VICTORIA. [FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.] Campbell's Creek, near Forest Creek, May 24th, 1858,

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 851, 28 September 1853, Page 3

VICTORIA. [FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.] Campbell's Creek, near Forest Creek, May 24th, 1858,

My Deae Sir, — I have not much news to communicate from the diggings. Several patches of fresh ground have been opened, and some have turned out well. Some new diggings called M'lvor, about 25 ,or 30 miles from Forest Creek proved very rich indeed, and thousands rushed to that place, but I hear that it proves only to be a small patch, and that the diggers are leaving as fast as they went. It is difficult to get at the truth as reports are so contradictory. Storekeepers are interested in keeping their customers, and they are for that reason rather addicted to circulating unfavourable reports of new diggings. As I am so near I think I shall go and judge for myself, but not take any luggage as cartage is so very high, and it will be time enough to remove stores if I find the place suitable. Flour, tea, sugar, and other provisions are rapidly rising, and will do so for some time to- come. Flour is now £8 10s. per bag of 200 lbs.; sugar, 9d. for very coarse, and Is. 6d. for fine moist ; tea, 35. ; butter 45., (some of it you would scarcely suppose to be butter if the storekeeper did not assure you of the fact ;) cheese, 35. ; mould candles, Is. Od. ; sperm, 3s. 6d. ; bread, Is. per pound ; meat, Od. ; milk, neither seen nor heard of; eggs, do.; salt, Is. per lb. ; sawn deal plank 2s. per foot super, (for those who like to buy it) ; for an old packing case without cover, 4ft. 4in. by 2ft. 4in. by 2ft. I was asked to day, first 50s. and then 455. ; but as I considered this only one degree above " sticking up" I made a hasty exit, wondering how such prices can be maintained, nothwithstanding the diminished average earnings of the diggers. Cartage is now 555. per cwt. from Melbourne to Forest Creek, and JB3 to Bendigo. From this to Bendigo, 25 miles, they charge 80s. and 355, and to M'lvor, 40s. The Government is much to blame for not putting the roads in something like order, for in some parts they are almost impassable. I hear and belie>e that several drays are stuck fast in the Black Forest, between this and Melbourne. In this Colony with its revenue of near two millions, such things ought not to be. There is to be a railway to Mount Alexander, but as it is not yet commenced, I suppose I, for one, shall not benefit by it, as I do not think I shall remain here above another six months or so, whether I have luck or not. The winter is pretty well set in, and we have had a good deal of rain and some frost, and I feel it quite time to get into country quarters. I think we shall indulge in the luxuries of a bark hut and a chimney, if this is not an approach to civilization unsuited to the locality. Chimneys indeed are becoming plentiful and exhibit a curious variety of design and material which would be highly interesting to the Archaeologists of the 20th Century, as exhibiting the early Victorian style of architecture, but that unfortunately the winds, the rains, and (in many cases I expect) the fires will long ere that time arrives nave made sad havoc with these unsubstantial erections. The ajsproach of winter reminds me that I ought to have made some addition to the items named in my price current, and I will now supply the omission. Flies, scaree — mice very plentiful, and large quantities are expected to arrive ; cats very scarce and in great demand, at from 20s. to 505. ; fleas rather dull and no demand ; small stocks yet remain in the blankets of private individuals ; musquitoes — the supply has been completely exhausted for some weeks past and the article is never enquired for ; snakes — noc wanted ; spiders and mixed vermin — the supply continues greatly to exceed the demand. Jlly 12. — The foregoing written nearly two months since is somewhat out of date, but I have had no opportunity of transmitting it, and I now entrust this to the post with the hope that it may reach you, sometime or other, when you may insert it or not as you think fit. We have had beautiful weather, only one or two wet days during the last six weeks. The diggings are still very dull and though some few still make a lob, as the diggers call it, yet I expect the average earnings are very moderate. For my own part I have done a little, but I don't see that I am much nearer making a fortune than when I left New Zealand. lam now engaged in a deep hole, our next neighbour being down twenty seven feet and not on the bottom. Provisions have not increased beyond the prices quoted above as the weather has been so fine, and a large number of diggers have their winter supply, which is the case with us. I hear that the diggers at Bendigo have held meetings for the purpose of obtaining a reduction of the present license fee of 30s. per month, I do not know what they propose to fix it at, but I certainly think the present license too high, considering the immense numbers now on thp diggings and the comparative scarcity of gold. The Government of this Colony only hear John Bull grumbling when poor John gets surly and then he is an ugly customer to trifle with, that is to say, when John is represented by 50 or 60,000 diggers armed with picks, shovels, and revolvers, and the Government is supported by a few hundred soldiers and a few scores of Police. One instance has already occurred at the Ovens where the Government wisely acceded to a resolute but reasonable demand made by the diggers, and I do not think the latter would combine to press any unreasonable demand. I am dear Sir, Your's truly, S.