THE GOLD FIELD.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 623, 23 July 1851, Page 3

THE GOLD FIELD.

[From the Bathurst Free Press, June 18.] The following particulars with respect to the land of Ophir have been communicated to us by a gentleman of undoubted veracity, and whose opportunities of acquiring information are indisputable. Of the number now employed at the Ophir diggings he is of opinion that about 800 are earning £1 a J a y a few more, and many much less. The great cause of failure amongst the latter is the unsuitableness both of the men and their implements for the occasion, and he represents the work as both laborious and filthy. The number of licenses issued up to the end of last week was about 600, so that the laugh in which our contemporary, Bell's Life in Sydney, indulged in its last issue, at the expense of the Herald, was a little premature. Indeed, upon this point, most of the Sydney papers are at fault, nearly all of them having done the business for Messrs. Hardy and Green, several days ago, to the tune of 1000 to 1200. It is not expected that the number of licenses taken by the end of the month will bear more than a small proportion to the population at the diggings. Very many who go there dig only for a day or two, and then disappear. Only a very few cases have occurred in which parties have really refused to pay their license fees. In such cases the delinquents have been punished by having their cradles smashed, and being driven from the ground. The method more frequently adopted to evade payment is by dodging from one place to another whenever the commissioners make their appearance. * * As a general rule, however, there has been no necessity to resort to extreme measures. Where the men were doing well they did not object io pay the license : and those who were unsuccessful, having little inducement to remain, preferred leaving the mines to paying for a license. * * There has only been one case of assault from the commencement to the present time, and not more than two drunkards have been seen on the ground. One man only has been put in handcuffs, who had been caught poaching in another man’s preserves, and when desired to desist he answered in a very bellicose strain. He was immediately seized and secured, and was finally glad to escape from his confinement on condition of leaving the ground. Taken as a whole, the diggers have conducted themselves in a peaceable and orderly manner, and are deserving of great credit. Our informant tells us that to say they are merelv peaceable and well-conducted would convey but a faint idea of the state of things at Ophir. A spirit of kindness and good humour generally prevails, and the scenes often presented, when the day’s labours are closed, would lead a stranger to believe that some 2000 to 3000 men had assembled together to celebrate a jubilee. The rain of last week raised the Summerhill Creek about two feet, but with the exception of washing a few cradles a short distance downwards, there was little or no injury done. A gentleman informs us, however, that the creek is subject to heavy floods, which, in consequence of the banks being in most places narrow and precipitous, rise sometimes to be perpendicular height of from 30 to 40 feet. In one place he observed flood-marks nearly forty feet above the bed of the creek. During the prevalence of heavy

rains the industrial operations of Ophir would, therefore, be either.seriously impeded, or entirely stopped. Several pieces of from lib. to 21bs. have been dug up since our last. A beautiful specimen of about 21bs. was got by Mr. Gideon Lang’s party in the latter part of last week; but generally speaking, from all we can learn, the steady, persevering, and industrious portion of the miners are doing a pretty regular business, making from 10s. to £1 and upwards a day. When the earnings are less than 10s., the gold-digger is no better off than the tradesmen or mechanic. The discoveries of gold deposits in the Turon, which are said to be very rich, are at present the current topics of conversation in Bathurst. The Ophir diggings are by no means exhausted, but everything connected with them has lost its novelty. * * * ♦ As regards the Turon, we shall briefly state what we know of the matter. It was generally rumoured, some ten or a dozen days ago, that Messrs. Stutchbury and Piper had started from the diggings for the Turon, and that they had discovered very rich ground. The attention of many parties was in consequence

attracted to that quarter. Rumours were rife on all sides that numbers were at work there and doing a profitable business. One party of several men who had been very unfortunate at Ophir, were known to have left a very productive spot, with the intention of exploring the creeks and gullies of the Turon, and as they did not return, the circumstance was regarded as presumptive proof that they were doing what is termed “a good stroke.” Mr. Richards’ overseer, Mr. Bedford, who had been prospecting above the Turon Ranges, succeeded in discovering gold in many places. Mr. Murnane, who has charge of Mr. Suttor’s sheep establishment, was equally successful in another quarter, and wrote his employer the particulars of his explorations, and at the same time suggested the propriety of returning a flock of fat wethers to the station which was intended for the market, as he felt convinced that when the discovery of gold existing in such plenty became publicly known, the mutton would be required to supply the gold-diggers at the Turon. The next circumstance which came prominently before the public was the arrival in town of an ounce of the precious metal about the latter part of last week, the produce of the Turon. The bearer of this was Mr. Richards, who has stations there, and from having been in the survey department, is conversant with all the localities. On Saturday last Mr. George Schofield sold 3Oozs. 16dwts. sgrs., which himself and party had obtained in the Turon, for £93 ; 18s. Mr. Dunsford, watchmaker, was the purchaser. The fact, therefore, of gold existing in the Turon, and in sufficient quantity to remunerate the labour expended upon it, appears to be established beyond a donbt. The parties, whose names we have given, are all respectable, and would not lend themselves to anything like deception. The consequence of this discovery being made public, has been a diversion of many new arrivals in that direction. Parties are also leaving the Ophir diggings for the Turon, so that in a short time, should the new field prove as profitable as is anticipated, the population of Ophir will be materially thinned, and an opportunity will then be offered of establishing something like regularity and system. Our Ophir correspondent writes as follows, under date of Friday evening, the 13th:— ” The diggers are extending very far down the creek towards its junction with the Macquarie, and from observation, I can venture the opinion that, on the average, the returns are large. It is clearly evident that the bed of the creek has not been yet searched, and that those who stick to one place and sink down to the foundation rock will be amply rewarded for their toil. The Copy of a letter signed by Mr. Stutchbury, and addressed to Mr. Commissioner Hardy, was posted on a tree opposite Mr. Meyer’s store to-day. It affords information respecting the Turon, and points out places where gold is likely to be procured. From Carcoar we learn that some parties who proceeded to Okey Creek, at its junction with the Belabula, on a tour of prospection, have returned thither to work with prospects of success. Rotton’s coach from Bathurst arrived this afternoon, and numerous were the enquiries at Meyers’ for letters. It is therefore to be hoped that no delay will ake place in establishing the post-office at Ophir; Meyer’s is the booking place for Batnurst by coach. The same peace and quietness, and respect for the law, continue to be manifested as detailed in my last. Since the above was written, I have learnt that one man has been extremely fortunate to-day, having picked up eight or nine pieces, weighing in the whole about seven pounds. The creek, which has been running strong since the last rains, has become considerably lower, but the heavens forbode wet.”

Bathurst, June 24.—Within the week, last past, hundreds of individuals have returned from the Ophir Diggings, some homeward bound, others in the direction of the “ Turon to the latter place Mr. Commissioner Hardy made post haste a few days ago, no doubt with the view of demanding the license fee. After an experience of six weeks, we find that those persons alone who are qualified and equipped for the work, and who possess firmness and perseverance, can hope for success: Sydney people were in too great haste, and now they have leisure to repeut; they should have allowed the problem to be solved by persons in this neighbourhood before they left their homes. For the future, this gold seeking is likely to become a branch of our industry, and may afford employment to perhaps two or three thousand individuals, whose earnings, on an average, may be double the present rate of mechanics’ wages, but it is absurd in persons imagining they can employ themselves temporarily at the diggings, and within a short time acquire extraordinary wealth wherewith to return to their former employments. Whoever adopts this gold digging business must make up his mind to take to it altogether at all events for a year, in the same way he enters into an engagement as a road-maker, or to fill any other situation

of which the indispensable requisites are industry, tact, and perseverance. About six hundred persons are engaged at the “ Turon,” and about fifty at Fitzgerald’s Swamp; both places are said to be more remunerative than the Summerhill mines; this, however, remains to be proved. Flour is now selling at from 455. to 50s. per 100 lbs. Fire wood at 12s. per load, and the 2 lb. loaf at lOd. Windsor. —Our townspeople, some week or two back, had a regular mania for starting to Opbir, but their courage seems to' have cooled down amazingly, since the return of some unsuccessful, and consequently disgusted gold seekers, Many who did start are sending down very fair accounts of their success. A letter was received this week from a party of three at the diggings, who say they are netting £lO a week each man. — Sydney Morning Herald.

The Success of the Diggers.—Mr. G. A. Lloyd, of Sydney, who has visited the Ophir diggings, reaching them on the 16th June, and leaving them on the 19th, called on Mr. Hardy, the commissioner, on Wednesday, the 18th, and writes to the S'. M. Herald as follows, in the course of a iong and detailed account of what he saw, observed, and suffered at Ophir : —“ In the afternoon I took a walk down to the residence of Mr. Commissioner Hardy, and was received with bis accustomed politeness. He shewed me some very beautiful specimens that bad been placed in his hands, and stated his conviction that the miners as a whole, were doing vjell. He estimated that there are about 2000 men on the creek, of whom 800 are averaging 20s. per day each ; 600 from 3s. to ss, per day, and 600 doing nothing. I think, however, he is considerably under the number on the creek ; the general opinion was that there were from 3000 to 4000 men there.” News from the Diggings.—Mr. Clemens has obliged us with the following letter, received by him from Mr. J. S. Doust, who went early to the diggings : —“ Summerhill Creek, 14th June 1851. Dear Sir —You wanted me. to write you to let you know what prospect there was for you at the diggings. Don’t come here by any means, unless you want to ruin yourself, for there are hundreds and thousands going back quite disappointed, and it is my opinion that it will be the ruin of the colony. I came up with a party of three, and they have all left me ; we are almost giving our things away ; the goods which cost us eight pounds each we cannot get two pounds each for. Please tell my father and all my acquaintances not to think of coming here. Now lam here I will stay for a short time, that is if I can find a party to join, but it is my opinion that every one will leave the diggings ; one in a thousand may be lucky, but no more. I don’t know if you can read this, for I am writing this on my leg.”—A letter has also been received by a gentleman in Maitland from Mr. Andrew Spark, of the Anchor Inn, and as Mr. Spark was for some time in California, his opinion is of the more weight. Mr. Spark writes as follows:— “ Bathurst Mines, June 21. According to promise, I now inform you that large numbers of people are daily leaving the mines. I am informed by a respectable person that upwards of five hundred have left the mines the last week; they may be seen hourly leaving them with disgust. I am led to believe the miners on the creek are not averaging more than two to four shillings per day. Provisions are cheap—flour 30s. per 100 lb., tea Is. 6d. mutton 2d., and sugar 4d.; mining implements may be purchased at a reasonable rate iL _l. _ i *iutu ujOdu wuu arc leaving me mines, i only arrived yesterday ; 1 went and sank, and dug three dishfulls of earth off from the rock, and received for my trouble about sixpenceworth of the metal. By the appearance of the earth, I am of opinion that it will never pay the miners generally for theirlabour.”