The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-01-29

MELBouRNR, Sept. 20, 1853.

Ipdra OF Pdffy OF AtnUs from neooGnS "
Be~digo-The Sight, by the Way-Ths BIZ
vo~ac-Ercampment of Boyssmans- The Black
Forest-Eacounter trrth an Irish Convict Whdf
The Government Does and Does Not DO, SC.
Once more have come back into the precincts OF
civilized life. Bendigo, and its thousand tents and
existing scenes, are left behind; but my memory
viii ever bear daguerreotyped upon It Impressions o.
what have seen, done or suffered during my shor'
but not unpleasant .sojoun in that strange place.
As kept faithful record Of my adventures e" ro'1e
to the diggings, and as venture TO believe lha'
transcript Of my diary may not be unnteres'ine "
your readers will without further preface present
IL to you as penned while the occurrences II ue-
scribes we're yet but a few hours old
Monday.-we left Melbourne about Z. NJ with
our faces turned northwards to the Bendigo dggngs
We mustered In our own particular party eight per-
sons. fellow passengers the Scargo, being COM
posed of five Canadians, an Engshman from the
States, county Tipperary man aud myself. A little
before starting there had been thun Ter storm,
during which some refreshing showers CT rain had
fallen, which cooled the parched earth, aud m ade
mild and refreshing the before oppressively heated
air; spirits we're light and buoyant, and our
hopes in the untried future sapguine We left the
crowded streets Of the city behind. On arriving
at the top OF the hill which overlooks the
city on the north, i turned to take q
view of those spots which mad become familiar
to my eye Of those Of tented plain and wooded
hin, tie temporary home rather refuge, OF taou
sands who are daily fockiDg TO these shores, g
norant Of how lar and sadly short OF their magnngs
WI be The realities Of experience Upon these shores
are wise and philans hropic associations formed,
TO give advice and counsel to the bewil5ered emf
grant Ip the city of Melbourne the xeathiest city
OF taese colonies humane society Interests itself
for the relief of the unfortunate emigrants arriving
in their bay by providing emigrant boarding houses
where they could be accommodated at a reasonable
charge, and thus be protected from the inclemency
OF the approaching season.
But have stray ed away from the hill, to which
must return, as my road hes 10 sndigo. From this
hill the view Of the city aud surrounding couatry
much more pleasing than It appeared so me vie wed
from any other point. This northern emiuence liz
much higher than tbs eastern aud western eleva-
tons, and the city appears from it as II entirely
built in a deep valley. From its eastern side
stretches away Coliingxooa, "a far as the eye can
carry, wooded hill and da'e Here about Que and
half miles OF is situated the rapidly rising town Of
the same name, (Collnswood) which owes is i'm
portance and its rapidly increasing extent 70 The
immense cost Of bulldog ground 10 Melbourne, and
the dearIess of rent and lodgings in general. IL il
now quite large place. but tue houses and streets
are very much scattered Likewise on my left, in
the valley below, can be she Garra ARA, whose
course westward may be traced for about mile,
and shose waters, ginning beneath a nov bright pat
not hot sum- rehec. the dark and outrageous shadows
Of the trees which grow upon its northern backs
On the west Ct the city spreads large rich aud fer
tile plain, through which the Yarra slowly holds its
course TO the sea, ho~Cg calmly and almost imper
ceptbly between its howery borders, "a II wi-hful
TO allow it's waters 10 rest N he pleasant ey after
its lrpg journey from its source, Mount Bswbaw,
and 10 enter with becomiog gravity and solemnity
the great ocean, natures f,thomabe reservoir for
all great rivers which have run their course upon
rs 1t is commonly called across which for the last
time had walked In the morning from Sandridge,
stabbed with many tent-eucsmpment, which shone
In the bright light of the evening sun and peasingly
relieved the otherwise barren aspect of the plain |
From the beach at Sandridge spread away the dark
waters OF the deep and spacious bay TO the narrow
outlet which connects them with the ILL ntable ocean
beyond; and on the right Of the bay lies moored the
shipping, whose tail tapering nasss, with all their ia
finty Of ropes aud rigging, completed q picture
which gazed on with admiration, and with relac.
.ance TUNED away from contemplating. Upon this
bill stands the residence Of the Liet Gov, La Trobe
plain, square stone house the residence and Offices
ot the Surveyor Gen., the Office OF public works. the
treasury, the stockades where criminals couiined
that work on the roads, &c. After crossing the hill,
road led downward over beautiful slope, at be
foot Of which lay small plaD, surrounded by gentle
accents, whose sides aud crests covered with trees
of green and thick FOLIAGE presented beautfl pi;
ture; while the sofs aud yerd mt green swaId under
foot made this part OF the journey TO ae ssarers
pleasant and delightful, THREE miles from alel
bourne we arrived at Flenington, across rude
wooden bridge, which, as far as water Sas ,ncern
ed at the time, altogether unnecessary notaicg
but ra,k of slime and Iaud indicating that water
ever flowed beKtath. This dried up gully marks
the boundary line between Melbourne aud the ada
cent country white square Stone about three feet
In height the Melbourne side OF the bridge further
denotes the line ofdemarcaton. On the eftol tue hily
and only street hes the race course which on the
MORO and the two succeeding days would be crowd
ed by the Lovers of this sport, and be the scene OF
many wild aud drunken feast, where the suddenly
acquired wealth OF the reckless digger will be fched
from him by the cunning sharper, and melt before
the maddening influence OF Intoxicating d inks:
where many an indefatigable toiler after gold will
loose in few hours that which lie had labored for
for many toilsome mouths, under the burning sun
and along the mountain rarges OF the interior, and
for which be will egain he forced to recommence the
arduous and uncertain life of miner, far from the
scenes and influences OF home AMI kindred We
walked couple ofmiles over bare elevated plain at
Che limit of which the country again became wooded
and tie thick foliage Of the tees protected from
the heat of the sun. The thunder storm, which hal
ceased before leaving Melbourne, again broke forth
aud peal after peal followed quickly their echoes re-
verberating through wooded glen and gully and
the forrest hil!tops. We forced to scatter
eeves, each making for some particular tree, under
whose branches we would be sheltered from the
rain which began to fall in large drops TIE show.
or lasted but moment or two, and the setting
sun once more pro ruled his parting beams
through the trees OF tbs plain, whose shadows cast
along the ground were Ia beautiful contrast vita
the sparkling dewy glass. A little farther on those
OF the party in advance OF the dray which Carried our
''swagn (bundles), came to well foot.trodden, open
glade called Mooney Ponds. The improved appear
ance Of this place my return struck very much
noticed going up but one place OF entertainment,
kept by Sarah Dunbar, ard few co.ssgec' tenss;
when saw it again IL had the appearance of bus
fling thriving little village. At the northern ex-
tremity Of it there is at present. (on my return,
very fine brick house in course Of erection intended
l should think for hotel, and which will outtvAl
its opposite neieobor the Lincolnshire Arms. The
site OF Mooney Ponds il as beautiful ooe as can
well be imagined There is here alarge blacksmiths,
cartwnghts, and general repairing ani fitting esab
lfhment for the vast teams Of and horses with
drays, which continually travel along the road TO
and from Mount Alexander Forest Creek, and the
Bendigo DiggiDgs. After q few minutes rest we
again started TO perform our ten mies-the distance
from Melbourne to our destined encampment-but
long before we reached IT, night with her sable man
Gle had covered the earth and all the objects Of the