The moral effects of the Diggings is an important subject. We may and do regret the debauchery and extravagance consequent upon the sudden accumulation of wealth,—the interruption to the regular course of business,—the indisposition of the miner, whether successful or unsuccessful, to resume his accustomed occupation in the field or in the workshop,—the absorbing thought of gain among all classes,—the neglect of literature, and the indifference to religion. But there is a serious social evil which is too often lost sight of;—the breaking up of families. How many a bitter tear, and how much domestic trouble have the Gold Fields occasioned. Wives separated from husbands, and children far away from the care of fathers. The object of love in a happy home has a stranger to close his eyes of death. Some there are of whom no tidings arrive. The depths of the forest alone can reveal the sad tale. One evening, coming down from the Bendigo, I encamped near a party also returning to town. Some children playing about drew my attention. Falling into conversation with the mother I learnt the following story. Her husband, a Burra miner, had gone to Mount Alexander. Having sent for his wife, she proceeded with her family overland. After this trying journey, she arrived only to hear of the death of her partner. “When dying in the hospital” said she, “the children lay heavy upon him; he was always calling out for them.” And that man was buried without a follower in the graveyard of strangers.
There are not wanting pleasing moral features of the Diggings. At the same time we must bear in mind, that in this our embryonic state as a Golden Land, we see the first fruits only of disorganization; by and by we may, if we use proper means, witness happier effects. It is highly gratifying to observe many who had been honestly contending with pecuniary difficulties become by a visit to the mines freed from debt and care. Many such have quietly returned to their bush homesteads, and are now busy in preparing for the Golden grain. As friends of progress we may congratulate ourselves upon the development of the Anti-feudal element. In spite of the confusion of the times, and the dissipation of lucky diggers, we must feel proud to live in a time when the sons of toil, without bidding or control, may realise the means of competency. It is to be hoped that such persons will let their children be benefitted by this change, in the improvement of their education. This is preeminently the occasion, when true patriots and philanthropists should awake to an earnest feeling of the moral wants of the times, and when they should in stern resolve prepare at once to do their duty. The future condition of our colony, and its influence upon the safety, comfort, and happiness of our own homes, greatly depend upon the efforts of the few and the unselfish, amidst the whirl of excitement and the rush for wealth.
HISTORY OF THE DIGGINGS.
Sir R. Murchison, from observations at the Ural gold diggings, and his knowledge of the geology of New South Wales, concluded that in our eastern ridge the treasure would be found. The Rev. W. B. Clarke of Sydney, some years ago made a similar announcement, and in fact discovered gold in the valley of the Macquarie. Mr. Edward Hammond Hargraves arrived in Australia from California, resolving to find a gold field in our adopted land. On the 12th of February, 1851, he sighted the favored locality. Disappointed in his application for £500 bonus from government, he at length threw himself upon the liberality of the authorities, and made known the lucky spots on April 30th. The Government geologist reported favorably of the discovery, and Mr. Hargraves afterwards received £500 and an appointment of Commissioner of Crown Lands. The first party of diggers left Bathurst on May 6th. The scene of labor was Ophir, at the junction of the Summerhill Creek with the Lewis’ Ponds Creek, near the river Macquarie, and 30 miles from Bathurst. The Turon became known June 16th, and Louisa Creek the month after. The metal is now known to exist more or less from the Manero Plains to Moreton Bay. The Bathurst gold was found alloyed with silver in the proportion of 30 grains to an ounce. Platina and the precious stones are also found.
The Port Phillip people were alarmed at the good fortune of their neighbours. A gold committee offered a reward for the discovery of a gold field here. It was known that the precious material had been seen. The Clunes diggings were announced on July 8th, 1851. They were on Deep Creek, a tributary of the Loddon, 100 miles to the west of Melbourne. The Buninyong followed in August 9th, being 25 miles nearer our capital. But the great revelation was made at Ballarat, on September 8th, which was 75 miles from Melbourne and 54 from Geelong. On September 17th, the press declared that “Geelong is mad, stark staring gold mad.” The following “symptoms of insanity created some amusement at the time:—”
1. Rising early and proceeding to the creek, pulling the stones about, and washing the sand and gravel, then placing it in a box resembling a cradle, imagining the stones and sand to be a child of earth with golden hair; rocking the child to sleep; then taking the mud and gravel out, and putting it into an expecting dish, mixing it with water and shaking it, all the while looking at the slush with the fondest solicitude for its safety; ultimately throwing it away with disgust, and assuming the appearance of intense disappointment.
2. Repeating the above strange proceeding day by day.
3. Troubled sleep at night, with frightful dreams of being pelted by Midas with lumps of gold, upwards of 106 lbs weight, and being unable to pick them up, or of smaller nuggets sticking anywhere, but in your breeches pocket.“
The wonderful Mount Alexander diggings were visited in September 10th. Bendigo followed soon after, but remained for a time in obscurity. The Jim Crow range diggings near the Loddon have recently attracted attention. The following licenses were taken out at Ballarat; in September 532, October 2261, November 885. At Mount Alexander there were in October 221, in November 4678. The number of late on the ground has ranged from 30,000 to 50,000. What will be the number on the return of the Colonial emigration in Spring, and on the advent of the English gold diggers? It is not easy to calculate the produce of the mines. In August last we exported 18 ounces, and for July it rose to 180,000 ounces. The escort is no criterion, as many men convey their gold to town themselves. The amount raised in 24 years from the only paying English gold mine in South America was worth £1,300,000. Only a few years ago the total value of the world’s gold was estimated at nine millions a year. Now Russia produces four millions and California above a dozen millions annually.
Australia is eagerly competing with the American El Dorado, and it is thought that in Victoria alone the yield for 1852 will very nearly equal that of California, if not exceed it. But how long are our Gold Fields to last? Some will talk of hundreds of years at the present amount. This is impossible. It is highly improbable that as they are now wrought they will continue twenty years. But even should they continue as briskly as ever for four or five years more, this colony will be placed upon a very comfortable footing. Even when the scrambling and wasteful diggings are over, and the lottery runs out, it will be discovered that judicious and systematic working of places not paying now, and even going over the old claims again, will in the hands of gold companies profitably employ a large population at excellent wages, or furnish individual miners a most respectable maintenance. Having then no fears of the future, we can with joyful voice exclaim, “Advance, Victoria.”