The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-04-24
Statistics OF the Gold Fields of Victoria, Aus
tralia, for the Yenr 1853.
n II L


Having arrived at the close of the second year Of
our producing era 1t may be interesting to notice
some Of the prominent features that have
during that period in the Of which hope be
able to show that, notwithstanding the very large pro-
duce OF 1882 there appears for responding
l. The most important feature that commands notice.
is the produce Of the gold fields which summed up
table v, gives close approximate as careful in
vestgation will admit The product there given shows
satisfactorily as compared with 1852, that gold s con-
During the early part of the year 1882 the limited
ber OF dgers then at work procured gold by the pound
weight whereas now, from the increased number the
quently ounces generally the extent of ndvidu
al labor Formerly when rich wien was struck bya
protected themselves whereas now no sooner is rich
spot discovered, than claims secured around it in
every direction by parties too lazy to prospect for them
selves. If success attends the pioneers the encroacers
commence digging but if the is the case they
once abandon their claim and to another local
ty This mode of acting is termed shepherding by the
working digger.
q The security with which the mineral wealth of the
colony is transmitted from the gold fields to Melbourne
and Geelong has only been nterru pied by band
of six robbers who attacked the Melbourne Escort Com
pany's branch escort from M'Nor to Kyneton, and,
was about 1000 ounces, of which about 9s in the
pound has been returned to the sufferers by
out of the spoil recovered by the police from the robbers
Three out Of the six robbers have suffered the extreme
penalty of the law, committed suicide, turned
Queens evidence, and escaped; thus showing that
however daring the outrage may be the law when vgor
ously enforced is certain to overtake the guilty Another
it may be mentioned although not occurring within
the year, the piratical attack the Nelson in
Holsons Bay when about 600 stolen from
the ship of which recovered In noticing
these two daring and desperate acts, 1t cannot but be
matter of qualification to know that in the transporting
of such an amount OF wealth. small loss should have
occurred, considering the mixture with free popula
tion of such number of convicts from Van Diemans
Land. The gross produce Of 1852 and 1855 may be stated
IN round numbers at f25 eco eco sterling the actual loss
at f45 Geo. To the Industrious aGd persevering ndi
vidual, the remuneration at the gold fields is ample;
thereby placing him beyond temptation AT the trials
for both robberes it proved that the individuals had
been conycts, thus strongly exemplifyng the evils
labor under from proximity to convict colony.
g. The produce of the gold fields has been maintained
throughout this year, with regularity to quantity
which contrasts strongly with that of last year. During
the first six months Of 1852, the average quantity
II 0o0 while the last six months 6S 000 In 1858 it
was SO 600 against A, 0oO While produce of such
value continues to be raised at cost of little than
that of sustenance to the digger (or the license fee
SO light tax that it is hardly worth naming the
attraction to the gold fields for all will con-
nue Notwithstanding the high rate paid for labor both
in town and country. That great numbers have been
not be denied and it is perhaps well for the community
that all have not been successful This class forms the
great body of well paid aborcrs in towns together with
not few Of the earliest dggers who have returned with
o toerab competency, but who ut the same time
not above following their usual ayocation reserving for
their old age the produce of their at the gold
fields. strongly corroborave fact illustrative of
laton refer to the number of depotors in the banks
previous TO and since the discovery of the gold fields
given in table TX.
TABLE /.
Sho,eing the Quantity of Golddust brought 10 Melbourne
and Gtelong by Escorts in 1858.