VISIT OF SIR H. MANNERS SUTTON TO THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF VICTORIA.

Southland Times, Issue 1061, 23 November 1868, Page 2

VISIT OF SIR H. MANNERS SUTTON TO THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF VICTORIA.

(Abridged from the ' Ballarat Courier/ Nor. 4.) The Governor's tour through the "Western District appears to hare given general satisfaction, especially to fche mining community of Ballarat. His Excellency, Lady Manners Sutton, Mr. Learmouth, Mrs Aylmer (wife of Mr "WV H. Aylmer, of Invereargill), and J&t '■ Floss Yon Amstel (Cdnsul Of thft Netherlands), comprised the Viceregal party. The programme of proceedings embraced visits to the Black Hill works, the Orphan Asylum, the Eastern Town Hall, Public Library, and. Benevolent Asylum. Afterwards, the Grovemor's party were induced to visit one of the most celebrated and richest claims on Ballarat. Two drives were traversed, and one washdirt face was reached, but the quantity of goldbearing dii'fc was not great, nor the quality tery good. Steps were retraced to a point where a small jump-up about ten feet exists, and this the ladies with the exception of Lady Sutton and Mis Steinfield, ascended, caring little for the „ wetting they were subjected to in accorav plishing their object. At this third level some better dirt was found, and Miss Sutton, pick in hand, worked with a will, and for a quarter of an hour's hard labor was rewarded with some dirt in which gold was visible. This was carefully packed up, and presented by Messrs Can* ning, M'Caffertv, and Forbes, who assisted Miss Sutton in her search, while Mr Sut* tonencouragedthelady to further exertions by alluding to the success he had met with on a previous similar occasion. Li . close vicinity Mrs Aylmer and Miss Wynne were actively employed, but were not rewarded by any large find. Some time having been thus spent the party rejoined Lady Sutton, and returned to the No. 4 rise, which was safely descended, and a halt was there made for refreshment. The trucks were brought into use, and the visitors returned by this means to the shaft, which was ascended at four o'clock, about two hours and a half having been spent in the investigation and in travelling over about 4200 feet of drives. .. The process of pud* dling was explained, and then the yield of the day was sluiced off. An examination of the buddies, amalgamating barrels and other known means of saving gold followed, and the party who, with one or i two exceptions, still retained their mining ! garb, were suitably grouped and photographed by Mr .Roberts, of Roberts Brothers, Sturt street, the result being as much a success as that which attended the effort of the same gentleman when H.B.H. Prince Alfred visited the mine. Dresses then were changed, and his Excellency and the ladies having entered the names in the visitors' book, returned to Craig's, and, after a brief halt there, proceeded direct to the works of the Black Hill, where Mr Newman, the manager, explained the process of working, but as it was now five o'clock the inspection was necessarily very hurried, and seats in the carriages had to be resumed. The carriages then drove to Craig's hotel, and by the evening train his . Excellency and party proceeded to Melbourne.