CALIFORNIA. [From the People's Advocate.}

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 526, 17 August 1850, Page 4

CALI FORNIA. [From the People's Advocate.}

We have seen some parties who have returned from California hy the Eleanor Lancaster yesterday. Considerable progress was making in improving the streets of San Francisco, which had during winter become quite impassable. Sickness, principally from dysentery and ague, prevailed amongst the inhabitants who were ill protected from the weather. A law had been passed by which ] all foreigners at the mines were subject to a tax of twenty dollars each per month. Very few of the Sydney emigrants had accumulated property at the port. Messrs. Crockston and Ward, formerly of this city, who were keeping a board and lodging house, had erected large premises for their business, and for which they refused an offer made to them of £4,000. • Immense supplies of sawn timber were pouring iv from the Oregon territory to the northward, and fully equal to the demand, while American and Norwegian houses in frame were being offered for sale in laige quantities, so that that description of lumber was to be hud at reduced rates. Australian hard-wood was disliked, and framed work imported was purchased only when sold at a sacrifice. Frames which in Sydney cost Mr. M'Curtayne £300, only realised in San'

Francisco about £60, and Mr. MC, after disposing of it, left for the mines. Nothing is to be had without ready money or hard work. Mr. Richard Crampton had undertaken to discharge coals from a vessel, but could not stand the fatigue, and had to drop the job just as the Eleanor Lancaster was coming away. Numerous Chinese had arrived, and taken their departure for the mines. Her Majesty's steam sloop Driver was the only British man-of-war in the harbour. One vessel started for Panama about the middle of April with 500,000 dollars worth of gold dust, and several with smaller quantities on board for Europe and the States. Several steam saw mills were at work in the Red Forest, and American enterprise was fast forming the new settlement into a thriving State. Wages seemed to be still very high, and gold digging as successful as formerly. The Eleanor Lancaster left on the 22nd of April, and at that time there were not many vessels detained in harbour. We have received papers to the 22nd of April, through the kindness of Mr. P. Whelan, from which we make the following extracts : —

Fifty Pound Lump of Gold.— A mass of gold, weighing fifty pounds, has been found near the Mariposa. The proportion of quartz is but small. Mr. Belt informs us that he saw the lump, and held it in his hand, and states that it was found near the surface of the ground ; 5,000 dollars were offered on the spot for it. — Alta California, April 10.

Jamestown. — Six Months at the Mines. — An intelligent gentleman at this place writes as follows :—"lt: — "It was about the middle of last August that several fellow travellers and myself arrived at the mines. We selected Jamestown as the place to make our first trial at digging. Like most others, we dug a hole here, and a hole there, and a third somewhere else, spending most of our time in opening new holes. This is not the proper way to work in order to find gold, and the lesson we learnt was by hard experience. One after another of my acquaintances became discouraged and left, the most of them going over to the Mormon Creek. I soon followed, supposing like the rest that Wood's Creek, on which Jamestown is situated, had been all dug up. Some were quite successful on the Mormon Creek, and took out from 1,000 to 3,000 dollars in about six weeks. As for myself, foitune seemed to frown, and on the Ist of November I had acquired only about 400 dollars over and above expenses. Circumstances then led me to change my business, and to return to Jamestown. You can judge of my surprise on finding that a steady Irishman had been digging in the main creek during my absence, and had taken out nearly 1,000 dollars from the very ground which we thought had been thoroughly dug. His plan was to open a hole, and to keep working from that in a given direction until he struck on the gold. During this last winter, also, I have watched several parties of men at work here, and by digging in the banks, where last summer we did not dream of finding gold, they have averaged from half an ounce to an ounce per day throughout the whole winter. All who have kept steadily at work have been well paid, while those who have wandered about in search of better diggings have been disappointed, and some of them have returned here to begin anew on the old ground. There are acres of ground in this vicinity which have never been dug, and no doubt they will reward the labourer, as well as the portions which have been already worked. Wood's Creek is far from being exhausted — indeed I regard the mining here as being just begun. Jamestown is destined to become a large and thriving town. It is favourably located for business, and is particularly eligible for winter quarters. Next winter the camp will be larger than ever before, and more gold will be dug. Set this down,- if you like, as a prophecy, but note the fulfilment in the proper season. lam so well satisfied of its truth, that I am making arrangements to bring my family from the States, and to locate here as a settler."