GOLD IN THE ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC. [From the "Alta California," Aug. 18 ]

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 587, 29 November 1851, Page 4

GOLD IN THE ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC. [From the "Alta California," Aug. 18 ]

The last news from Sydney has confirmed tbercpoits heretofore received of thediscoveiv of very considemble elepnsite-. of srold in lh«« ishml of New Holl md. upon its .southeastern side. The 1« IV •■* "nd newspapers fioin the spot, und neor it, are qnne "K'umg in llien account of the qu mtity found, and yon .j. j <c so eMiavagant as to nsseii tli.at the pl.iceis are iuii«?r than those of California. But, putting aside all p\.ig«Piation, there is no doubt, we apprehend, of the existence of gold in unusual quantity in New Snutli Wales. It has been predictid, for many jpirs. that the Pacific was soon to become the theatie of the eieat events in the world's history ; und to the verification of that prediction things me fast tending. All men in the least conversant with the subject, Know that the continents bourded by the Pacific, and the islands which so thic'uly stud its bosom, are infinitely superior toother portions of the world, in all the natuial requisties which render countries lit spots for the residence of man. They only need the energy, industry and intelligence of civilization and freedom to develope the valuable resources winch they possess, to maintain in thrift, independence, nnd that high stale of refinement which follows, the largest and bebt population upon the globe. For tbroe centuries and a half the world has been engaged in the solution of this problem, 'i he adventurous, imaginative and sanguine b.ive seen these facts 111 plain hybt long since, but the sluggish spirit of European and Asiatic civilization has been slow to perceive the greatness to be \m ought, the happiness to be confprred, and the good to be accomplished, by the appro pri.ilion by a new race of mankind of these immense J natural le-onros. \\ b. n the discovery of Columbus woke the slumbering energies of an eneivated continent to new life, Europu poured hei flood of seekers for f line and fortune upon the shoiea of the New Woild, in one vast, continuous cm rent. Wheiever that to i rent bwept, it corned dibohtion beneath the folds ol irsglit lering banners. It noeompl'shed its destiny, pirhaps; but it left a wide u^ie of destiuttion and darkness m its tiack, which three cci. nines- of exertion has hardly >et obliteiatrd. Since that time, the ptogresMon of humanilv baa bpen slow, but sine, steadily nnd c minenrlv productive of beneficial lesults. The New World has gradually usen to that power w hich population nnd intelligence secure, and has become the j means of arou-ing the Old Woild from its lethatgic state. And now, day by d.iy, the conviction is breaking in upon the fountain* of enliphteument, mdiistiy and learning, that the New World is of the greatest importance to the Old. Slow has been the advance of Europe and Asia, that of America has been conimensurately rapid. — The sentiment that "Westward the star of empiie takes Us way, 1 ' ha-> not been legarded as merely a vivid and beautiful imagination of the poet, but it has been acted on as a belief and lule of duty. A line of lepubhis from the north pole to Cape Horn, upon both sides ot the hemisphere, evince this fact without fuither lllustiation. Yet sc 'ncaiim? wanting was to add renewed eneigy to tbe advancing tide of humanity ami tiuth. Swift as hud been the progress of the New World — mighty as she had become — there was still something n anting— > tbe tide bad not reached its flood ! And what was that want ? What was the new light which was to break upon tbe world, to give a new direction and velocity to the tide of human progress? Certainly, tbeie is but one answer. The discovery of gold in California ! In whatever form the matter may be viewed, the mmd will be foiced ultimately to this conclusion. Revolve it as we may, no one can have failed to perceive the impetus given to the prolific ener n< •, of mankind throughout the globe, by the cause suggested. But, on the heels of thi& great di^coveiy in the IVoith Pacific, we have reliable accounts of a •similar dihcoveiy in the South Pacific. Even admitting that in all the great essentials the two occuircnces aie not equal in point of value, yet we cannot but behove I hat the fact is significant, impressive and prophetic. Jt seems as if weic to be seen m all this, the workings of an Kiseiutable will, bx which this valuable portion of the globe is rapid iy to be made the pleasant nnd bappj' uhode of nuiubns of intelligent freemen. We think we see in U>eee> tcfius the «auses which are to •work out to the astonishment of \be otbe-r portions of tbe globe, the most wonderful problems in the migration and progitss of mankind. Nor is this all — new social truths aie to be ehctied — commerce will be established upon a new basis and directed in new channels — and the science of government will bo improved by this really great "extension of the aiea of freedom.'' The Pacific will thus speedily and surely become tbe great tbeatie of the world's udranco — 1!"< yreat lever which moves the globe!