THE TURON.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 665, 17 December 1851, Page 3

THE TURON.

(From the Empire.) Sofala, Nov. 18.—So far as I can learn, and my opportunities for acquiring local information are exceeded by few residents, the Turon, hitherto comparatively but a sealed book, is now beginning to open its leaves, so that “he that runs may read,” and hethat is disposed to halt and gather up the beauties of its pages, can do so almost without let or hindrance. The day before yesterday, a labouring man from Windsor brought me his bag to let me estimate his fortnight’s profits—it contained 110 ozs. 1 ! At Ration Hill, a gCiiiWaiic&ii Vvcii KuOWD IS ojutecy, gwt IoOZS. before dinner yesterday (Monday), and the neighbourhood of the claim was consequently soon beseiged. On the opposite bank Mr. Thomas Wilson obtains a rich diurnal yield ; and several near him obtained from 4 to 14 ozs. per diem. On the flat opposite Thompson’s Bar the most successful diggers during the last few days, have been Messrs. Tighe, of Parramatta, five in party ; Grainger, Potts, Robertson (the architect’s son), Townend, and old Frank Piper, all of Sydney. Laing’s party also (reported before) continue to propitiate the fickle goddess. Near this spot from Ryan and Stuart’s hole, 20ozs. were taken on Saturday. The Golden Rock, on Monday Point, keeps up its character, but lower down the river the rains have played sad havoc with the m st prolific claims. At Lucky Point a decided case of “ peppering ” occurred the other day, in which Messrs. Davis and Jones, of Newtown, were victim* ized to the tune of £55. Another “ dodge ” is now being carried on in which science is brought to the aid of knavery. Pieces of crystallized quartz are procured from the Louisa or elsewhere, and under the action of the blow pipe gold in a state of fusion is thrown between its prisms: the collector of specimens is thus easily duped, and exorbitant prices obtained for almost valueless compositions. Attempts have also been made to foist off spurious metal, of a golden colour, and of as great weight as the ore itself, but the impositions have in the instances coming under

mv observation been detected or susnerfed sn • —MVtvVkVU IS a OIIODUUK/l* Hi time to check the fraud.

The new regulations have not been quite so stringently enforced as Was expected. At the commencement of the month many and lugubrious were the stories told of miners found digging without a license, ruthlessly seized by the myrmidons of power, and unless tue penalty of three pounds was at once handed down, conveyed handcuffed to the wateb-bonse. The Commissioners appear to regard the large powers given to them by the late regulations rather as authority upon which to act in extreme cases than authority for instant and indiscriminate severity. Policemen, however, are stationed at intervals, whose duty it is to see that no parties work without a license.