GLEANINGS FROM THE BLUE BOOKS.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 704, 12 January 1853, Page 3

GLEANINGS FROM THE BLUE BOOKS.

(P.-om th'! " Spectator.") Papers relating to the Discoverv of Gold in Australia. Presented by Command, lilh June, 1852. The subjects of these Papers may he classified Ihus —1. Geological and topographical information as to the gold formation ; 2. Regulations and licensing system; 5. Gold and general statistics; 4 Political incidents; fi. Monetary qucssions, coinage and mint. Our space will not allow us more than a brief outline of the principal topics. The opening paper as a report from Mr. Slutchbury, of New South Wales, containing a scientific account of the gold forma!ion ; and its results are confirmed by observations in Victoria. The precious metal in its normal slate lies embedded in veins of quart?:, which at intervals have been thrust upwards by convulsions of nature through superincumbent strata, and present surfaces in mountain-ranges, at different levels, more or less extensive, undergoing a continual process of disintegration from natural causes. Alluvial flats and beds of mountain-streams are saturated with the precious washings ; the whole spreading for distances at present ascertained to be a hundred miles and upwards—in fact without practical limit. The details of the licensing regulations are official and dry, but important. The whole scries issued since the discovery, both in New South Wales and Victoria, arc supplied ; enabling us to mark the changes made from time to time to meet new experiences. The report of a debate in the Sydney Legislature gives an insight into the u grievances"' of the system—the complaints of disappointed diggers of exorbitant dues—of being obliged to travel great distances to pay them—of armed police, and of smashing of cradles, —indications of a somewhat despotic slate of law. Here and then 1 are (ouches which show the actual life at the diggings, as graphically as the most studied description. The single diggers, each with his fifteen or twenty feet of frontage and no more, by the side of the moun-tain-stream, is a picture of She crow,-! of workers, and at the same lime of ths preciousness of (he soil. We have a tableau vivanlot Mr. Commissioner, silling in his lent or temporary hut, with an armed policeman at the door, gathering his monthly dues—of Mr. Assistant-Commissioner with his iron safe and body guard of troopers—of diggers delivering their earnings to the Government escort, tied up in leather bags, properly weighed and labelled. The scene is in general orderly, for they are prospering, and therefore contented—they are amassing property, and therefore zealous asserlers of law : but it is mixed with darker features—gambling, drinking, obscene and profane language; against which it is necessary, as the Blue Book shows, to make special enactments. A single clergyman of each denomination goes amongst them, preaching contempt of riches, and asserting the cause, of God against Mammon-with what success?

The wonderful tricks of fortune—the sudden and surprising gains—are accredited by official authority. Governor Latrobe testifies to a single working producing in one day fen pounds weight, worth upwards of 400/. Sir William Denison writes from Van Piemen's Land, of ; those who have come hack from Mount A lexander, after an absence of not more than eight weeks, with gold worth from 120/. to 1000/. But these tales are now matter of common gossip. The social effect is what might he imagined. The towns of Melbourne and Geelong are emptied. Labourers, mechanics, tradesmen, clerks, officials, are all off to (he diggings—- " their employers are left in the lurch"—" their wives and families deserted"—" houses to let" '" schools closed." "Women, for self-pro-tection, forget neighbours' jars and group together to keep house."' Ships lie in the harbour without crews ; masters and men have made common cause., and are off, " going shares." Suddenly, the tide of population rolling towards the gold-field is diverted into a new channel. News comes to the 6000 workers at Bailaratof the richer discoveries at Mount Alexander. In a month, the 6000 are reduced to 1000, "steady workers." The new field receives a deluge of 12,000 and upwards in a single month. It is a purely nomadic state of life. Government is paralysed It has suddenly lost the command of its whole physique. Gaols are deserted by their turnkey.—the constabulary disappears—inhabitants of towns are compelled to turn night-patrols. Amongst the different governments affected in this strange way, that of New South Walc g

has the least appearance of embarrasment. Tills, doubtless, is attributable to the more sparing quantify in which the templing bait is spread in (hat colony. The profits cf gold-digging there do not seem to boar so excessive a disproportion to those of ordinary labour, taking into account the laboriousness and uncertainly. Victoria is the great scene of disorder. Governor Lalrobe is al his wits-end —he is bewildered, and no wonder: he writes entreatingly for military from home—f:;r Pensioners from Van Diemen's Land, and is grateful to (he disinterestedness of New South Wales for sparing him thirty men. In the mean time, he sits like a discovered miser amongst his money-bags, in a stale of terror; be is afraid of buccaneers, and conjures up the image of Melbourne laid under contribution by pirates. Sir J?enry Young in South Australia, and Sir William Denison in Van Diemen's Land, present pictures of distress of a different kind. The population of these colonies is flocking away, for there is no gold to tempt them to remain. To meet the crisis, Sir Henry Young strains his energies to discover gold; be offers a reward of 1000/. to (he first finder of a field which shall yield 10,000/. in two months; might he not more wisely have doubled (he reward to any one who should extinguish and utterly efface all chance of such a discovery,— as if the ratio of derangement to the labourmarket from such a cause must not be in proportion to its proximity? Nevertheless, he thinks it good to keep Ids population within (heir own proper colonial limits, upon any terms. So he desires gold. Amongst his expedients for keeping his people, is a noticeable fact, offering an instructive commentary on Lord Grey's pet principle of the auction system; Sir Henry Young has discovered that auction competition fends (o deprive (he discoverer of mineral wealth of his proper reward ; so he offers him a settled term at a fixed rent. A principle most (rue and rigid, though why limit it to mineral lands? Sir William Denison, in Van Diemen's Land, differs from his fellow Governor in bis longings for a gold-field; "Deus averial!" is die tendency of Sir William's mind—and rightly too; "Whatever Ihe effect upon (he merchants' profits, upon the agriculturist and shcepowner it will be ruinous." He begs for more convict labour, and puts in his claim for the whole Parliamentary grant for Australian emigration. He is fearful of famine, and seeks to enlist sympathy by pointing (o the neighbouring colonies of (he Cape and the Mauritius as dependant on his own for supplies. How he will settle that convict question with his Legislative Council and AntiConvict League, we leave !o himself. But beneath these, which may be regarded as the superficialities of (he case, important (hough patent, lie other subjects of deepest interest, and requiring gravest (houghl. Here are the conflicting interests of (hese different colonies, all suffering alike though in different ways ; South Australian and Van Diemen's Land complaining of exhaustion of withdrawal of labour and capital—of improvements checked—of a future suddenly clouded over; whilst Victoria groans under excess oj' wealth, and seems almost dying of surfeit and congestion. There seems an equity in the case of the unauriferous colonies against (heir seemingly fortunate rival. She is draining away their li c-blood; they are supplying her with labourers (o dig (he gold wherewith she is accumulating revenue, which is again to be turned to fresh account in emigration for her benefit! May there not be .some claim fo redress here? and may it not be that blunders have been committed for which Ihe Imperial Government must be responsible? First, (he omission of Power in the late Constitution Act to enable (hese separate governments, bound together by certain ties of common interest, to confederate for (lie adjustment of such questions; and secondly, (ha hasty concession of (he goldrevenue to each colony for itself, instead of placing it under their joint control.

Again, here is the immigration return for Port Phillip. Between the Ist of July and the 51st of December 1851, there immigrated 10,900 persons; of whom M 77 were children, 1878 adult females, 78i;> adult males (for the most pari, doubtless, young, strong, working men); and so the proportions continue. Listen to what the Emigration Commissioners say u We conceive il lo be almost impracticable to set on foot any large purely female emigration from England which shall be of a wholly satisfactory character."' Are we to continue feeding (he gold-producing colonies with the sexes in these proportions; and what will be the end thereof? A word upon (he queslion of money or coin. Sir John Herschc) computes the possible supply of gold from Australia as equal to thai of California; the latter being at the rate of (en millions per annum—five limes as much, he says, as Ihe average gold produce of the whole world before the late discoveries. In the book before us, we have dislinciiy presented (he (pies-

lion of Colonial Mint and Coinage, and Sir John Herschcl gives an estimate of the cost of an establishment capable of coining (en millions of pieces per annum. Think of thai, Lombard Sheet! imagine an inexhaustible Bank of England at Ihe Antipodes, and make your calculations accordingly. For in (ruth that queslion is actually upon us ; and it is one which we shall not be able (o decide for ourselves —the colonists will settle it as (hey think fit. Such small reasons as Lord Grey suggests about the greater expense of Colonial coinage—the higher rale of wages of skilled labour (here, and (he nondemand of sovereigns for the Asiatic tradewill not avail much in the settlemenl of (his question, It would be well lo turn public attention lo what may be an impending revolution of our monetary system. Shall we endeavour (f> compel the Colonies to send us home (heir raw uncoined gold in return for our sovereigns and merchandize? shall we allow (hem to take (as they will do if they find it convenient) liberty to assay, stamp, and formerly accredit a gold issue, (which is coining,) and so send it into circulation without check? or arc (here any intermediate devices which may better both our cn( ] s —-is, for instance, a coinage of ingots of large, value, say HOI. ?