HABITS OF LIFE AMONGST ALLUVIAL DIGGERS.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 525, 3 July 1869, Page 2

HABITS OF LIFE AMONGST ALLUVIAL DIGGERS.

(froii the ntizE essay ox the GOLUFIET/DS.) The question which it seems necessary to consider first is, whether the character and tastes of the alluvial digger are such as to afford a reasonable hope of securing him a"* a permanent settler, and whether, supposing this possible, it would be desirable. In order justly to appreciate the character of diggers generally, a glance at the peculiarities and prejudices commonly attributed to them will be needful, and we must duly weigh the truth of the rumours which assign to this class an unconquerable love of change and excitement, together with a reckless hardidood, and, in nine cases out of ten, isolation from all social ties. True as steel to his mates, the digger's sympathies are reported to go no further; all the world beside is to hirn fair game. As to any feeling of patriotism towards the country from which he draws his wealth, that is thought to be a rare thing indeed. Sensational public meetings, disturbances with the Government or anybody ctao, Femanism, fighting, are supposed to constitute his delight. Let a new goldfield be discovered in some other part of the world, and he will forthwith transfer his dauntless energies, his rough good nature, and his craving for adventure to the new spot. He is supposed to regard all other classes as outer barbarians; tradesmen as necessary evils, permitted to dwell among the tents of the diggers on sufferance only; capitalists who seek to invest upon the field as a prey sent by a kind Providence for his (the ■ Jigger's) especial benefit and advantage ; all Government officials as a kind of bugbear, whom ho is bound to obstruct as far as possible in the execution of their duty, and to grumble at invariably. Such is the type of character commonly attributed to the alluvial digger. Now, although the above picture, together with the tales so frequently spread, of the diggers' failings for basketsful of champagne, and generally his capacity for " spreeing away" indefinitely large sums inlinitesimally small times, must be accepted with very considerable modifications, and by no means as literally true, we man nevertheless argue from their commoy reception that they contain at all events a considerable element of truth. In the early days of California and Australia the sketch was probably a very much nearer approach to actuaa fact than it is to-day, when past experience has enabled Governments to bring the goldfields effectually under the rule of law. "When, however, the sudden fluctuations which take place in the population of existing fields are considered, and we recall tho rush from Otago to tho "West Coast three years ago, and the flocking thence to Queensland in February, IStiS, and again to Auckland last year, it must be admitted that the restless spirit of the digger cannot be bound down to any given locality. That a proportion of these people, by no means inconsiderable, are of a totally different character, and acquire local* ties which give them an interest in some particular goldfield, is undeniable. But broadly speaking I cannot see how alluvial diggers can be regarded as other than a migratory population, who, when a field begins to show signs of exhaustion as far as the easily obtained surface gold is concerned, or when another field, which on the principle " omne iguotum pro magnifico " promises large returns, is reported to have been discovered elsewhere, prefer moving away to attempting the development of any other industry which their present field may offer, of a more permanent though less exciting nature.

The Louisiana Legislature having adjourned, a New Orleans paper says that its elosing hours passed amidst a scene of confusion which ' marked its kinship to the orgies of the damned.'