LACHLAN DIGGINGS.
FROM OUR SPECIAL COMMISSIONER
No. 2.
-- In my communication of the 1st instant I was particular in cautioning diggers from
rushing to this place, and I wish again to state, that , these are no poor man's diggings.
Certain it is that during the last two or three weeks extraordinary finds have been made,
but at the present time the extent, of payable ground opened does not exceed a quarter of
a mile at the northern end of the first supposed lead. Scores of shafts have been bottomed,
and no payable gold struck. The southern end is on the frontage system, on which as yet
no shaft has been bottomed, and, from the amount of water these claims have to contend
with, it will be some time before they will be.
My first opinion with respect to these fields I see no occasion to alter. I consider it is yet
very doubtful if the gold at present being obtained here is from what diggers call a lead,
from the almost total absence of rounded washed stones or anything like water worn,
gold. There is certainly not that confidence in the permanency of these fields that I
noticed on my first visit. At the northern end in particular, if the supposed lead has not
run out -- it must be very narrow -- from the numbers of shafts already bottomed; those
that are fortunate enough to strike, if it still continues, will, without a doubt, be well
rewarded -- but for one prize there will be a great number of blanks. Yesterday, a shaft
were bottomed, from which about three ounces of gold was obtained out of one bucket of
dirt, but it was close to golden holes, and at no distance away to give any confidence to
those men who at the northern end have sunk blanks, that they stood any chance of
getting the lead by driving. The second gold struck is named the Victorian lead; at present
there are only two shafts which can be considered payable. I would wish again to caution
all who may at the present time be in any fixed or certain occupations from leaving them
with the idea that gold is to be obtained here in abundance. The extraordinary finds that
have been made I have no doubt will carry many away with this idea; but for the
population assembled here they bear but a very trifling proportion to the amount of work
done. In a few weeks from the present time I am prepared to see a very decided change,
for if the gold is not struck in a greater proportion to the shafts now working, the
population here will as rapidly diminish as it as increased up to the present time.
At present, from the amount of payable ground opened, and the population assembled
here, I would strongly advise neither diggers, storekeepers, nor tradesmen of any kind to
be in too great a hurry to visit this place ~ the ground at present found being quite
insufficient to employ our present population.
The price of gold is reduced from £3 15s. to £3 11s. I noticed in my first letter from this
place that I thought the former price above its value.
It is strange with the population here that the Government do not see the necessity of
giving us a Court of Petty Sessions, and something like postal communication.
Our commissioner, Mr. Brown, the only one stationed here, is completely worked off his
legs; and if some of the Sydney officials knew the amount of work he has to do, and the
broiling hot sun that we are favoured with at this place, they would not envy his position.
When the escort is established it will be a better index to the amount of gold being
obtained here, and more to be relied upon than half the accounts that are daily circulated,
many of which are gross exaggerations, and many have no foundation at all.