-- The escort yesterday took 6918 ozs. 1dwt., and £2700. During the past week we have
been favoured with a plentiful supply of rain, sufficient to set all the puddling machines
at work.
In mining there is little or nothing to report. A few days since it was stated that a claim on
the victoria lead had struck gold; knowing some of the claim-holders in the particular
claim mentioned I made enquiries, and ascertained that at present they had not struck
gold. With the exception of two or three claims on the Caledonian, none of the others are
at present getting anything. Great confidence is, however, expressed that the lead will yet
be traced. The South lead still continues to yield handsome returns, and is extending daily,
although not so fast as report would make it appear -- many having stated gold had been
struck on the other side of the river, such, however, is not the case. The names given to
the supposed leads here are calculated to mislead many at a distance, who, reading the
accounts that ate published respecting this field, are led to believe we have a number of
leads proclaimed and all producing gold; but such is not the case, for up to the present
time we have only two proclaimed leads, and one only of these has produced gold of any
consequence. The Red Streak, the Durham, the Arcadian, the Canadian, Star, Tank, and
others are only at present imaginary leads never yet proclaimed or producing any gold --
although shares are bought and sold in them daily. There has been some disagreement
amongst the prospectors on the Red Streak, but report says a shaft was bottomed without
finding gold. There appears to be some truth in this, for shares in this lead are now to be
bought at a very low figure.
Our population is increasing at present in a far greater ratio than payable ground is being
opened to employ them, for since the Lachlan has been a gold-field -- now some seven
or eight months -- with all the work that has been done, with all the supposed leads, and
the amount of money expended in shepherding, we really have only one lead producing
gold of any consequence, and that is the first or main lead opened. Like all gold-fields of
a similar character, or, more properly speaking, gold-fields with proclaimed leads, deep
sinking, and the frontage system -- we shall be subject to panics. A few months since
there was a certain despondency noticeable, and a fear that the gold found would not be
extended -- shares in the main lead were to be bought at nominal prices -- when,
suddenly, No. 58, on the South lead, struck payable gold, clearly proving it to be a lead,
and then most parties rushed to the other extreme; but it must not be forgotten that since
that time no discovery of any account has taken place, and the same uneasiness that was
to be noticed here a few months since is again making its appearance -- people are
beginning to feel the effect, both on their patience and their pockets, of the shepherding
without any, or at least very distant, chance of regaining their money. Another feature
with respect to this field is to be noticed; it is not the gold produced here that is at the
present time supporting it. Those who have watched the progress of this field must have
noticed the comparative small amount of gold raised here that is expended, -- the
fortunate claimholders (with few exceptions) expending only what is necessary for the
working of their claims. Were it not for the money that is paid weekly for shepherding,
and the money brought in by new arrivals, the township of Forbes would present a very
different appearance to what it does at the present moment. Our population is far too
large for the payable ground at present discovered. The greatest caution ought to be
exercised by those parties connected or making their way to this field, for without other
gold is soon struck, our present population cannot possibly stop here, Many will, I doubt
not, think me over cautious, but I have seen before this as large a population as there is
assembled on this field, in a few months dwindle down to comparative insignificance. If,
in the course of a few weeks other payable ground is found, or other leads are proved to
exist, confidence will be again restored, and all be well; but while this field depends upon
one lead alone supporting the population assembled here, its prosperity is not so certain.
I had scarcely forwarded you a telegram announcing the arrival of Mr. Cowper, than he
left us. He arrived late on Saturday night, and, in company with Mr. Commissioner
Browne, yesterday morning took a hurried ride through the town and principal diggings,
and left for Orange about one o'clock in the afternoon. With the exception of the officials,
but few knew of his arrival. When later in the day it was found the Premier of New South
Wales had paid a visit to the largest gold-field in the colony, and had left after a few
hours' stay, and that on a Sunday, when no-one would attempt to see him on business or
official matters, one universal feeling of discontent was expressed. That Mr. Cowper
during his short stay here received all the official information he required, no-one doubts
for a moment; but considering the way in which the journey of the honorable gentleman
has been put before the public, and considering the importance of this place, it was very
generally thought that he would give those interested here an opportunity of at least
seeing him, and allowing them to point out some of the requirements of this field, so that
he might have formed his own judgment between the official and public information he
would have received. The community here, without doubt, consider they have been
treated by the Premier of New South Wales in a way anything but creditable to him, and
from the hurried visit and short stay he made it would be quite impossible for him to form
any opinion, of this field. All the information he received might have been forwarded to
Sydney in a letter of no very great length, and would have prevented the people here from
asking each other, "What did the Hon. Charles Cowper visit the Lachlan for?"
and the difficulty of answering the question -- many assigning one reason, many another,
none very complimentary to the honorable gentleman.
Three men, named Streaker, Thornton, and Tickle, have been committed for trial,
charged with sticking up Green's store, on the South Lead.
A man named Jackson was on Saturday brought before the Court, charged with sticking-
up and jobbing James Dunn. He was remanded for three days.