THE FITZROY GOLD-FIELD.

Colonist, Volume II, Issue 112, 16 November 1858, Page 3

THE FITZROY GOLD-FIELD.

(From the Sydney Herald, November 1.) Rockhampton, October 25.—The rush in and the still greater rush out may now be said to be at its height. In a few days, the last of the Melbournites will have arrived, and, before long, at the present rate of going, Rockhampton will be what ifc was before the report of the diggings was made known—three bark huts, a store, and a publichouse—leaving nothing to shew that thousands of people had resided in it, with the exception of two or three deserted wooden stores and the frames of a few tents. lam induced to say this from seeing the anxious desire there is manifested to get away from here as soon as possible, and from ihe almost universal belief that the diggings will never pay to work them. Some few are hardy enough to venture an opinion that rich fields will he found : further to the westward; but even these men are the first to betake themselves to tlieir homes again, .and wish they had never left them. I certainly never saw a township with such a grumbling, dis- | satisfied, downhearted population. And, when.we j come to consider the matter, there is nothing to I wonder at. Scarcely one of the many hundreds | who are now encamped under their calico tents in ! sight of me but were in good employment, and had the means of living comfortably only a few weeks j ago, and. this reverse of fortune is greater than they can well bear. | The accounts received from the return diggers ! are still very unfavorable. All'the prospecting parties have failed in finding a remunerating field, and the.ground now being worked realises scarcely more than will pay for rations. The prospectors have gone pyer a distance of twenty miles, and the "colour" has been got in every instance. About fifty diggers returned yesterday (Sunday), and they all tell the same tale of ill-luck. Thesteaine.r Corio came up the Bay yesterday, loaded with passengers from the;'vessels that had come in from Melbourne on the previous day. Several of these men, on hearing the bad accounts, took their passages in. the Yarra Yarra back again. A meeting was held on Saturday last, for the' purpose of forming a prospecting party. Captain O'Connell presided. A number of persons attended, though it seemed more out of curiosity than with any intention to join it. A party of sixteen was formed. They were .to receive rations for six weeks and horse and cart, and to find their own fit out of implements. They start on Tuesday morning (to-morrow.) The party are all old diggers, and iscem! pretty confident of being sue-r ccesful in their "search. ...,., Provisions aro plentiful and cheap. Flour is selling retail, from . £19 to _£22 per ton; tea, 4s. per lb.; sugar, 6d. per lb.; bread, Is. por 21b. loaf; beef and mutton, 7d. to jjd. per lb.