QUEENSLAND.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 32, 13 August 1864, Page 3

QUEENSLAND.

(feom our own correspondent.) Gladstone, Port Curtis, ; T 13th July, 1864. The Calliope Diggings, situated about twenty-five miles from this port, have assumed .a healthier aspect of late. The ground on these diggings, which was ever patchy, has run into a more defined lead in new ground just discovered, about five miles from the old diggings. The lead is being worked for about a mile_ down a narrow flat, between a series of ranges. This flat can be traced to tho B-oyne Eiver, and,, from the general opinion prevalent, it is believed that the best gold lies in the same direction. The sinking at the head, so far as the dry holes go, averages from ten to fourteen feet ; after that it goes into wet sinking, and slabbing and boxing must be resorted to before you can work the claims. The returns from the various claims average from io::. to l^-oz. to the load, and the cheap living here to be had j enables the miners to make something approaching moderate wages. In New Zealand, the majority of diggers would not work such ground, as it would scarcely pay for tucker ; but here, where the best meat can be obtained for twopence per lb. (2d. !), and everything else in proportion, you may guess that it is no hard matter to make both cuds meet. The expenses of living for a party of four for the week amounted altogether to about £2, and, as they told me, they did not stint themselves from a few luxuries either. The gold is angular, of a rough description, and seems scarcely to have travelled. The largest piece that lias been found here weigl ted OOozs. Quartz specimens are often found. I saw one myself weighing abvut an ounce, got by Gould and Co.'s parly (as also 6oz. 2dwt. out of jive loads), and when smashed v:> produced about half-an-ounce <<f ywro. gold. There are a many Chinamen on these diggings, and the Europeans won't j let them" m neai' them 0.1 new ground, j "John" is r;e orally welcome to the j leavings, if he likes ; nevertheless, these persevering Celestials appear to be a thriving lot. They have butche ■•»' shops, bakeries, the best houses, an I generally you may see them trooping in and out of the diggings on the best horse- fiesh the district can produce ; puA, no doubt from sheer policy, they afteet the most condescending and obli^rig manner possible. They were the first t < tackle tlio wet portion of the lend on the new-discovered gi'ound, and a masterly job they have made of it. "Wli^ asked what they were doing, they replied, "Me roa'cee sometime £1, sometime £2, sometime £3 e'load." They, however, work in large mobs of seven or eight -'in each claim. The climate, for the information of your readers unacquainted with Australian geography, is a tropical one of the first order. It is now the depth of winter here, and often you have to take shelter beneath the shade of some friendly eucalypti from the fierce attacks of old Sol. It would do you cold mortals down away south good to see the sturdy digger working, as it were for life and death, stripped to the buff, every pore streaming with aad anxious to see the bottom, as they say, v before night." If "tb"s is " winter, summer, then, must be a snorter. W.bat with heat, mosquitoes, sandflies and snakes, it must certainly recommend itself to the attention of intending emigrants — but what will not told eifect ? As I heard a party once express himself — " If a goldfield was discovered in the regions of ' Nicholas the Elder,' there's no doubt the diggers would penetrate there in search of its auriferous treasures." Verily, I believe it. Peak Downs, for instance, is a-i example. You find men daily willing to undertake a tra up o" 300 miles, (by the shorest route) , with almost a certainty; of catching fever-and-ague, and all the concomitant evils attendant thereto, for the problematical allurement of a few ounces of gold. If you could see some oxthe, returned diggers, you could scarcely believe they were a short time ago stout fellows,, caring for nothing, but now broken down, in coustitufon. and pocket. I may say this' for the Calliope Diggings, that it is about as healthy a spot as any man could wish, which fact is beginning to make it a favorite diggings. The town of Gladstone is prooTessdog but slowly, in regard to building's and other improvements, but there are great hopes arising for it bow. Last night, one of the most brutal murders that has taken place iv (Queensland, occurred about three miles from this township. It appears that at about half-past nine last night, two individuals — one named Eabey, and the other I have not ascertained his name, but to all appearance an " old hand " of the first water — ! left Prizeman's Commercial Hotel, on horseback, to proceed to their camping place about three miles out. They had tea together, and although an altercation had taken place arising out of a difference of opinion, they seemed to be on friendly terms, and, although they had a nobbier or two, were not to say over-intoxicated, but apparently well able to manage their horses. They arrived safe enough at the camp (though it was a very dark night, and raining at the time), when some words must have ensued between tlie two men, probably arising out of the : previous difference. However, it may be, the "old hand" drew his knife .horizontally across Babey's stomach, causing a wound of about ten oir twelve inches in length. The docter was immediately sent for, as well as the police, and. the miscreant, lam happy to S3ay,/is-,in safe custody, and, no doubt, will eventually be the means of keeping " Jack Ketch "in practice, as I hear this morning that Eabey is already dead. Hanging is too good for such hardened

6M scpuidrels of 5 $he ancient convict element—- thorough-paced cut-throats, Eabey was a German by birth, a man of about thirty years . of age, strong aiid athletic, standing about six feet high, and was the owner of four or. fivebulock; teams/ one 'of which' the murderer was engaged in driving, and who in age appears to be between fifty and sixty years. He is ■an Irishman 'by birth, a native of Cork. Strange circumstance— poor Eabey was to have been married this evening, and last night expressed his desire to make over what he was worth to her he was' about to^inake his wife — he having a good round sum in the bank to his credit. I believe the deceased had no relations in the colony. Northern settlements are progressing favorably. Eockhampton (JZWhamptdn would have been more appropriate) is 'a considerable place, of about 3,000 inhabitants. Farther North, you have Port Mackay, a place of about a dozen houses. The finest settlement north is PortDenison. It is beautfully situated, healthy, and promises to become an important city. It has about 1,000 inhabitants, and is the best laid-out town in Queensland — more after the style ofy our town — good broad streets. The now main street, Herbert-street, can , boast of as fiDe shops and stores, and public houses, as you have in Invercargill. They have already a fine church bxxilt for the Catholics here, and the English Church is also about being commenced. A jetty is to be run out, on which the Government are going to spend £10,000 as a commencement. "They have a Building Society established there, a cricket club, boat club, &c. &c. Infact, it is the generally expressed opinion of people that it will eventually be the capitial of the new colony to the north of this continent. The scenery around is really delightful, and being situated near, and open to the sea, it is the coolest place as yet inhabited by Europeans. There is good steam communication almost direct from Sydney. Mr. Dalrymple has just returned from an expedition to Eockingham Bay, and effected a road (as he says in his report) from the valley of Lagoons to the coast. He reports favorably of the country, but some more knowing doubt his assertions, and state that the place is unhealthy in the extreme, and the jungle fever of India a prevalent disease. A correspondent, writing to a Eockhampton journal filie Northern Argus), says of the new naval station and proposed settlement at Port Albany, of which Mr. Jardine is appointed Resident Commissioner: — " That the buffalo is monarch ef the western plains— the alligator master of the rivers, and the climate prolific of fevers !" Very enticing indeed ! I shall reserve for a future letter my opinion of the capital of Queensland (Brisbane) •, and so, for the present bid you farewell.