Glasgow Courier. — 1850-09-05 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

CALIFORNIAN AFFAIRS. The Avon brings dates from San Francisco to the let of July. Emigration to California was still on the increase; hundreds were daily flocking to the diggings by way of Panama and across the plains from the Southern States of America. The rivers during the winter months being so high have prevented many adventurers from working to any advantage. At the beginning of the dry season in iday dams were commenced across the rivers to turn them completely from their course, but the dams as soon as formed were washed away. It is in the beds and on the , banks of rivers that most gold has hitherto been found.Labourers can earn at the diggings wages averaging from 8 dole. to 12 dela, per diem; so soon as they have accumulated sufficient funds to purchase the necessary implements for mining they generally desert their employers and work on their own account. The mode of appropriating land is a curious one, each person being allowed on arrival to stake off ten paces of ground till the whole river or ravine is taken up. Provisions and all the necessaries of life could be obtained at a reasonable rate. Flour was selling at. the diggings at 30e. per lb., while in January 3 dole. per lb. was the common trade. Any one now going to California (says a correspondent just returned thence) should at once proceed to the highest lands, as it is the opinion of the old miners that the gold is washed down from the mountains to the rivers and valleys. At Dew Creek, emptying into the Yuba river, gold has been found in the highest mountains to an enormous extent; after digging some 80 or 90 feet, a vein of gold was struck yielding from six to eight ounces per man per day, and with every prospect of its continuing. One man sold his claim (ten paces) for 20,000 dollars. The mountains near the Sierra Nevada also proved very rich, two men having averaged 7lbs. a-day for several days. Four Murders within Twenty-four Hours.-By a gentleman who arrived yesterday from the southern mines, we learn of several murders and other atrocities committed there, which develop a very bad state of society. On Friday 1 night last, two Americans were murdered in their tent at Jamestown, by some persons unknown. The first had his throat cut from ear to ear, besides a stab in his breast. The tent was robbed of about one thousand dollars that were known to be in possession of the murdered man. On Wednesday evening, 19th instant, a Frenchman, named Jean Ferrando, was shot by some person unknown, near the Oregon 'rent, about twelve miles above Stockton. On Saturday, on Woods' Creek, about one mile below Sonora, a Frenchman was shot in the head, and died the next day. On Saturday night last, at Columbus, in the New Diggings, a Chilian was shot by a Mr. John Brannan, in self-defence. An examination was had, and Brannan was justified in the act. A few days ago a Frenchman shot a Chilian in the streets of Sonora. A case happened, a day or two since, in the neighbourhood of Weaverville. A person demanded of a man a debt in an insulting and threatening manner; but the latter, not feeling disposed to be threatened into a measure, made no response at all. Upon this the bully deliberately pulled out a pistol and shot him dead-Pacific News, July 1.