Page 5 of 3 Nov 1854 Issue of Castlemaine Mount Alexander Mail in Castlemaine, Victoria

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Castlemaine Mount Alexander Mail (Newspaper) - November 3, 1854, Castlemaine, Victoria National Library of Australia proposed society should be adjourned to the aggregate meeting in Castlemaine proposed to be held upon the return of the delegates and then resumed under More favourable circumstances. The meeting separated at a late hour. We sub join the outline of the proposed association As submitted by or. Henry Melville merely remarking that it is printed for in bloc attention Ana consideration and not a having in any Way been adopted by Tho meeting at the Manchester hotel or any one being pledged to its support resolved that an association be formed for the purpose of protecting the interests and aiding the welfare of the diggers storekeepers and others residing on the Forest Creek Gold Fields that the association be represented by a committee of twelve eight of whom will be publicly elected by the Mer Abere and four nominated by the elected eight. That the committee shall have Flower to elect its own officers and make their own bylaws. That the committee be authorised to Convene meetings of the members when deemed necessary and that without the Sanction of the committee the Secretary shall be bound to Convene meetings within seven Days after the receipt of requisitions signed by fifty members whose names shall have been registered More than one month previously. That in order to defray the necessary expenses each member on having his name re Gist red shall by one shilling and at the same time bind himself to a similar payment monthly or at his option he May give five shillings for six months in consideration for which every such member shall individually be entitled to receive the Protection of the society and when proving to the satisfaction of the committee that he has suffered wrong from any government officer then redress if possible shall be obtained for him. Eich member of the committee to be authorised to Register Public meeting at Fryer s Creek. Leasing or letting worked out lands. It having become known that an application had s been forwarded by certain parties to government with a View to lease Church s Flat and murder ing Flat a Public meeting of the diggers residing in the locality and of Fryer a Creek generally l wis convened for Friday last to consider the subject and to adopt a remonstrance against such an injustice. Accordingly at the time appointed 5 numerous body of miners and others interested assembled in front of or. Church s store Church s Flat two delegates from the other diggings were also present and took part in the proceedings. Upon the motion of or. Ham Hook or. Sam. Pirr of the firm of s. And a. Pitt storekeepers was unanimously called to the chair. The chairman in opening the meeting observed that about twelve months ago he had had the Honor of addressing them when the port Phil lip Gold mining company made an attempt to get Possession of the Windlass Hill and adjoin ing Flat but the diggers opposed them and the result was they had to withdraw and the diggers were now working them. Instead therefore of a company or party alone being benefited that Benefit was enjoyed by numbers. If the principle was once allowed then in a Short time we should Aee companies taking Possession of All the Flats As " worked out ground. The plan of the government was to lease All those places to the highest bidder so that the Man of capital alone would have a Shadow of a Chance and would obtain the ground and leave the poor Digger to shift for himself. With these remarks he would introduce to the Ting a gentleman who had been appointed As Delegate to go to the various diggings to speak to the miners on the subject. This gentleman was or. Bambi look who in coming Forward Wab received by loud and continued applause then entered into the various details of the subject ? and spoke with much warmth and enthusiasm and throughout was frequently cheered. He said that it was generally held that the first principle of Good Laws was the Benefit of those who lived under or were governed by them. There was an attempted infringement of Good Laws and it was because of this that they the delegates now came before them. A Bill had been brought he fore the Council professing the interests of the diggers alone but in it there was a great injustice to the Community at Large. The diggers of the other Gold Fields had held meetings and a Remon Strance and request had been agreed to. All they wanted was Justice to themselves. Here he read the document. He was not an advocate for Phy Sical Force because though it might result in the Benefit of a few it would assuredly be to the in jury of the Many. But the diggers must act in concert then the result would be the Benefit of a. Many to the injury of none hear hear. They must always respect others so Long As they respected themselves. He did not respect any Indi Vidil if they did not respect him. When this subject was brought Forward he fancied he heard t murmurs and grumbling but he thought there were Many reasons he did not agree with Grum bling or murmuring he wanted acting and now the diggers were talking the subject in Earnest a Short time ago there were certain queries which were brought in a private manner to a private individual for his consideration. These questions were connected with the vital interests of the dig Gers but whether they were to be answered by the diggers or not he could not Tell but the individual acted like a Man he brought them to a number of diggers washing at the tub and asked hem what was to be done. That Man was or Trewartha of Forest Creek. Now the queries were no less than fourteen in number and had reference to the leasing and let Ting of All ground considered to be worked out during the Reading of these the Assembly gave vent to their feelings by various epithets of sur prise the diggers should take these questions into their serious consideration and give the projectors a serious answer. The answer or Remon Strance before the meeting was one which he wished them to adopt. He had no idea of bowing or cringing he did not adopt the language of a petition but a request. In addition to this Cap Tain Bull had addressed a communication to him enclosing a copy of the queries but As he did not consider it a private matter he made it Public. He respected the worthy Captain As n gentleman. Here the speaker read the letter and the reply thereto there had been an account of this mat Ter in the mount Alexander mail and in the came number of that paper was a letter from our Friend or. Commissioner Wright hear hear. He asked them if they had any idea of any one interfering with them in the prosecution of their work cries of no no. If they the diggers did not know How to work or when ground was worked out then it was time they gave up digging and not to assume the character of diggers hear hear. The parties who were asking these questions and proposing these companies were Mere theoretical men and not practical ones therefore if the parties should come Forward and say this is worked out or 1 that is worked out he should. Like to know who were the Best judges. A voice where can they find out worked out ground to the speaker did not think there Wab a spot of ground into which the pick had entered which could be considered worked out. Let them come Forward and show it in this locality. When men those to act in concert they can obtain their rights which they ought to have. In his locality Forest Creek they had a company working at the Little fled Hill which they had leased. He wished the diggers of Forest Creek were of the same mind As Hose Here and thib injustice would not have occurred. When Adelaide Hill was applied for to 38 worked by a company one of the officials was Feard to remark we have done wrong we nov we have done wrong hut we must stand by it so much for leasing hear hear. Two or three were enriched to the prejudice of the Many the men who worked hard should to the men who Cei Ved the prizes. He believed sir Charles Iio am had an inclination to do right but they ust recollect that when a Man is in the married Ite to May Havo an inclination to do that which right Bur there Nuy be others behind the scene laughter. He did not allude to lady Hotham. No no but to the Cam digging carried on by the colonial Secretary. What they would say and think was that if sir Charles divests himself of the Thra Dom of those around my we shall then obtain on rights otherwise we shall never get them. Tho Council had other objects in View. Parties. In town take a very different View of the question now to what they used to do. Formerly they were in favor of the men who supported them on the principle of support me and i will support you but now the Case was altered Aud so were they. The chief reason Why these matters Are As they at present exist arises from the interests of diggers not being represented in the Council. They bad no Friend in court. Out of the whole of the members there was Only one who had spoken a word for the poor diggers that Man was j. P. Fawkner. He has made no distinction amongst the diggers . When they found Dinger threatening they the diggers must be unanimous and say we will have our representative in Council let every one who has an interest in the Colony have a voice in that Assem Bly. Now As regards the payment of the License fee he might say the disgusting Way in which it was enforced he would say a few words. He did intend to withdraw from the principle of support ing the government but he would effect the same object by a different Mode of collecting the Revenue. He did not like to see As is frequently the Case Twenty or thirty men dragged up like so Many Lemons Olio Nail committed some n Otence. No but As stated in the requisition let there be a Tav upon Gold of say one and a half per cent then let the men who can pay do so and those who arc unsuccessful pay nothing. The principle wa3 very simple when they went to sell their Gold the Export duty would be deducted. Why it would be Only about 3d. In the ounce Only a Box of matches. Laughter it would also save the expense of collection. At present itch St �58,100 to collect a Revenue of �50,000. Cheers if a government wished to be supported by friends let it act in concert with and for them. He did not anticipate much opposition to the adoption of the remonstrance before the meeting but would now make room for his brother Delegate to say a few words. The chairman then introduced or. Palmer who observed that he was pleased to see so Many gathered around him for the Pur pose of expressing their views on this matter. As it was now getting late he would Only make a few remarks and leave it to others who were More Able to explain their views As they were residing in and connected with the locality. At this stage several of the diggers present wished to speak together but alter a Little while order was restored and Forward and said that about twelve months ago the port Phillip Gold mining company wished for some ground at Golden Point Frye s Creek but. They were resisted by willing men and Strong hearts and Suc Cessnu by resisted too because it was considered highly of ejection Able that a company should possess that which belonged to the Community. They were at the present time having their interests affected and they should speak one to another and so resist any infringement to the very utmost. They must not let sir charts Hotham think that he was a matter of a vessel to do As he liked. They were Independent men and need not come to him for bread. He must not think he is still on the . Hear hear if they did not mind a company would come and take posses Sion of the ground so that the diggers cannot get a bit. A voice we won t let them he was glad to see such a spirit exhibited. Uproar they were helping him on in Bis speech for he was a Plain Man and spoke to Plain people. Hear hear the remonstrance had been presented to them and he begged leave to move that it be adopted and let every one sign it Aud show the government they were in Earnest. On the last occasion of this kind they obtained 800 signatures and so doubtful were government officials As to the Validity of the names that they actually sent up to count the tents. Now let every one sign it not ten times Over but Only once. Or. G. C. Backhouse briefly seconded the motion which was then carried by acclamation. Or. Hambrook then in a neat speech said that he was proud at the unanimous expression of feel ing in tic adoption of the remonstrance he Felt gratified. He had never been in these diggings before but he now knew what Fryer s Creek was made of. He them moved a vote of thanks to the chairman which was carried. After a few words from the chairman return ing thanks the meeting separated. Government land Sale. A Sale of land in the Parish of Guildford South of Castlemaine at and near the Junction of Campbell s Creek with the Loddon took place at the govern ment auction rooms Castlemaine on monday last. We Are indebted to the Courtesy of the government auctioneer w. N. Crawford Esq. For the following statement of the result extent sold at per upset Price no it r p purchasers acre. Per acre. 1 2 0 14 Catherine Murphy �42 �3 0 2 3 0 12 Catherine Murphy 31 10 8 0 3 2 1 16 Catherine Murphy 31 0.3 0 4 18 9 Frederick Taylor 30 0 4 o 5 1 1 36 Henry Langford 35 0 4 0 6 1 8 27 William Warner 11 7 4 o 7 6 2 25 William Hitchcock 12 o 2 10 8 8 o 28 William Hitchcock 18 0. 2 16 9 2 1 27 w. H. Taaffe 18 0 3 0 0 2 1 23 . Taaffe 18 0 3 0 Al 2 0 4 w. H. Taaffe 16 5 3 0 2 2 3 4 f. Fitzgerald 15,10 3 0 j3 2 1 39 . Sherer 21 08 0 it 19 1 0 w. Hitchcock 8 5 2 0 l5 17 1 18 w. Hitchcock 9 15 2 0 j6 9 -2 0 William Hay 10 0 2 10 17 8 3 28 Eliza Lewis 12 0 2 10 18 7 0 28 Catherine Hall 10 10 2 10 Jug 4 2 29 Hannah Curran 10 5 3 0 20 3 1 18 Hannah Curran 10 10. 3 0 21 3 1 34 Daniel Hill 20 0 3 0 22 1 3 18 Catherine Murphy 23 0 4 0 23 2 2 33 c. Beckett 11 11 8 0 24 3 0 28 10 10 .3 0 25 3 0-9 William Wade 10 9 -8 0 26 3 1 36 Thomas Hayhow 16 10 3 0 27 2 8 18 c. Murphy 21 0 3 0 28 5 3 26 f. Statten 15 10 2 10 Loddon Junction. The appearance of things at the the Junction of Fryer s greek and the Loddon is not greatly cd briged from what has been for the last few months. This May be stated As holding True for about two Miles up or Down the Stream in the immediate neighbourhood of the Junction we have it upon the authority of an intelligent and Able Miner who has been nearly two years on the spot there arc not More than one Hundred men at work but the greater part of these Are considered to be doing very Well in a quiet Way. Parties who have not sought new rushes but have remained steadily on the spot have like the Friend above alluded to obtained what is called knowledge of the ground and being constant to real work Are though they take care not to blow a trumpet about it enabled As he modestly says to get a Little out of it police administration. Amid other Steps by which our new lieutenant governor is shewing his wish to Institute a new order of things in the governmental department of this Colony the appointment of vigorous and intelligent boards of inquiry holds a High place. These boards deserve the warm sympathy and co operation of the Public to assist them in the faithful and effective prosecution of their duties. We hear that one of these boards has just been appointed to inquire into the very interesting subject of police administration and we have no doubt that it will be a very tangled Coil which they have to unravel. It is reported that the Board is to consist of or. Chapman As chairman or. Price the head of the penal department and or. Youl the acting Coroner for Tho City and from the composition of Tho Bird the by results Are to be expected. Mrs. Chisholm. A meeting held pursuant to notice took place at the Hall of Castlemaine on tic Day afternoon for the purpose of considering the most desirable Mam r of expressing those sentiments of respect and Admir Aii a which the inhabitants of Forest Creek and the township doubtless participate Wilh All who have observed the career of Liat estimable lady who is now making Aton Rof the diggings. There was however Only a thin attendance principally of gentlemen Well known in the township and Ever Forward in any Good work required to be done. After or. Preshaw had been invited to take the chair and the Rev. Edwin Day had consented to act As Secretary a discussion untrammelled by the usual formalities of a Public meeting ensued. Or. Hitchcock suggested that a deputation from the meeting should visit muck Leford where mrs. Chisholm would sojourn for two or three Days at or. Hitchcock s residence there and invite the indy to meet the inhabitants at a Soiree on the s Friday evening in the Hall of Castlemaine. As no course of proceeding that seemed More easy of attainment presented itself this was acquiesced in and after a few remarks upon such matters As music decoration &e., the meeting broke up with the understanding that or. Preshaw and or. Pearson Thompson would act so a deputation to wait upon mrs. Chisholm and that or. Hitch Cook or. Nairne and such other gentlemen As were willing should look after the details of the Soiree. It is hardly necessary to add that the gratuitous use of the Hall was freely offered by the proprietor As it has been Many times before and we Trust that the people of Castlemaine and Forest Creek will not allow the Opportunity to pass without expressing their sense of the valuable services which mrs. Chisholm has rendered to the whole Colony. The chair will be taken at six o clock. Rumoured disturbances at Simson s. A report has reached us that an Meute of a some what serious character occurred upon these diggings on monday arising out of a claim dispute Between a tipperary Man and a Sydn site. Com missioner Templeton it is said Rode to the scene of the dispute with two troopers but failed in establishing an amicable arrangement. The men got excited a mob assembled and a fight ensued in the course of which picks and other offensive weapons were freely used and severe injuries in dieted on several men. It is stated that the body of an individual has since been discovered in an adjacent Hole covered with Earth which it was at first supposed had fallen in upon him but the circumstance of a Large wound on his forehead seemed to justify the supposition that his death had been occasioned by violence. We Tell the tale As twas told to us by a Respecta e authority but do not vouch for its authenticity. An inquest was held on the 31st ult., at mat Don on the body of Christopher o Brien who was killed on the preceding Day by the Earth of a Hole falling in upon him. H. Grant deposed on monday witness was at work in company with the deceased they were both engaged in taking Down the partition Between their claim and the next one and supporting the ground overhead by Means of two wooden props in the drives. While engaged in this he heard a noise As of the falling in of Earth so much fell upon witness that he could not move persons in the next Hole who heard the noise came and rescued him but witness never saw the deceased any More alive. John Palmer was at work in the claim next to deceased be tween eleven and twelve in the Day heard a noise the giving Way of the Earth looked Down the Hole which deceased had descended to work it was nearly half full of Earth that had caved in upon him when the last witness had been got out they tried to remove the immense weight of earthy and at last got deceased out he was quite dead and the head driven Forward Between the legs. Ver dict accidental death. Castlemaine. A county court will be held on tuesday 28th november. Applications received until tuesday 7th november. Castlemaine. Auctioneers annual licensing meeting. Pursuant to the act of the governor and legislative Council of new South Wales 11th Victoria no. 16, a court of Petty sessions trill assemble at Castlemaine onto Day the 28th november inst., for the purpose of entertaining applications for auctioneers licenses. Notice of application to be lodged with tile clerk of the Bench on or before tuesday the 7th of november. A we Are requested to state that the thorough bred horse magician is standing for the season a or. Hitchcock s farm muck Leford. Terms �5 5s. Rainer s serb naders. We understand jilt in the course of next week this celebrated cd Pany of Artistes will visit Castlemaine of tit air return to Melbourne and renew the entertain ments which gave us pleasure on a recent occasion. Contr cd immigration. Amidst the interest exhibited everywhere just now in reference to the subject of convict invasion it is Worth Wybile to recollect that the convict immigration prevention act expired last night and that at this moment the Colony is without legislative Protection of any sort 1 Argus convicts prevention. Friday s Gazette contains notices embodying a greater amount of Reward for the apprehension of criminals than any we venture to say previously published at one time in this Colony. The sums Are As follow escaped prisoners g. Williams stockade Williamstown �5 Daniel Murphy Beechworth gaol �10 Thomas Bryan Richmond stockade �5 William alias Joseph Furlong Pentridge �5. Robbery with violence Bank of Victoria Ballarat robbery. �1goo Al Conington Black face robbery �90 plenty Road robbery �50. Mur Der Hugh Munro murdered �50 James Scobie ditto �500 Thomas Drew ditto Joseph Bevis robbed �300. Total �2615. Nearly the whole of the above crimes were perpetrated in the last month. Legislative Council. On tuesday the House being in committee or. Hodgson moved that an adress be presented to his excellency the lieutenant governor praying him to place on the estimates for the ensuing year the sum of �5000, As a testimonial to mrs Chisholm conditional on the sum of �2500 being raised by private subscription. Or. Goodman thought that the House ought to have a statement of the finances of the country before it voted any More Money he therefore moved As an amendment that the consideration of the question be postponed for one month. Or Riddell seconded the amendment. Or. Greeves or. Smith and or. Home sup ported the original motion which on a division was envied by 22 to 11. The report of the com Mittee was then adopted. Or. Mollison brought Forward his motion respecting a commission to in quire into the manner in which the Law is administered on the Gold Fields. After some discussion the honorable gentleman withdrew his motion on the understanding that a commission for the Pur pose was about to be instituted by the govern ment that would satisfy the Public on the subject. Or. Annand proposed that a Branch of the Royal family should be requested to become King of Victoria and that his majesty should be hereditary chief magistrate. He argued that a Monarch to be of any use ought not to be 16,000 Miles off that a King we must have and that the expense of electing a chief magistrate exceeds that of supporting a limited monarchy. Or Griffith seconded the motion pro forma. He thought that a Young Prince of the blood who would no doubt ultimately Tiro of that life of pleasure and dissipation for which princes of the blood Are so proverbial at Home would enjoy founding a dynasty out Here. The Case had not Arisen the Colony not being at present Ripe for separation nor the princes old enough to line reached the expatriation Point in regard to dissipation. However a the Case might arise he would second the motion. Captain Cole opposed and the previous question was carried or an nand s Young Prince motion being rather contemptuously rejected appointments. William Ross Esq of Mou Alamein new South Wales and John Hunter Keir Esq., of ferry Hirst Loddon River have been appointed magistrates for this Colony and Charles Prendergast Hackett e,q., has been appointed police magistrate at Mil Lon in the room of John Spencer Smith Esq resigned. The late Deal cations in the Ballarat Branch of the rank of new South Wales. The manager and the accountant of this Branch have since their arrest been engaged along with the inspector in investigation of the accounts and we Are enabled to state on authority that the actual deficiency of assets of the Bank wiil be very trifling in comparison with the amount at first anticipated. Tae accused parties have admitted the receipt of certain Large sums of Money their denial of which led the inspector to have them arrested and they have we understand proved to his satisfaction that they had expended them in the Purchase of Gold for the Bank although their accounts have been kept in such a state As to have no mention whatever of sums of such magnitude. A More disgraceful exposure of mis management has been Seldom seen in the annals of banking though fortunately for the Bank it was checked before any great amount of mischief was done. The matter has still to be investigated before the authorities when the examination of the accounts is completed. The late outrage at Ballarat. Twelve witnesses in the Case of James Bentley arrived at Geelong from Ballarat. It is said that Between two Hundred and three Hundred diggers Are on their Way to Geelong for the purpose of being present in town during the trial of Bentley. Two diggers Are to he tried for the part which they have taken in the late burning of the Eureka hotel. Subscriptions have been raised on Balsa rat to defray the expense of defending these Par ties. With regard to the Large body of diggers who Are said to been the Road to Geelong we were told that they would encamp on wednesday even ing within ten Miles of Geelong. Gold. On wednesday or. Paterson of the Market Square purchased 100 ounces of Gold from two diggers which they had obtained in the neighbourhood of the Yam holes in the mount Oole District. The Yam holes Are situated about 80 Miles from Geelong and 110 from Melbourne. The Yam holes Are Northwest of Burnbank and about seven Miles Southeast from mount Cole. We have seen the Gold which is remarkably smooth and is water worn Nuggett shorty and dark. The men from whom it was bought state that very few persons Are working in the locality where it was obtained. Geelong advertiser corresponds Noe. Management of the Gold fit Ildo. To the editor of the mount Alexander mail. Sir the Steps taken to elicit information on the above important subject viz., submitting a list of queries to a meeting of diggers the answers returned to be decided by Tho majority of those present is so Little calculated to attain the desired object that i have been in duos to submit Tho following remarks for the consideration of your renders. The questions requiring an immediate decision Are 1. Shall the present or an analogous system of working the Gold Fields in Small claims held by pay ment of a Lio Onse fee Barent soued or. 2. Shall be afforded for the use of capital and combined labour in extracting the remain ing Gold from such portions of the older diggings As will not profitably employ an adequate number of bands on the present system by granting or Selling sections of ground in areas of a Quarter Aore and up wards on condition of their being efficiently worked and paying certain sums to Tho Crown Tho Light to the o Aims working on the ground being reserved to the pro set occupants and Whon abandoned by them to revert to the lessees. The value of Tho existing Modo of working in Small claims May to deduced from a fast Woll known to All pro tidal miners that on an average upwards of two thirds of the labour expended is utterly thrown away and a considerable amount of Gold so mixed with the debris As to Render its extraction unprofitable and the ground tet of Pablo of being reworked to profit will require More labour to Cut Root the remaining Gold than would Havo Takon out Tho whole produce in the first instance and tha older diggings Are last verging to Tho Point when Thoy will no longer pay for this labour. For instance supposing n path of ground to con Tain 25 ounces of Gold and 20 ounces to to the Oost of effectually re working it five ounces will be left As profit if however by continuing an import feet system Tho ground is impoverished to the amount of seven ounces the remaining 18 ounces will a lost to the Community As they would not Pav the Oost of extraction and to this Stato Many of Tho Flats on these diggings Are already reduced. Neither do the average earnings of the diggers equal the common wages of Tho Colony the returns showing a produce under half to of one per Man per week while the Oost of living for the same period varies from 20s. To 35s., according to the season. What numbers must to earning a Bare living or entrenching on their Little capital May be easily imagined. With such serious oils resulting from Tho present system it behoves us to examine carefully any pro posed alterations intended to remedy those evils and to ascertain the value of the Obj options made to a Ohanga. These Havo hitherto principally consist of in an outcry against monopoly and a demand that every Digger should have an equal Chance both Good watchwords but their applicability to the present Oass is very doubtful. The number of diggers on the older Fields does not average More than two or three partnerships per acre of aur Ferous ground and you May judge on which Sido lies the monopoly when a few men occupying ode tenth of a piece of ground arrogate to themselves the right of Provon Ting the employment of a much larger body of men in offer tally re working the ten oco pied nine tenths to say nothing of the Gold permanently buried or one portion of the diggers debarring Tho More intelligent and energetic of Tho class from a profitable Uso of their savings in afford ing employment to the men who prefer steady wages to the Uncertain remuneration attending the Only labor now open to them. The equal change want6d, is not one that places the Digger endowed with intellect Bill or Energy on Tho same footing with him who has none of these qualities but a system that will allow the former to emerge from the ranks and gain a position Benoni Oil both to himself and the Colony. Most of them men having Yoou Mulato sums varying from l.500 to l.3,000, Are tiring of a nomadic life and seeing Little pros poot of adding to their savings Are now thinking of a return to England to live on Tho proo oods of their labor. It is unnecessary for to to occupy your space by dilating on the advantages to be derived from retain ing these men in the Ogiony unfortunately the moral condition of our population is not so advanced As to Rendor any Man indifferent to the Dally drafting out from amongst us of Tho bust men. In conclusion i would earnestly entreat these interested in the por Anont occupation of the old Gold Fields to give this subject their attentive and immediate consideration for unless facilities Are now afforded for Tho gradual introduction of capital and combined labor in Soffio gently working Suomi portions of the ground As will yet pay for Tho operation they must soon to abandoned. I am &o., a mining Engineer. Ballarat. Orth or 28. I wish that some member of the legislative Council would move for the official correspondence regarding the late burning and rioting. Unless very uncalled for language had been used i cannot see Why so Many soldiers and police came to be sent up Here. We require no Dragoo Ning to com Pel us to tall Back into our Tori nor state or order. Long before the first detachment arrived we had so far As we were concerned forgotten the whole transaction and the present display of Force can. Serve n o Good purpose. For the apprehension of those who were ringleaders our old Force alone was quite sufficient. The present numbers by some estimated at 1500 can do no More for the simplest of reasons there is nothing else required of them unless perhaps their presence is Essen tial to a thorough investigation of the last six months doings at the Camp he re. It is Given out that we Are to have Many of them sent Back again immediately i Hope so As Uliey Are perfectly use less Here and May be of service at their old quarters. Somehow or other you townsfolk appear to have got it in o your Heads that the whole Field is in open rebellion or at Liast was so very lately such is not the Case for once for a moment Only under the strongest excitement we forgot our habitual reverence for order and set the Laws at de Fiance. The burning of Fth Eureka hotel was neither More nor less than this it was the act of men driven to the last stage of Cyl Durance under a system of misrule which professed to be Cona Titu j \ tonal government arid from whose Power nothing 1 Short of what net done or something similar could have relieved them. Anything less woul i h Ive failed to ensure Public attention for one moment. Tho press local and goner reiterated that something was wrong by it is said the observations were too vague. Why were they not More specific ? just because there is a Beautiful libel Law under which Vatu to is alone was Safe. Imagine for a moment that the press occupied for tie violation of this same libel Law a position similar to that of those committed for participating in the late fire would it have had any sympathy under the difficulty and while rendering the co Lony service not a particle. I have More than once Given to the flame facts which would have brought out Many of the things now complained of but then the Law of libel lung Over my head. Moreover when such Vantage ground is held As those who administer the Laws on the Gold Fields occupy it 13 no easy task for a private individual to unravel the whole plot and prove the facts. A glance at the report of the late general sessions Here would Lead to Strong suspicion that there was a screw Loose in the Camp for unless such was the Case How could Sweeny confound that Law of libel i Hope i have not run f jul of it As it is. But As we Are to have an investigation by his excellency in person i hear All these matters will soon become known and if the Public Are invited to Lay their complaints before him in an open cout i doubt not but that the first consequence will be astonishment that we were not driven to rebellion Ere now. When or in what direction his excellency May arrive Here is variously reported. Some go so far As to say that he has been for four or five Days already in the Camp looking into matters. If so he must have been very Busy within doors a9 he has not been seen publicly As yet. License Hunt ing in title goes on a few Are taken from time to time but they Cost too much. One of Thetro Peis the other Day while out on this duty met with an Accident which might have terminated fatally his horse s foot got into one of the numerous holes around and of course both came to the ground and rolled and struggled there for some time the Man had to be conveyed to the Camp in a cart. Every Corner of the Camp is taken up in attempt ing to accommodate the men and horses now poured in on us the men Are shoved away any where under cover and the horses Are tied to a Fence. For a Good Many nights Between patrol Ling outside the Camp and keeping the remainder of the Force under arms but Little rest was Given to either Man or beast. Messes. Lang and Drake for All that i can hear Are Likely to turn the tables on the Bank of new South Wales in regard to the late charge of embezzlement preferred against them. Or. Burtchall the late Gold broker Here was brought up from town on some vague suspicion of being concerned in one or both of the Date Bank affairs. The Bench however dismissed the Case. Arrests of supposed ringleaders in the late burning Are Leing made almost daily. A few manage to escape committal but As the police Are making pretty hard swearing that is a difficult task. I fear that some really innocent men from their inability to prove their non participation in the act will be suffering before All is Over. It is said that sir Charles must have the incendiaries and the police Are determined to find some with whom the charge can be made to rest. A very Large number of claims Are nearly bottomed on the gravel pits Many of those lately bottomed Are yielding richly. One claim gave 40 lbs. From the first three tubs take out. Not so bad in bad times. The old Creek on the Flat is lined with parties who Are washing up and if one May judge from the merriment going on there the washers Are far from being dissatisfied with the results of their labors. Is have had some very hot Days this week. Many of those sinking complain that they Are much hindered in their work by foul air owing to the state of the atmosphere. This is not to be wondered at when they ate at such Depths As Are now usually reached 160 feet. Examination of the supposed rioters. October 30. On the 28tb instant c. Balderstone and c. Stuart Gold diggers g. Mackintosh Baker and i. Van Der Byl partner in an extensive baking establishment on bakery Hill were brought before or. Sturt charged with having been ringleaders in the late riot which resulted in the destruction of the Eureka hotel. A Constable whose name was not caught deposed that he saw Mackintosh at the late fire that he was in an excited state throwing stones and other missiles and that at the commencement of the riot he heard him shouting and exciting the bystanders. Constable Doherty deposed that he distinctly saw or. Van Der Byl at a part of the building called the Bowling Alley tearing bits of paper from off its Walls and throw ing them to the tit cars for the purpose of firing some portions of the building then untouched. Or h. A. Bann deposed that or. Van Der Byl and himself were partners in the Ballarat bakery he could positively swear that the prisoner was not at the fire. Or. Dixie Gold broker deposed could swear positively that the prisoner was not near the Eureka hotel during the riot. Con stable Delany deposed that he saw the prisoner c. Stuart during the late riot at the Eureka hotel that he was in a very excited state in the midst of the mob that he was throwing stones hooting and striking at the building with a heavy stick. S. Garty deposed that Stuart was not at the fire at All that he was at his claim working until the place wa3 in flames when he called his mate out of the Hole to see it. E. Clark deposed that he was carrying washing. Stuff at the claim next to Stuart who could net have left from two to four o Slock without his having seen him. W. Hagley deposed that he was working in the claim next to Stuart that he did not see Stuart leave for the fire must Hare done so As he was hut a few Yards from him witness had to guard against the depredations of a Kinsmen who Are constantly Pil Fering washing stuff. M i Tosh now asked to have his win uses for the defence called. This being done or. F. O Beirne deposed that the prisoner m i Tosh was in his employment As fore Man Baker. That but a few minutes before the fire he had set m i Tosh about some work which he was executing during the riot that m i Tosh was not at the fire. Herman deposed similarly for m i Tosh. Sergeant major Milne deposed and that too in a Cool and studied manner that during the time the riot was at its height he saw the prisoner Balderstone staving in the casks and emptying the water out of them that he heard the prisoner say thai was the Way to . A Stop to All attempts to save the hotel. A respectable witness being sworn was about to make a statement in defence of Balderstone when or. Commissioner John atone whispered n few words in the ear of the presiding magistrate this gentleman thereupon said that the tent of Balderstone being near the scene of riot it slight account for his being so excited. The whole four prisoners were Dis charged. Or. Sturt remarked that the mistaken identity of the prisoners was to be attributed to the excited state of the police and thus the affair ended. Now let any unprejudiced person con Sider this police investigation and say if he can All s Well. Our late alleged corruption has again made its appearance under a new phase perjury Cool deliberate perjury. If any Man can say that such men As gave evidence against the sup posed criminals in this Case Are worthy of the slightest credit even on oath he must he strangely constituted. Among Tho Well known facts regard ing the Camp Here for som o time is this that All the Force subordinate to a certain gentleman who figures in the proceedings on the 2sth, Are expected to swear As he wills them. This by the police themselves is considered and justly too a fearful state of thing. Surely this needs looking to. Let sir Charles punish the ringleaders but in the Nain of Justice let him not resort to Means As unjustifiable As were those lately used by the rioters on the 17th. In seeking to uphold the Law of the land Caro should be take that the Laws of a higher authority Are not openly violated. Those committed for trial Are Only such As knew not Why they. We re Aristed and were therefore unprepared with defensive evidence several of those who lately were arrested and discharged Sie determined if the matter i3 hot taken up by the general committee. I take proceedings in regard to their arrest and the Public misstatements sworn to by the witnesses for the Crown. Before All is Over some strange disclosures will be made. Whatever May be the result of the affair now pending or of the reported government commis Sion of investigation this is certain that the dig Gers of Tho whole Colony for the various Fields Are taking the matter into Consi aeration. And arc. Opening up a correspondence with to Are about to enter on a Calm determined and constitutional agitation to end Only with the acknowledgement of our rights and the Concession of so much of the present monopolised political Power As we Are justly entitled to. This is already a settled Point and we Are soon to enter heartily and unanimously upon the All important work. The organisation is under consideration and in due time will be made Public. We mean it now. Up to tht3 time we have had four committal including messes. Fletcher and it Tyre. One who goes by the name of yorkey has been sent to town and the fourth or. Hind is out on �1000 bail to appear with the others on 15ih november. Another monster meeting is to be held according to the following notice the Ballarat Camp and its victims. An important Public meeting will be hell on wednesday next the 1st november at four o clock p.m., on the bakery Hill when the committee will give an account of their proceed Ings in Geelong in messes. Fletcher and m in Tyr s Case and to discuss momentous questions relative to the interests of the diggers. It is expected that several gentlemen from the Bendigo and other Gold Fields will address the meeting. In the meantime diggers collect facts in All cases of injustice which have occurred on Ballarat leaving a writ in statement with your committee As there will shortly be a spec isl commission to inquire into the management or rather mismanagement of the Gold Fields. Diggers be Calm but deter mined and then with truth and Justice on your Side the Knell of colonial tyranny will be rung signed j. B. Hum fray Secretary october 23, 1854, however useful the past May hive been for us of the net papera the present is Dull very Ayas ditch water. I can Only say that we arc quiet and that were it not for a re ported fight a the Camp Between the traps and. The military we should have Little to talk about. Rumor s is that the police were beaten by the soldiers and forced to take shelter and that the affair was to be kept secret from every one especially from the papers As they might make bad use of it. All is still but i rather fear that it is the pc cursor of a violent storm than of a sum Moi Day calmness. Every care is being taken that the future commission May have reliable data from which to compile a Good report on the Gold Fields management. We Are so Quet that a Good Accident would be a real godsend. The concentrated Force is beginning to move to its old Quarter. A detachment has already left for Bendigo. " correspondent of the Geelong advertiser. The americans at Bah Laurat. The subjoined been published colonial Secretary s office Melbourne. 20th onto her 18x1 sir his excellency having received a despatch from the Ballarat Gold Field and personally conferred with one of the magistrates rejoices to be informed that the conduct of Tho american population during Tho recent disturbances bos been most praiseworthy. Anxious to Mark the High sense be entertains of such Pond not he has Given directions that John Kelly now undergoing confinement in Geelong or Ballarat. Jail be forthwith released. I have the h nor to to. Sir your most obedient servant. John mooch. A.c.8. A. M. Tarlton Esq. United sates Consul Melbourne. Consulate of the United states of America. Melbourne october 31, 1854. To american resident throughout the Gold Fields in this Colony. Ilt3 Exoe Lenoy sir Charles Hotham in Monse Queale of the general and uniform Good Pond not and Deport ment of the american Titi Zens on the Gold Fields has be n pleased to extend his executive Olem Enoy by re leasing John Kelly an american citizen now under going Toufi Lemont in Juil Lor a violation of the Lio Onse Laws. Idol Hatnot it wiil to equally Gratifying to you As it is to me thus to learn that his excellency con siders your conduct to

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