TASMANIA. THE TASMANIAN DIGGINGS

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XVIII, Issue 63, 6 August 1859, Page 3

TASMANIA. THE TASMANIAN DIGGINGS

It appears that these diggings have been reported to be very satisfactory ; and we find by the Launceston Examiner, that Mr. Cohen had returned from visiting the locality and reported that a reef named " Valentine's," was being laid bare, which would afford work for many years, in fact that no gold bearing reef had been seen in Victoria of greater extent. But then comes the drawback to the man possessed of no capital, as Mr. Cohen reports, " That nothing satisfactory can be looked for without capital, combination, and machinery." The result of gold-washing at Fingal and other places, had showed that no large nuggets existed, or at least they had not yet been found ; and parties were endeavouring to form a company for the systematic working of these alluvial diggings. The gold-bearing country was estimated to extend from St. Paul's to Bass's Straits, embracing an area of 2,500 square miles.

Return for the week ending 4th June, 21J ounces gold. The abovo return shows an increase of loz. 14dwts.

over the preceding week, and is the largest quantity yet obtained by tho Company for any single week's work, notwithstanding it is the result of the rollers only, the stampers not having been used, owing to the manager being Bhort of men, and being engaged in fitting out a larger pump. Ifc is also necessary tp observe that the quartz crushed last week was not a fair sample of the reef, but merely the debris and surface stuff from the part now being opened. The reef itself continues to show unmistakable proof of its being a rich gold-bearing one ; and so convinced are the Company of its value, that they are on the point of ordering far more powerful machinery than they haye at present, and also contemplate forming a tramroad direct from the mill to the reef, which are situated a considerable distance apart. This will greatly facilitate the operation of carting the quartz and will effect a very considerable saving in the time and labour now employed for that purpose. *****

Whoever visits the district of Fingal must be struck by the unanimity that everywhere pervails on one subject. The moment the traveller leaves the main line of road the police and the police magistrate are the subjects of universal complaint. Publicans, storekeepers, mechanics,— all join in the general outcry, when it can be done without personal danger. The police are described as vexatiously officious, and unbearably tyrannical ; people declare that it is scarcely safe to move outside their houses after dark, lest they should be pounced upon by one of these over-zealous guardians of the public peace.

The Government had withdrawn the lands in Fingal from the operation of the Waste Lands Act, the unalienated lands being Feserved for mining purposes.