THE LACHLAN DIGGINGS

Otago Witness, Issue 523, 7 December 1861, Page 2

THE LACHLAN DIGGINGS

a From the Sydney Morning Herald. <•* It will be seen that we have some noticeable n intelligence by telegram from the Lachlan gold- :" fields. Figures given, as well as those con- '' tamed in the letter of our correspondent, are ' calculated to make considerable impression. v We have suffered too much from tne gold fever "_ to wish for another access; but still such state I, raents of good fortunes leave their impression 0 oven upon the cool and cautious. According s :o the information which has reached us, ". nothing has 3'et been discovered so like the Victorian mines of world-wide celebrity; and there can be no doubt that a very large pos pulation will How from the adjacent colonies 11 to share the prospects thus unfolded. We ir have already expressed our opinion of the 1 danger which besets this kind of industry to r the permanent inhabitants — how it naturally c produces a rolling population, and renders in* 1 vestment uncertain and frequently ruinous. p Still it is in vain to philosophize : we must \, take the good and the evil as it conies. But t we should esteem it a very great improvement t in the gold prospects of this country were the :, form of mining to assume the character of 3 settled industry ; and this has almost always f been associated wit!' de*»p sinking. We would, v however, strongly advise our readers to delay ' .my movement of importance which may be p suggested by this intelligence. Although wo have not been aisle to prevent popular excite- ? ment and its disastrous consequences here- } tofore, we have renson to believe that many . have listened to friendly advice even in the • mo>«t exciting times, and certainly we have no t f>t!»er end m-v&v» than tir-pr-evcnt that suffering which results from impetuous and il'u '" - founded enterprise. The gold-fields, if they ' are worth having, will he there this day week, ■ hy which time our information will be much* : more decided. Whatever news may reach us [ will be unreservedly published. 1 — — — — : The war in New Zealand, if it be product- ■ ive of no other or no better effect, will help to I make clearer than it was b-.fooe the true re- ; lation in the way of expenditure between tho ; nothcr country and the colony. There was a period in the history of English colonization when such a campaign as the settlers of New Zealand are engaged in would have been regarded as a matter in which the Crown was hound to interpose at any cost. Hm exper- , ience has mado all parties concerned wiser than they were. The Imperial Government now \ requires that the colony shall bear its share, , proportioned according to circumstances, of 1 the expense of maintenance and defence ; and ( without entering into the questions of detail at 1 is«ue between the colonists on the one side, and j the Imperial Government on the other, in *hich there can be little reasonable doubt P that the colonists have not been treated with equity, we believe that ia the end the course resolved upon by Governmknt will be found the most salutary for all parties. It is to be regretted that it was not adopted sooner, bei fore the colony had suffered itself to he drifted ; into a sanguinary, and, to a great extent, fruitless conflict ; but it is not too late even now to be productive of beneficial results. We hope it will stay the tide of hostilities, and by giv- • ing the colonists a more direct interest in the preservation of peace and of friendly intercourse -with the natives, finally ensure great stability to life and property. Undoubtedly oneoj the ultimate advantages of responsibility is t» make men more provident and watchful ; and the pressure of taxation with its prescriptive lessons, will now be lost upon the settlers of Xew Zealand, Three officers serving in New Zealand have been dismissed the service : Captain Hare of the 40th, add Captain Bailie of tlie 65th for being drunk on duty ; and Captain Stack of the Goth A memorial, signed by nearly all the merchants and traders of l)unedin, has been presented to his Honor the Superintendent, praying for a suspension of the prohibition on the "importation of attle from Australia. It is alleged in support of 'the petition, that the disease, "Plciuo Pneumonia," lis confined to a comparatively small portion of [Australia ; and that the colony of Queensland, and most of New South Wales, are free from it. I The attention of His Honor is also directed to the excessive high price of meat here, caused by this restriction, and suggestions are made by which, under proper supervision, the importation of cattle might be permitted with safety. Tho neighbouring Province of Southland has permitted this importation under certain restrictions. A cargo by the Bengal from Queensland has just been landed by Weutworth aud Hill. The following strange story appears, gravely enough, in a German Newspaper. A certain Count Kuno Hahn had given strict injunctions to his servants and dependants never to appear before him •' their master by divine appoiutraent," but in white gloves and white cravat. The other day one of the household servants, who it seems had taken his master's orders too literally, presented himself before the countess with due respect, but dressed in nothing but white glavea and cravat. The noble lady was ao shocked that she fainted and fell insensible for several tmiuatcs. *