GILBERTON ABONDONED TO THE BLACKS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 295, 24 October 1874, Page 3

GILBERTON ABONDONED TO THE BLACKS.

Tt remained, says the correspondent of the" 0 li. Express', for Gilherton to furnish the spectacle—never before witnessed (.hi any other g..ld'fieU in Australia or ''alifornia, or any'"other part of the, would., and only possible in North Queensland —' of a wl! built township, surrounded by magnificent gardens, producing fruit and' vegetables in abundance, from the pineapple and banana to the humble but useful sweet potato and pumpkin ; a town with a stalely court house,, a i\ce t!y completed Commissioner's residence, with luxurious bath-rooms and all the other et ceteras—police-barracks and lock-up—:i number of «nmmodious hotels and store's one of the finest a>sembly ronnis-in the North - a post-office and numerous private dwellings—together with an immense quantity of store goVts. furniture, and other property ;-f all this.and much more being abandone 1 in' favor of the blacks,, whose murderous hostility and great numbers render the pi tee no longer tenable wi'h anything safety,".and against .whom the Government w .old a!T r 1 the scattered inhabitants, of the district—numbering 140 Europeans, and Chinese within a radius of eighteen miles—no protection ; .the police; with ■ the" exception' of one man with a dis.. I led car--liine and no ammunition; haying, been' withdrawn some months previous "t.» the recent murders

But this is not all "Eighteen- miles from Gilheiton is. the reefing district .if Mount Hi'jran with its 'capital " Berlin"; and when this fall of Gilberum—formerly regarded as a fortress of the. first-class-was made known, the determination'; hecame general there, ton, to bundle off to any place where there was safety with all p>?sihle speed. The. property left at Mount Hog n tor the blacks to amuse themselves when it suits them, consists principally f »f a 15 stamper crushing machine with allits costly appurte anees ; a large galvanised iron store and public h-mse, i'i which remains a quantify of stores and other, got'ds. and several - other goo is,'and several other dwelling, etc At the - present . moment (iilbenon is garpsoned by one. man (Mr ltamsav), who keeps ward and watch over certain property., there day" and night, with his piece constantly ready and Berlin is also defended by one man (Mr. William Stevens), who. when the leiist mailman passed through,--might he seen with a musket in each hand and pistols.,in his girdle, a la Ijubinson Crusoe .keeping vigilant guard at his post, wi'h three batteries (df five stampers each) at.his lack. Mr. Kamsay has determined t<> brave the peril from his having'several acres of maize in crop in the neighborhood, which he intends t.vreap the benefit J of " willy 'nilly,; v - the ■ determination of ' the Mount Hogan hero is based on the impossibilty of reaching the Calmer until the wet season, on -a possession of a good selection of-1 ooks. £l>eing of a, lhentry turn), a quarter-cask of sherry, tobacco ail libitum, 'and provisions , enough to stand a prolonged siege . ■ "• . i Nor do the above include all_ that has been abandoned through the fault of the Government in withdrawing and subsequently refusing the protection o! a tew black police, who alone are of service in dealing- with the blacks. .■..-For-, months past the ('hinei-e have, been busy stacking wash dirt at the .Six-inile and other out-" side places in anticipation of the wet season, and bad thousand, of loads ready. when the water came All this, and nearly all their to >ls and mining av>pliai'.ces. their gardens, their-.lothing, and everything have been sacrificed. Terri fied as-they-were by the knowledge that they were surrounded by c untless armed -"and painted black's, who only about a fortnight before had-murd. red and desperately wcunded and'robbed their country-m.-n, ihey hurriedly packed up a few trifles and started in a body to Western Creek, the Ktheridge. and the P'elaiiey. • The post office business is still carried on at Mount Hogan. and there aie thiiteen people principally reefers, scattered about that part of the district, who have about 200 tons raised.- -If the bhtcks keep from the machine for about a month or two,-possibly- the. stampers may. again be luard at the v Mount. but should they take possession there is little probability of reefers being able to make terms with them for crushing !... ;.