THE GOLD COUNTRY. (From the Sydney People's Advocate, Oct. 6 )

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

THE GOLD COUNTRY. (From the Sydney People's Advocate, Oct. 6 )

By the arrival of the Deborah from San Francisco and the Sandwich Islands, intelligence hai been received from California to the 20th of July ; but by the kindness of Mr. Henry Wright, one of the passengers, we hare been placed in possession of papers to the 2f>tb of that month— Mr. Wright having remained at San Francisco a week after the Deborah sailed. We have given all the ex.ractable matter from these papers rela* tire to California, so that our readers will be able to judge for themselves at to the prospects of emigrants to that country. Many parlies have applied to us for advice, but we have and do decline to give any advice on the subject : we simply lay before the public the intelligence that has come to our hands, offering no comment thereon. Wages, it would appear, had fallen considerably, as may naturally be supp.sed fioin the great influx of workmen : in the early part of the year, mechanics were receiving as much as jf 4 a da> ; at the present time the range of was. es is for mechanics, such as car* penters, &c, from 10 to 12 dollars a day; labouring men from 5 to 6 dollars a day— without rations. There are at present but few houses, comparatively in San Francinco, most of tbe people living in tents.— A man by living in a tent and boarding himself, may lire for about from 75 cents to a dollar a day ; board and lodging about 2 dollars a day. The nights are cold, with heavy dewi. Parties taking down wooden houses, may rent land to put them up on. The price ot land for buttling purposes has risen very much— small allotments in San Francisco fetching from 2,000 to 10,000 dollars each, according to situation; and in Sacramento, hnJ, which some months ago was purchased for 20 dollars an allotment, was shortly atter sold for 2,000 dollars each. Shoeingsmiths in the neighbourhood of the mines were usually paid nn ounce of gold or £d 10s. per shoe, but horses are seldom shod on more than the two fore- feet; horses are not numerous. The state of religion and morals are described a< being at a vtry low ebb. In San Francisco there are two Catholic clergymen (one a Canadian), but the church is in a dilapidated state, and a small room is made Ute of as a temporary chapel, but it appears to be quite large enough for the congregation, which seldom consuls of more than three or four persons besides the priests. The Protestant congregations are much the same : a Bishop has been appointed, but at the time the Deborah left he had hot arrived. There are but few feimles at San Frsnci»co, but a number of Indian s quavrs at the mines, who appear to be most filthy and disgusting beings, as bad if not woise, than the black qms of this country.— Gaming is carried on to a great extent, and liquor of all kinds is sold at a shilling a glass. During: the week ending July 26, the number of passengers who arrived at SanFiancisco was 106). Below we give the most interesting extracts.