THE CHARTERS TOWERS RUSH.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1313, 14 October 1872, Page 2

THE CHARTERS TOWERS RUSH.

There seems reason to believe that the earlier accounts which were circulated respecting the Charters Towers diggings were fabricated for the purpose of deception. We have before us a copy of the Bavemwood Miner of the 7th ult., whtih contains the following : — "The IW Deniston limes publishes the following telegram from its ' correspondent ' : • Townsville, August 30— The rush to the alluvial at Plant's Town, Charters Towers, continues. ' Great excitement prevails. The sinking is now 40ft deep. One thousand men are now on payable gold. ' Disputes continue, notwithstanding the fatal affray in which one man was killed. The machines are in full work, and the crushings average from 3oz to lOoz to the ton. Wagesmen are not obtainable.' We all know here that the above is false from brginning to end. The alluvial is not at Plant's Town, the sinking was not 40ft when the telegram was sent, 1000 men were not on payable gold, any disputes that may have occurred: did not furnish warrant for the telegram, the .crashing! do not average from Boz to lOo*, and. wagesmen were always obtainable. v The effect of the above telegram would be to bring here a rush of unfortunate men in the hopes of obtaining a high rate of wages, who will come to be disappointed. We have always said that ; the difficulty in finding wagesmen if oiild be only temporary, and our predictions have been verified. The alluvial lead at the Tower* has spread so muob/ and the gold become so scattered that it is not payable for a greater distance than about a mile and a-half. The wash is still there, but the gold is not. As long as the lead remains narrow it is good j as it spreads, it becomes poorer ; and we regret very much that the Times should have given publicity to such faFsehoods. If a large rush ensues on the faith of that telegram much suffering will be the result, for which the sender of the telegram will be morally responsible.'* With reference to the diggings, the Talbot Leader publishes the following telegram from Mr Wigley, who is well known at Talbot :-^"Tawn*« ville, 29th September. Stop everyone from coming j hundreds leaving, Dig, gings turned out failure." Referring to the recent unfavorable news from Charters Towers, the Sydney Empire of the 24th ult. says: -"The following telegram was received here yesterday afternoon by the A. S.N. Company from their agents at Townsville :-r- c Large numbers of men are returning here from the diggings without money. They. wanA passage south. The police force are unable to maintain order. The men threaten to burn down the stores and to rush the steamers.' Immediately upon receipt of the above telegram, the manager of the company posted it on the same board upon which was announced the departure that evening of the Governor Blackall, which steamer had been specially chartered to convey passengers to Townsville, The telegram was, however, r un.hee.ded, and 116 passengers, most of whom come from Melbourne, left for Townsville by the Governor Blackall, although they had been offered by the manager of the company free passages back to Melbourne if they chose to return there." The telegram received by the Chief Secretary of Victoria, from Queensland as to, the Charters Towers rush was read in the. Legislative Assembly on Tu.es.day. It rung thus :—" In reply to yoqr telegram of September 36, the following telegram has just been received from the police at Townsville, Charters Towers rush: — f Townsville, 27th September.— -About 200 miners here dissatisfied. AH seem very quiet. No sign of disturbance. Very few require relief. Police Magistrate issued 45 rations on the 25, th instant, and 22 on the 26th instant"." 1 This, no doubt,, shows things not to be so bad as supposed, but the following telegram, received by a gentleman who is, hot a member of . the Government, and dated the 28th September, or one day later, discloses a worse condition of affairs :— "Diggings a failure. Townsville full of diggers re« turning. Wonga and Blackbird taking 600 back this morning, Government dealing out ration* fa keep them quiet. Hundreds of diggers mucked out, starving. The cry is still they come. 1 " With regard to disappointed miners, the A. S N. Company has announced that it will bring diggers back at greatly reduced fares.