CALIFORNIA.

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 289, 7 March 1849, Page 3

CALIFORNIA.

The run for gold which sprung up on a srilden, ana prevailed fur a little, heems to have enlneiy reused. We hti'l hnivly time to oircuUle through our wide colonial connexion our comments, on the metallic discovery in dliforntH, a« a fe.atur? of the present juncture of the affairs of* Uic world, when wo were culled upon ro announre at a renltly that which we had humbly conjectured (o he piobuble — namely, the establishment by the Unitfid States of Auieiicaof a regular government in California, anil h. rstiict appropriation of the gold ie»i>o to her own peculiar use. On what els* could any body calculate? Was it to be supposed that the shrewd and eager American would permit his newly acquired, much vaunted, and much wanted treasures to be seized by siraugeis 2 Or that the republican would in such a case imitate the tame and dilatory p ocedure of the monarchal government ? No — sharp's the word there. A great many person*, however, it would appear, mutt have entertained these euonfous notions, tor nearly a dozen vessels, we are iD formed, have been laid on for thfe gold country, and the mtmeious appltcatiom for passages promised at one time that we should undergo ft heavy drainage of emigrants, iiut bhips must taicd a iitllrf time in getting ready, and tea pounds, (the cuiionitry passage rooaey, payable every farthing in advance, without the intervention of the Emigration Buaid,) it not to be raised at a day's notice. Of the adventurers bound for El dorado, sooia had to get their money out of the Savings Bank, aud though this institution is of undoubted credit, and Mr. Miller extremely obliging at alt times, yet the regulations do not admit; payment! every day ; and another had to collect bis monies from some source lets racily avfiilnb'e. By these untoward circumstances, vexatious delays took place, deposits were not paid, and ship captains did not know what quantity of grog, prog, and ammunition to lay in. In the end came the accounts that buve dnniped any ardour that had not died out from the delay of its gratification ; the States were settling; the country, had seat a force, would impose a royalty at least, it uot altogether put a stop to the diggings aud washings. This put a check at once to the spirit ot gambling by which many appeared incited t<> prefer a lawless scramble and a dangerous intercourse with the outcasts of NewOrleans and Texas, lo honest and well temunerated iodustrf , in one of the finest countries o( the globe. Yet why should the establishment of a settled government have tltis discouraging; effect ? Is not the gold there ? Aud will not it require to be worked ? And will not the working of it be handsomely paid for? Purely— but then against the dead certainty of paying out ten pounds for a steerage passage there is nothing now to be set but the probability ot respect" able earnings. The vaguo expectation held forth before, of gaining a great, prize in the lottery, inaugre all the counter chances— the expectation, however ill* founded and indefinite, of falling at once upon a great rns.it of gold, that nobody cisc carrying a rifle or u bowie knife knew of — this giant expectation is demo, liibed. and iv its place is substituted the well proportioned, but propoitionally paltry figure " hoae»t labour." Now, if you find the tuain of virgin ore glowing like the sun in his noon-day glory, you fiud it for Jonathan— your reward it measured by dull silver dollars, or greasy shin plaster* 1 There hat also within the last few days beeu some ugly rumour*, afloat at to the strictness of the United States' Navigation La«a> and doubts hate been expressed whether goods, not the growth or manufacture of the United Kingdom, can ba landed there from British ships. On till* point, we would suggest to the United States' Consul, that he should give the public the benefit of any information he may possess,— Sydney lieiuldi February 1,