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

tAngs nprsying in this respect al persona who can
'N1bfd 70 make such an arrangement should pFovl0e
themselves, If possible, with wooden or iron houses
Intending immigrants Of all classes will do wei TO
bear all this in mind, that they may come prepared
to submit patiently to the evils attendant upon the
discovery of our gold fields. We now annex, for
their further information list of the present prices
Tor few OF the principal articles OF general consump
ton.
The rates we give are not those ordinarily figuring
in commercial prices current but just the prices they
would have to pay if going the usual round OF shop
ping for the ordinary supply of their households
The four pound loaf s led beef and mutton are a.
per b.; veal 3D.. pork Is; butter is about g. 3d.;
cheese 2s eggs So per dos; tea Is 3D. to 2s per b
coffee ls 4d.; sugar 3d. to ld loaf do. ID. ham and
bacon 2s; candles 3d.; soap I'D. to 3D.; milk Is. to
H. Cd. per quart; potatoes 12s. per cwt; Goals Is
per ton; fire wood "a for load that four bqllocks
will draw through bad roads; water 6s per load Of
about two hogsheads; hay Ella to fl8 per ton, and
oats S. to Zoe. per bushel Strangers will see there
FORE that they have rather formidable list of prices
of an income to meet all this before deciding to
amongst us.
There is one class especially which we would
strongly urge to be cautious what they do 1t is the
very large class of clerks and shopmen, &C., with
which all civilized countries seem strangely deuged.
With this description of labor this market is con-
stantly largely overst0cked and eager as Is the de-
mand for most kinds Of labor it is quite distressing
able Of severe manual labor, who, with delicate
health, and probably still more delicate purses,
swarm our towns in search of employment exposed
very heavy expenses which they can earn nothing to
meet, and gradually sinking into poverty, and too
often into disspated habits, till they vanish some
where, and make way for the constantly recurring
supply. Such men have rarely been successful at
the diggings the demand for their labor in their &C.
customed pursuits is very limited in proportion to
their numbers and we distinctly warn them that in
rashly throwing up good situations at home, and
trying their luck here, they guilty Of On act that
is little better than sheer insanity.
We have now one other subject, and a very painful
one, to discuss. 1t is that Of
OUR SOCIAL CONDITION.
Deeply interested as we are in the welfare OF the
colony and naturally tenacious of its character, it Is
with the most sincere sorrow that we confess that its
present condition, in social point Of view, is almost
as bad as it well can be-
Apart from the natural effects of a rich gold coun-
try in drawing together population off least very
adventurous character our near neghborh0Od to the
island into which Great Britain recklessly persists
in pouring the criminals from her crowded jas, has
very seriously affected the composition of our commu
nifty From this source many thousands of the great
tone thereby impaired to our society is one which
every good citizen must painfully deplore. Added to
this, negligent, feeble, and incompetent govern
ment has by its axity its parsimony, and its abso
lutte imbecility, so complicated and fomented the
evils around us, that the social constitution Of
the colony is in the most wretched condition
Crimes Of the most fearful character and degree
abound on all sides; the roads swarm with BUSH
rangers; the streets with burglars and deperadoes
of every kind. In broad daylight, and in our most
public streets men have been knocked down, i'll
used and robbed; and shops have been invaded by
armed ruffians, who have "stuck up" the inmates
and rilied the premises, even situated in crowded
thoroughfares At night, men dare not walk the
streets and thieves appear to be SO thick upon the
ground and to be so unceasng in their operations,
that feel certain they must often rob each other
Murders of the most fightful character have become
SO numerous that they scarcely excite attention for
day. and such is the inefcency of our police system
that scarcely since the foundation of the Colony has
any one perpetratOr of premeditated murder been
brought to justice The police are cowed, or leagued
with the actors in the outrages witnesses and prose
cutors brbed or inundated from appearing the
administration of the law is fast sinking into con-
tempt; case after case is confused with perjury
and crossswearing that the facts are entirely
hidden jurors are SO scared with the cOndi-
ton of things around that they are only too eager to
return unfavorable verdicts, but this disposition is
complicated by the gross incapacy Of one at least
Of the principal law officers of the crown that the
suits are most disastrous. It is shocking thing to
say it, but we really believe that in many Of the cases
adjudicated upon in our criminal courts what with
perjury the absence Of witnesses the fears OF panic
stricken jurors and the blunders Of those who con-
duct the prosecutions substantial justice is
administered, than would be the fact if cases were
left to the chance decision of toss up" We have
all the evils of Lynch law without its vgor and its
promptitude, and very considerable portion Of the
community make no ceremony Of advocating the in
PRODUCTION Of that barbarous and sanguinary prac-
tce.
This is doubtless painful picture. It is alas too
true one we wish that could soften its tints,
color it little more brightly. But we have shown
the advantages Of the colony; we cannot honestly
suppress its evils. We write to inform, not to mis-
lead !; and whatever the aspect of the colony, our
duty at present is simply to describe it.