THE NELSON EXAMINER. Nelson, May 31, 1851.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume X, Issue 482, 31 May 1851, Page 58

THE NELSON EXAMINER. Nelson, May 31, 1851.

The tide of emigration whicu lias rtihhen with such force towards the Western coast of America for the last three years is now to be diverted, for a new Eldorado has been discovered which will divide with California the golden attraction of late possessed by that country alone. The extracts we give below from the Sydney Herald, leave no room for doubt but that in the Wellington district of New South Wales, gold exists in consider able quantities — probably as plentifully as in California. The immediate discoverer of this important fact is a Mr. Hargreaves, who had been some time in California, and, struck with the similarity in the formation of that pottion of New South Wales with the gold regions of America, prosecuted his researches until he discovered the existence of the precious metal in the several localities of Summer Hill, Guyon ami Lewis Pond Creeks, and other places named. The metal is found both in large lumps, and in a fine powder. It is impossible to conjecture at th i moment the effects of this discovery on the countries in this part of the world. The Sydney Herald, as will be seen, deplores it as a public calamity, if the gold should prove to exist in large quantities and to be easy of attainment, and undoubtedly there is reason in its remarks. To this colony, however, though mischievous in a degree, as tending to draw off labour, it will on the whole be likely to prove highly beneficial. Should a large population suddenly congregate itself in the neighbourhood of these new "diggins," the co3t of the first necessaries of life will for years maintain a high price in the Australian colonies, and a country so well calculated as New Zealand is to supply them, cannot but be enriched with the newly- found gold, without suffering the alloy which accompanies it on tbe immediate spot where it is worked. The next intelligence from Sydney will be important, as the existence of the gold fields was only known with certainty a day or two previous to the sailing of the William Alfred, and time sufficient had not elapsed to learn many particulars of the discovery. The following are extracts :—: —

"The Gold. — From the intelligence received from Bathurst yesterday, it appears that this colony is to be cursed with a gold*

digging mania. Whether the gold fields will ultimately turn out productive k still problematical, but tho success of some of the pioneers is sufficiently exciting to cause thousands of persons to proceed to the diggings. Mr. Austen, of Bathurst, arrived in Sydney yesterday with a lump of gold, with small pieces of quartz attached, which weighed nine ounces, and is supposed to contain eight ounces of pure gold. This was shown to great numbers of persons, and, we need hardly say, lias caused a grent sensation. Several small parcels of dust and scale gold resembling that brought down from California, were also received !>y different persons yesterday. As it appears to be impossible to avoid the tt\n\ which the colony has to go through, it must be met boldly, although we fear it will be attended with the ruin of thousands. It behoves the Government to lose no time in promulgating a strict code of licensing laws tor those who proceed to dig on Crown lands. The digging cannot be prevented, but it may be regulated, provided no time is lost in framing the regulations." — Sydney Herald, May 16.

" In consequence of the great number of persons anxious to go to Bathurst yesterday, the fares by the mail were doubled." — Ib.

"The mania for emigrating to the goldfields of California, which at one time threatened to decimate our population, and which naturally filled sober-minded colonists with an anxiety bordering on alarm, has often occupied our most serious consideration ; but that mania, compared with the one with which we are now menaced by the discovery of gold within our own territory, was as nothing. Emigration to California was necessarily a work of time, requiring forethought and preparation, and in most cases needing the courage and enthusiasm which can sacrifice present comforts, and risk imminent dangers, for the sake of a remote and at best a doubtful good. The scene of adventure lay in a land of strangers, a land swarming with ferocious barbarians, and frequently ravaged by deadly pestilence. Ere it could be reached, the ocean had to be crossed, a round sum of money to be raised, property sold, establishments broken up, domestic ties rent asunder, and the whole, habits of life suddenly and violently wrenched. These considerations served as a wholesome check upon the rage for gold, and induced multitudes to stay at home who would otherwise have rushed headlong into the glittering snare.

"But the Eldorado which has sprung up within the last few days, and which i 9 every where and with every body the allabsorbing topic of discourse, is attended with none of these difficulties. It is in the bosom of our own country. It is on the very skirts of our settled districts. It is within a week's ride of our metropolis. And should its charms prove to be half so seductive as the sanguine imaginations of many amongst us are at this moment picturing them, Australia will have reoson to rue the day when her Eldorado was brought to light. Already, we are told by our Bathurst correspondent, there are said to be two hundred persons on the gold ground, and the number daily increasing. "And within six days' sail of them, scattered over the colonies," says a correspondent, "there are more than 50,000 persons who have been transported for various crimes, and a very large number of them within a few hours' distance. Should the reports of gold prove true, the excitement, speculation, and license will attract thousands of the worst characters. This," he adds, "no one can doubt and the consequences to security of life and property, without any needless exaggeration, are sufficiently obvious and appalling."

Exaggeration would be as cruel as it is unnecessary. But it becomes the duty of every sober-minded man in the community to look the danger calmly yet fully in the I face. That there is gold on the surface of our western interior, is a fact which cannot now be doubted. But let us cling to the hope, until driven from it by irresistible evidence, that the treasure does not exist in large quantites ; that the cost of finding, collecting, and conveying it to market, will prevent tbe speculation from being more than moderately remunerative; and that experience will soon convince the masses of the people that, after all, the ordinary pursuits of industry are the safest and the best. Should this hope be realised, all wi'l be well. The rage for emigration from these colonies to California will be quelled ; whiUt New South Wales will in her turn become an object of general attention and of powerful attraction. If the precious metal be no more than an auxiliary to our general resources of weahh, then shall we have reason to rejoice in its discovery, for then will a new impulse bo given to every branch of our industry, and a new character imparted

to our country in the eyes of the world. Then shall we become a rich and a prosperous people in the true sense of the words, for our wealth and prosperity will be solid and enduring, and attended by a corresponding ad van cement in those moral and social virtues without whish riches are not a blessing, but a curse.

" But should these hopes be disappointed —should our gold prove to be abundant in quantity, rich in quality, and easy of access — let the inhabitants ot New South Wales and the neighbouring colonies stand prepared for calamities far more terrible than earthquakes or pestilence. On the fearful pictures which the bare thought of such a communication calls up to the mind, we will not, dare not dwell. Nor would it be right to allude to them, even in these vague and general terms, for the mere purpose of agitation. But the mere possibility of their being realised impose upon the Government, and upon all the intelligent classes of the commnnity, a solemn and and an urgent duty. It is the duty of the colonists not only to take every possible precaution, in good time, against the disasters which may befall them ; but to employ all the influences of reason and good sense is counteracting and subduing the spirit of excitement in its earliest stages. Let every man reflect that upon the prevalence of those influences his own safety, the safety of his person and property, the safety of all that is nearest and dearest to him, may ere long depend." — Ib. t May 17.

At the time of sailing of the William Alfred, no direct news from England had been received in Sydney for 147 days. Several vessels were known to be overdue, some of which must have been at sea nearly five months. This length of passage is no unusual thing at this period of the year, and on several occasions we have known news by way of India obtained of later date than that by a direct channel. At present, the latest English news in Sydney is that obtained by way of New York, Chagres, Panama, and California, which is nearly a month later than the direct intelligence. The date of the news thus obtained is to the 11th of January, five days later than that brought us by the Return from San Francisco. The only news of importance we have seen is the resignation of the French Ministry, caused by the hostility of the President to General Changarnier, and the permission given by the Assembly to the latter to publicly justify his conduct before that body. The President was nearly a week before he could form another Ministry. One of the first decres of the new Ministers was to unite the troops of the first division and the National Guards under one command, and thus abolish the post held by General Changarnier. The new Ministry was however a minority in the Assembly, where the conduct of Changarnier is warmly supported. Great excitement prevailed in Paris, and it was believed that, should any disturbance take place, it would be the immediate signal for unfurling the Republican flag again in Rome, where the French soldiers have rendered themselves so obnoxious that they are indiscriminately assassinated byjthe citizens on every possible occasion.