CALIFORNIA. (From the (Sydney) People's Advocate.)

New Zealander, Volume 5, Issue 372, 7 November 1849, Page 3

CALIFORNIA. (From the (Sydney) People's Advocate.)

The following letter has been addressed to in by Mr. Henry Wright, who has returned to Sydney in the Deborah, and at it contains a variety of information, not mentioned in the papers with which we lure been favoured, we feel pleasure in laying it before our readers :—

To the Editor of the People* t Advocate. Sir,— Many parlies having applied to me for information relative to California since my return from that country, I will, with your permisnion, 11 the retdiest means of affording the required information, avail myself of jour columns to coinmun : c<ite a few facts wh eh have come under my own observation. Parties going to the mines are somewhat; in the position of those who took out ticket* in the lottery of the Bank Propertie-, tome few are fortunate enough to make a great thai, bat on the other hand the far greater number will make very little — some not making at much as will keep themselves. I myse'f have seen one man take out 11 ounces of gold in one day ; while the parties in the next hole, not more than two fe<>t from him, were not taking out more than a couple of dollars ; and the following day, the same man, though he turned over twice as much earth, did not take more than five dollars. In fact, it all depends upon luck. At the dry diggings a man must dig from five to fourteen feet deep utttil h« comes to the slate, and the earth underneath thar, which is washed for gold. The months for digging at the dry diggings are from April to about the miild eof June ; at the expiration of »< hi< h time the wdld s ure tlr.ed up so that washing cannot be curried on. Ihe seasons at the North and Middle Forks (wet digging 1 -) commence •with the month of August, and continue until the rainy season, which commences about the middle ot December; when the rivers, which were before preity low, begin to rite, and this preveuts the digging. From what I huve seen of the mines, I am rery strongly of opinion that a great many of tl.e new hsnos at the mines will be very much disappointed in their expectations at the Forks, inasmuch as the gold that was found there had most likely been accumulating for centuries ; and the holes which were opened last ye*r will have the same appearance as they had before the) were opened, in consequence of the current of the river bavins filled them up again with earth. The price of goods at the mines is very high, owing to the exorbitant charge for land cai riage, which is 20 dols. per 100 lbs. for a distance of fifty-five miles ; the land carriage alone on a barrel of pork is 60 dollars, or jfc J l2. The fol'owing were the prices when I left the wines, 250 miles from San Francisco :—Fre&h beef, 50 cents or 2*. per lb. ; salt pork, 75 cints to 1 dollar, or 3s. to 4s. per lb. ; biscuits, 50 to 75 ceuts, or 2s. to 3s. per lb. ; tea, 5 dollars, or 20s per lb. ; tobacco. I 5 dollars, or ss. per lb. ; pickles, 310 4 dollars, or 12s. the pint bottle; ale and porter, 4 to 6 dollars, or 16s. to 245. per bottle; sardines, 4 dollars, or 16s. the small box ; salmon, 75 cents, or 3s. a lb. ; matches, 12} to 37£ cents, or 6d. to Is. 6d. per box ; potatoes, 75 cents to 1 dollar, or 3s. to 4s. per lb. ; wines and spirits, 50 cents, or 2«. per glass ; salt, 4 dollars, or 16s. the box of about 5 lbs ; pipes, 25cents. or Is. each. At San Francisco, mechanics are getting from 10 to 12 dollars * day, and labourers from 5 to 6 dollars ; in the interior of the country wages are much nigher. There is a great disparity betweeit the whole* isle and retail price of goods : lor instance, a lot of goods of the value of £5 wholesale, will, when retailed, return £25 ; this is owing to the hi^h rents of houses, &c. ; a house with only one room of not more than twelve feet by fifteen, lets for 60 dollars a month. It was expected that a great disturbance would have taken place in consequence of tu< United States not agreeing with the e'ected members, but this was happily avoided, ill the members having resigned ; ft fresh election was to take place, when those elected were to retain office until the beginning of 1850. There ii at preieut neither law nor protection for life and property ; each one must be his own protector. There have been, comparatively speaking, but few murders, but many robberies ; these were chiefly effected by oue band of Americans, though the Chileans were charged. The perpetrators had been discovered, and were being tried when I left ; it wan thought, if convicted, they would be hanged. The c was one soa.li from Sydney taken up, but he was acquitted and discharged. There are between seventy and eighty vessels of all tizei lying in the harbour of Snn Francisco, not able to leave the port for want of hands. As much as 1000 to 1200 dollars has been offered and refused for the run to New York or Boston; and 150 dollars have been given to seamen for the run to the Sandwich Islands, fourteen days. Goods of all descriptions are lying on the beacb, rhere being no places 111 which to store them. In San Francisco, provisions and clothing are as cheap as in Sydney, and in some instances, cheaper. Beef had bren sold at 5 dollars per cask. Meetings had been held and placards stuck up at the various parts of the mines, for the expulsion of all foreigners — particularly Mexicans, Chileans, and Peruvians— from the mines. I have now given 1 few facts, as they have occurred to me, and beg leave to remain, Sir, yours, &c, Hknry Wright. Sydney, October 5, 1819.