THE FITZROY DIGGINGS.
FROM OUR SPECIAL COMMISSIONER
No. 7.
I was in hopes of being able to send you down an interesting description of the country
around Broad Sound and Shoalwater Bay, as I was invited by Mr. Woods, the District
Surveyor here, to join a party that was about to proceed in the Corio steamer, to those
localities, to make a survey of the coast. I started in the steamer on Sunday last, and
reached the Bay on Monday, but in the evening I was informed that Captain Loring, of H.
M. S. Iris, who was to proceed with the party, had an objection to any stranger
accompanying the expedition. I was, therefore, obliged to clear out at a brief notice, to
pack up my traps, and to get myself conveyed onboard a small schooner lying in the Bay,
with the hope that at some future, indefinite period, I might once again see Rockhampton.
This event did actually occur, as I reached this interesting city of tents last evening. I
shall make no remark upon the very extraordinary manner in which I was treated by
Captain Loring, further than to say I was invited, without any solicitation on my part, to
make one of the party, and that I regret not having accompanied it solely on account of
the chance that has been missed of making the Australian public better acquainted than
they now are with this magnificent portion of their territory.
I am also sorry at having been sold in this way, because only the day previous to
receiving the invitation I had arranged to go up the river to Canoona, and, in order to start
for Broad Sound, I had to hurry up and down the river very much more than I should
have done, but for the prospect held out of this interesting tour. Thus I got down from
Canoona about mid-night of Saturday, and embarked on board the Corio at ten on Sunday
morning, not having had time to do more than to scrawl you a few hurried lines to tell
you of my whereabouts; and now I reach Rockhampton late last night, regularly worn out,
and have only a few hours before the sailing of the steamer, to give you a brief sketch of
current events.
First, then, with regard to the popular temper here, as I believe that is the point upon
which the most interest is displayed just now, I am happy to be able to inform you that
everything has remained in perfect quiet and order, I think I told you in my last that the
people were in a somewhat excited state, at the moment of the Eagle's sailing, but luckily
a diversion was created by the event briefly alluded to in a memorandum enclosed in my
letter, -- the passing of the forged notes. The excitement that was leading the people
away towards disorder was, by the discovery of these forgeries, turned into another more
legitimate channel, end since then the steps taken by Capt. O'Connel, and the arrival of
the Victoria steamship with relief, have set men's minds perfectly at rest, and have turned
their attention solely towards the one point of how to get away.
There would seem to be a regular competition between the representatives of the
Governments of New South Wales and Victoria, the one vieing with the other in doing as
much as possible for the destitute diggers. Rations are served out, passages are provided,
and comforts are supplied by each; and you may hear in our streets the poor miners
discussing the relative merits of the colonies, prior to making their decision as to which
they will patronise with their presence. The movement that has been made in Sydney in
favour of the miners has, I know, had a very great effect in influencing a decision in
many cages, and many will now proceed to Sydney who would otherwise have taken
passage to Melbourne.
With regard to the diggings, all hope of the discovery of a paying gold-field seems to
have been given up. Numbers daily come down from Canoona, whilst none go upwards,
so that there is nothing to fill up the hiatus left by those who depart thence. The result of
this must be evident, and as there are now barely six hundred persons on Canoona,
another week or ten days will see that locality deserted by all except some few persons
resident in the Port Curtis and Wide Bay districts, and these will no doubt remain so long
as there is any gold to be found, or the slightest chance of some discovery being made.
There have been some two hundred persons at work, digging, upon ground near Mr.
Archer's residency five miles from Rockhampton, but with the hardest work men are only
able to make rations, and the consequence is that this spot also is being gradually deserted.
We have had several rumours of discoveries, but they all prove on inquiry to be without
foundation. A man brought in last week some specimens of gold in quartz, which he said
he had procured from a reef discovered by him a considerable distance in the interior.
Reports of this kind, however, have so often proved fallacious, that now it is all but
impossible to excite public interest on the subject of gold, the public mind being as
apathetic now as it was enthusiastic some few weeks back.
Eight men have been apprehended for passing forged notes of the Union Bank. Their
names are Henry Thornton, Joseph Wyatt, Thomas Porter Hardy, George Taylor, George
Franklyn, Thomas Lynch, George Nolan, and Isaac Jones. Of these the first six have been
committed for trial; against Nolan also the case is pretty clear, whilst it is expected that
Jones will have to be discharged. Thornton is the man who passed the whole of the notes
in Rockhampton, and has been distinctly recognised by all the witnesses. Taylor also
passed one note upon the captain of the vessel that brought him here. The other prisoners
were recognised as having been present at the passing of the notes at one store or another.
The forgeries are not badly executed, being likely to deceive a casual observer, although
on a close inspection it becomes apparent that the dates and signatures are all executed by
the plate instead of being written with a pen. They are also all of the one number 14,511,
and bear date "July, 1857." A very great number of witnesses have been bound over to
prosecute in this matter, and they all complain of the hardships and the expense of having
to go down to Brisbane to give evidence. Under the circumstances, I think it would
perhaps be advisable for the banks to come forward and defray the expenses of such of
the witnesses as may not be in a position to make the outlay necessary for such a journey.
I know that many have taken these notes who have given them up to the police,
preferring the first loss of the five pounds to the ultimate costs entailed by the prosecution.
Over twenty of these forgeries were put in circulation on the one evening, within two
hours after that landing of the speculators. Two of the men, Thornton and Franklyn, on
Thursday night, made their escape out of the tent in which they were confined. They
unlocked their handcuffs with a key they had purloined from one of the constables, and
then of course the rest was easy. They were, however, taken before breakfast time the
next morning, the native police having been put on their tracks. They were thus run down
before they had had an opportunity of providing themselves with arms, and thus
preparing themselves for a marauding expedition. In this case, the native police have
shown how valuable they may become in the country districts as allies to the more
regular police force.
The Government camp has been moved since my last epistle, to a spot on the extreme
verge of the township, and higher up the river. There a wooden lock-up has been built,
sufficiently secure for the safe keeping of the desperadoes now held in custody. A
hospital has also been completed, large enough to hold a dozen beds. There are three
patients at present in it, under the medical charge of Dr. Redhead, who has also been
appointed surgeon to the police force. I may also mention that Captain Ruhl, who lately
suffered amputation of the arm, has now so far recovered as to be able to walk about and
pay visits to his friends, although only twelve days have elapsed since the operation was
performed.
Three more deaths from drowning having occurred since my last -- one an accidental
death whilst bathing; another from the upsetting of a boat, whilst duck shooting on
Archer's lagoon; and a third from premeditated suicide.
In addition to the rations served out in Rockhampton, there are supplies issued to
fifty-two persons who are camped oh Curtis Island. These are all stowaways, who have been
taken by the commander of the Victoria, at the request of the masters, from on board
different vessels, prior to leaving the Bay. Captain Norman will provide these men with
passages to Melbourne.
I continue, from my last, the list of passengers arriving in and departing from this port.
Vessels and passengers entered inwards at Rockhampton, since October 29: --
Vessels entered outwards with passengers at Rockhampton since October 29th: --