A VISIT TO THE NORTHERN GOLD FIELDS.
FROM OUR SPECIAL REPORTER.
No. 7.
Up here in the far north, amidst the rocks and mountains, streams and valleys, the digger has thrown
off his holiday suit, got rid of his headache, lost his money with a good grace on the extemporised race-
course to the knowing Tony Lumpkins ot the district, donning his moleskins, his blue shirt, and his
long American pegged boots, "Richard’s himself again," and may be found at home in his claim during
business hours -- that is, at any time between seven am and six pm, except at feeding time and smoke ho
No very exciting event has occurred within the last few weeks, except a slight movement in the direction of
Bonou Bonou, but the old gold field has turned out, as usual, to be a dead "sell." There are a few parties
still hovering about the reef, making enough to keep them fossicking in its neighbourhood.
Rumours are flying to and fro of a paying gold field somewhere between Warwick and the Macintyre Brock,
but as yet no information has been received that can be relied upon from that quarter. The Queenslanders
look with a wistful eye upon our stalwart diggers, and would fain entice them over the border; they propose
to bait the trap with an offer of some £2500 reward for the discovery of a new gold field; but --
"Says the spider to the fly," &c. --
old scores in the books want balancing off. Perkins and Co say that Tooloom has yet to be settled for; and
then that company of prospectors that lead the old horse into such unheard-of difficulties about the heads
of the Brisbane, they arc hovering about the borders awaiting a second invitation.
That indefatigable prospector -- old Hickory Maxwell -- is said to be on the Mole River, and we
hear occasional reports that he has hit it at last, but the news wants confirmation.
The old ground on the Tooloom is still being profitably worked, there are many parties scattered along the
creek from the main camp to the junction with the Clarence that are making good wages, and have twelve
months' work before them. A probability of deep sinking in the neighbourhood has attracted a large number
of diggers to Helden's flat (the eight mile rush); but the mouth of Joe's Gulley is still the place to which all
eyes are turned. The small gullies near its head in the range are also proving to be worth attention.
John Chinaman has some great operation in view on the Touloom River, or upon some flat in the vicinity.
He appears to have sent round a chop, or a fiery cross, or some such telegram, to his country-men, as they
may be seen making their way along the mountain tracks from all directions towards the Upper Clarence.
The tablelanders are resting upon their oars, breathing themselves and gathering up their energies for new
exertions. The diggers here have turned their attention to the payable surfacing and sinking about the head
of Sandy Creek. In that locality there is a certainty of a fair day's wages for a fair day's work, not according
to the value that a lucky digger spoiled by good fortune puts upon his labour, but according to the estimate
of a man able and willing to work, and wanting bread.
That fortunate Highlander, Hugh McLean, after using up the best claim on the Touloom, has opened a new
piece of ground in the basin at the head of the McLeod, which he says is to throw all other claims, past and
present, into the shade. In the meantime, he fills up his time by superintending a ginger beer and soda
water manufactory.
An auriferous reef has been discovered between the head of Sandy Creek and Poverty Point , its value
or capabilities have not been yet tested.
The yield from the famous Millera Scrub has decreased sadly, the rich claims have been exhausted, and
the prospectors have been unsuccessful in discovering new ground.
The Lower McLeod holds its own, but the only publican on the creek is removing to Grafton, which
is a bad omen.
Pretty Gully is losing its population, and the sharks there will be soon obliged to turn upon each other for
the lack of provender. The agent of the Bank of New South Wales still continues to pick up from 120 to 150
ounces of gold there at each of his visits, which are due once m a fortnight. An unfortunate affair occurred
hero some few weeks since -- two infant children playing near an abandoned shaft half full of water, fell in,
and both were drowned. This unhappy accident carried lamentations and mourning into two humble huts
-- for, thank Heaven, we have not yet arrived at that stage where the removal of an infant is looked upon
as a relief from a burthen, where its little crust will be coveted and watched with hungry looks by its starving
brothers. Such things are, but not in New South Wales. A Grafton courier, after delivering his loading, and
receiving his pay, and carefully placing his hard-won notes in his pocket-book, and making all secure,
rambled into one of the grog shanties, and there found the liquor so much to his taste, and the company so
jovial that he remained there until he was led to his dray sometime during the small hours of the night, --
the next morning he found his unmentionables cut, and his pockets both gone, the book was subsequently
picked up, but the notes had fled, like vanished joys never to return. He yoked up his bullocks and
departed, declaring that from henceforth he would I forswear sack and live cleanly.
A petition has been going the rounds of the diggings for signature, referring to things in general, the
real object of which is to save the beautiful valley of theClarence, about Tabulam, from desecration by a
mixed proprietory, and to send those who insist upon a homestead in the district to the bowers round
Fairfield. It means something like, if he asks for bread give him a stone.