A DIGGER'S DIAEY AT THE THAMES. No. 7.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3261, 30 December 1867, Page 3

A DIGGER'S DIAEY AT THE THAMES. No. 7.

December 14. — A meeting was called tnis day by Mr. Mackay, tlie object of which was to choose twenty-four delegates to confer with him in revising the existing rules, which at present give great dissatisfaction. A very large number of diggers attended ; Mr. Bailhe, the Warden,presided. Some respectable men, among whom was Major Yon Tempsky, were elected. After this meeting, another great gathering took place, when several Maoris amused the multitude by their gesticulation^ and ludicrous efforts to speechify in broken English, the matter for discussion being which was the best jj field for a new rush. One energeticall/p declared that the new ground to the south was the best, while another, mounted up behind I him, continuously vociferated, "No fear ! no fear ! " at the end of every sentence the speaker uttered. The meeting was eventually put an end to, by the Maoris being suddenly pushed over the stack of timber on which they were standing, and unceremoniously hustle,d by the mob. December 15 (Sunday).— Service as usual at the Court-house, morning and evening. December 16.— 1t is customary at this time of the year for men of business, if they are prudent, to take a retrospective glance at their affairs, and endeavour to ascertain their present position and future prospects as far as possible. A statement is made of their profits and losses, and of their stock in. hand. It would not be amiss to subject the Thames digging enterprise to the same salutary process: it may be of some use to a few. The following items are as near the truth as it is possible to obtain them from materials at hand :—: — Expenditure. Pares, to and fro £5,000 Rights ... .* 2,800 Food W JSBOOO Tools, tents, &c Claims purchased 5,000 Wages for working claims 1,000 Clothing 2,000 Allotments 1,000 Buildings 5,000 Machine* 2 ; 000 Cost of crushing 300 Government— Mr. Mackay, Mr. Bftillie, police, surveying, &c— about 700 . £55,800 Income. Gold, s»y 1" £15,000 Quartz on hand ... t* 5,000 Balance 35,800 £55,800 Thus it will be seen that at present the community have suited a loss of £35,800, in the gold-digging enterprise : there must, therefore, be a very considerable stroke of business done during the next year, to wipe off the balance, and make a decent appearance on the other side of the account. This, I trust, will be done. There are more claims making a good show than ever : a great many have the colour, and the parties who are working them are very sanguine as ip a satisfactory result. December 17. — John Willis, the poor man who was so sadly mutilated by the horses on the 14th December ,has, after dreadful suffering, passed from the excitement and turmoil of this strange place to another and, I trust, a better world. His remains were taken in a van this evening to the burial-ground, by his mates, who, to their praise, paid every attention to him in his sufferings c ; but, having dug the grave, they, as did also the widow, expressed great dissatisfaction in having to bury a fellow creature in such a place. The soil (an improper term to use) was nearly a mass of shells, and as fast as the grave was dug it filled with water. A general feeling of indignation was manifested by the people around. The Warden was sent for, and when lie arrived he told the * widow of the deceased man that, if she wished it, the body should be sent to Auckland and be buried in consecrated ground. In the meantime, he and Mr. Mitchell would endeavour to obtain subscriptions to defray the expenses. The body was then taken back to the dead-house. I am happy to see that a number of men are actively engaged in laying down fascines in the roads, and otherwise putting the thoroughfares into something like civilised and decent order. Tt is evident that the men in office are none the worse for a gentle push now and then. December 19.— 1 believe it is a wellestablished fact that there are certain diseases and ailments peculiar to certain occupations, employments, or trades. The painter is subject to the painter's cholic, the gardener to "lumbago or rheumatism, the Sheffield grinder to ophthalmia or disease of the lungs, the seamstress to consumption, &c; but it is not so generally known, I believe, that the Thames digger is sorely afflicted with a disease peculiar to his occupation. It is called by some digger-mania, by others digger-phobia. This dire disease is usually developed about a month after the victim has commenced digging ; its symptoms are very varied and curious, and are anything* but agreeable to those who are unfortunately connected with the poor afflicted one. At fiYst there is an ominous silence and strang^ quietness, alias sulkiness ; the countenance assumes a gloomy downcast appearance, the brow is lowering and scolding, a storm is evidently brewing, and very soon symptoms are manifested unmistakably of a more^ violent nature. Spasmodic efforts are made in using the pick or shovel ; if spoken to, the patient will either not answer at all, or else with a growl or anarl. It is now becoming dangerous to come in contact with the unfortunate individual, for if any one in the exercise of charity or pity should be weak enough to persist in inquiring as to the state of mmd < or general health of the poor creature, it is like throwing a handful of gunpowder on the fire,— an exntflion is sure to follow, and then somethingTfuly alarming is the result ; the tools are thrown abeut in wild confusion, at the risk of breaking the handles or peoples' legs ; the voice becomes hoarse and thick through shouting beyond a decent pitch ; language is used which when the miserable man is in Sis right senses he is ashamed of. It often happens that several in one claim are afflicted with this distemper at the same time ; and then the effects are sad indeed. Sometimes one will stay at home, and waste his time in misery and despair ; or will come to the claim, and after a few flourishes of the pick will skulk away to some secluded spot in the bush, and there vainly endeavour to bury his cares and troubles in the arms of Morpheus. At other times there will be a scene very much resembling a riot, the whole company in the claim becoming infected as if by magic ; each member then does just as he thinks right in the sight of his own eyes, and the labour of the once united band of brothers is ruthlessly cast away and forsaken. Abuse and recriminatory expressions are freely indulged in, the tools are menacingly flourished, and the wonder is that mischief of a serious character does not frequently follow. The scene almost invariably ends by one or more rushing frantically away to his tent, where he may be found soon after in a state of prostration or profuse perspiration. It is a matter requiring the earnest and serious attention of the faculty, or somebody else, as to what is the primary cause of this terrible disease, because, if we find out the cause, we may confidently hope that the remedy will certainly follow ; so, before any more learned or scientific opinion is advanced, I would most humbly and modestly suggest that the real cause of this distemper may be traced to those flashy, miserable deceivers, mica and muodic ; and the only specific is a good and frequent dose of the sterling stuff, the real article, yellow gols. December 20.— A great rush to-day, not to a new field, but to Auckland. The place is all alive ; hundreds are on the road towards the wharf, anxious to have a little relaxation. The steamers are eagerly looked for; at last they are seen in the distance. The boats are at once filled, rapidly and dangerously ; but, never mind, it's a scram^fe now who shall be first. A jjtrange vessel is ahio seen ; she stops some dis*

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