your breast, order you to hold
your hands up over your head, and
then rob you. This is what they cal
sticking you.'
A gentleman boarding In the same
house with me, about four O'Clock the
other afternoon, was robbed of eighteen
pounds, and then tied to a tree. where
he remained until assistance was Oiven
him. This practice extends also 10 the
diggings. If bushman, who is gener-
ally mounted, percefves man coming
along the road with better horse than
his, be compels him to dismount and
exchange horses, and in case of non
compliance, he makes nothing of shoot
ing him. In going to Forest Greek,
Campbell's Greek, Bendigo and Golden
diggings, you pass through what is
called the Black Forest, dense and
thick wood, about twelve miles in
length.
The other day, while four of us were
passing through this forest, we found
thirty-fve had been stuck up, and one
poor fellow, who unfortunately had but
thirteen shillings and sixpence, was tied
to tree and his body filed with shot,
which they fred at him, suppose, be-
cause he had no more. He was re-
leased short time after, and is now in
fair way for recovery. They also
stuck up young lady within sight of
her fathers house. This was never
done before, and accordingly you may
Judge of the state of society. The
much-boasted of police will often turn
away and make no attempt to stop such
occurrences. As to climate, yesterday
was extremely hot, and to-day is cold
out of the sun.
Apples, pears, peaches and plums are
in great abundance, but very dear
Apples are Is English currency, which
is about 92 cents of your money, per
pound, pears Is Sd each, plums 2s Sd
per pound, grapes 2s Cd, peaches Sd,
cabbage 2s a head, lettuce Sd. cucum-
bers 6, potatoes FL 15s per two bushels,
and everything in proportion. In going
to the diggings paid 2s Sd for three
pounds of bread, and Is for a small
glass of ale. The diggings present to
the eye one of the strangest scenes
imaginable. Hill and hollow, gully
and stream seem as if there had been a
mighty convulsion of the earth, which
had turned every thing upside down,
and this for full thirty miles.
There are a great number of holes,
which are from seven to thirty feet deep,
and for long way the ground is un-
dermined. You think you have found
a solid plot of ground, and after you
have dug or 10 feet, the chances are
that the whole fabric will give way
At Ballarvat three men have taken out
one nugget of gold weighing 1856
pounds, and another of 46 pounds
Since that they have also found mug
get weighing 164 pounds. 1 am afraid
no such luck will befall me.
SUIcIDE.-We regret to learn that on
Friday morning last, Mrs. Van Pelt,
wife of DR.. Van Pelt, committed sui
eide, by hanging herself with a bed
cord, at her residence in Orange town
ship. in this county. Some time since
her husband went to California, and,
we believe, died there. Partial de-