THE HISTORY OP GOLD DISCOVERIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 740, 3 February 1866, Page 2

THE HISTORY OP GOLD DISCOVERIES.

i The following sketch of the various discoveries of gold that have taken place, from the discovery of America i n 1492 to the rush to the West Coast in 1865, is extracted from a memorandum by Dr Hector on the general subject of goldfields :—: — The influence which the discovery of gold has at various times exercised in promoting the sudden development of a country, and also the relative importance of the Californian, Australian aud New Zealand gold fields, can best be illustrated by the following details of the yield of gold from the earliest time of which we have I any record, which, is the date of the discovery of America in 1492. Excepting perhaps in very early times, prior to that date, gold seems to have been obtained principally by trade with the inhabitants of various districts in Europe and Asia, so that-the yield, though small, was uniform, and did not cause any great disturbance of the population, such as is characteristic of modern mmm? pursuits.

From the time of the discovery of America, however, the amount of gold annually added to the general stock, has on the average steadily increased, bj r means of the labor of a floating and unsettled population. The progress of the gold discoveries, since the above date, may divided into the following periods: During the 16th century the principal supply was from Central America and Peru, In the 17th century the Mexican and Brazilian mines attracted most attention. In the 18th century, in addition to the large yield which continued from America, gold-mining enterprise was directed to Siberia, and a 'large quantity was obtained by trade from Africa. The latter country has never yet been " rushed" by energetic miners, but there are good reasons for believing that there are districts in the interior of the continent that are highly auriferous. In the first • half of the present century, the yield from the Siberian mines became prominent, thongh it never equalled that from America.

1850 may be taken a* the starting point of the modern goldfields, and 1860 for that in which this colony is most interested.

7.0P0 000

Dividing the history of gold discoveries according to these period?, the following table will show at a glance their relative importance : — Czi. From f he discovery of America (1492) to 1600, 103 years 41,003,000 From 1703 to 1800 —America 100 000 000 Africa, Kus o ia 27,U00,< 00 127,000,003 From 18C0 to 1850— America 60 001 000 Russia SO.OCO 000 50 years 90.000,000 From 1853 to 1860— America, exciuling California (>ay) ... 7,000 000 California ... 23,000,C00 Australia ... 25 000 odo Hussia .„ 7,000 W0 10 years 62,000 OLO From 1860 to 1863— California and British Columbia 8 000 000 .Australia 9 5»0 000 Best of America... 6,(R>O ( 0.1 Kew Zealaud ... 2 500 0 0 26,000 000 Thus the average amount of yield has been — For 17th. century ... 800.000 1 18c!i „ 1270 000 1800-50 1,800,0 0 j 1850-60 6,200 000 1 1860 65 ... ... .. 5,200,00 Respecting the comparative area of tje Californian, Australian, and New Zealand gold fields, I have no accurate data at hand, but the following approximations are sufficiently reliable :—: — Ist, California— These goldfields,. which acquired importance in 1849, are scattered over an area of 100,000 square miles, extending as a strip twenty to thirty miles in width along the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The greatest yield was in 1850, in which year it reached 2,000,000 oz., and the average yield up to the present time has been about 1,600, 0000z per annum, with a mining population of from 50,000 to 70,000 person?, but at one time there were as many as 100,000 actual diggers.

1 270 000

1800-50

1860 6T6 T

In 1860, the discovery of gold in British Columbia added a large territory to the Californian goldfields, but I have no statistics at hand bearing on this point. The Californian diggings have now essumed a permanent form, much capital being invested in mining works and machinery', the present , yield being about 1,200,000 ozs, or 100,000 ozs per month. Concerning the Australian gold fields, and especially those of Victoria, we have more accurate details.

The total area of country where auriferous formations prevail is about 80,000 square miles. The gold fields occupy 11,200 square miles, but of this only 1900 square miles have been actually worked.

The high rate o£ yield of the Victoria diggings was maintained by a succession ot " rushes " to different parts of the above area, the majority of the digging population often being concentrated in a very small district.

The miners are now spread over a greater number of localities, and the yield, though less, is in consequence more steady and lasting. The maximum yield of the Victorian gold fields was within a 3 ear of their discovery, when it reached to 400,000 ozs. per month, at which time the mining population was not above 50,000 to persons. The present mining population is about 80,000, and the annual yield is 1,440,000 oz., or 120,000 per month.

Turning now to New Zealand, in the province of Otago, the total area of country in which auriferous rock appears at the surface is 9000 square miles. Of this area about 600 square miles have been ascertained to be auriferous, and the actual working extends over only thirty-one square miles. The diggings have now lasted four years, and the population has fluctuated from 5000 to 20,000 actual miners.

The total yield of gold has been 1,821,475 oz. Within four months of the discovery, with a population of 10,000 miners, the yield reached 75,000 oz. in one month. At this time the diggings were confined to a very limited area, so that they gradually declined, and a year after the yield had fallen as low as 10,000 per month.

Fresh districts were then opened out, and the yield again rose to 70,000 oz per month, with a population of 14,000 actual miners.

At the present time there are supposed to be about 5000 actual miners, and the yield is about 17,000 ozs per month. But I consider that the area of gold fields already opened up, without the help" of any continual excitement, -will continue permanently to occupy 7000 diggers, and to yield about 20,000 ozs per month, most of which will be extracted by processes requiring the permanent investment ol capital.

With regard to the prospects of the West Coast Gold Fields of Canterbury, it is impossible to speak definitely, but as gold does not appear to be found on the east side of the mountains, and the total area o/ the interior slope is only about 3200 square miles, even supposing the whole of this area to be occupied by auriferous rocks, the most liberal allowance, from experience elsewhere, would not give more than 300 square miles of auriferous alluvial deposits.

To this must be added perhaps an equal area within the province of Nelson which has been ascertained to be auriferous, though as yet it ha 3 not supported a large population.

The proportion borne by actual workings to the extent of auriferous drift, may, however, be very large as compared to other goldfields, on account ot the great number of large rivers which intersect the district at right angles to the coast, and which, with the immense fall and permanent supply of water from the snow mountains, have concentrated the gold from a large area of alluvial drifts.

On the other hand, such conditions favor the rapid finding of the gold, so that the first rush will the sooner be over, and the apparent yield, while it lasts, -will be much larger.

The West Coast gold fields have now been worked for over twelve months, but they have only attracted a large population during the last six months.

I estimate that for the first six months, the yield was about 30,000 ounces, and during the latter term 200,000 ounces.

To make allowance for the greater difficulty of opening up the West Coast country, we may disregard the first halfyear's work, and compare the second with the first half-yearly term of the Otaso gold fields, during which time the yield was 251,000 ounces.

This quantity of gold, however, was abstracted from a very small area of country as compared with that already opened up on the West Coast, and with about the same number of diggers.

The Press in Austria. — " The Austrian law," says the Debats, <; appears to admit of very mild gradations in the punishments it applies to press offences. The New Free Press, a journal ot Vienna, was accused of having excited the citizens to a disobedience of the laws in inviting the deputies of the country to concert as to the consequences of the new policy of the Maylath-Balcredirninistry. The director was declared guilty, but with extenuating circumstances, and instead of being sentenced to perhnps a year's imprisonment, he was. simply condemned to a week's confinement in his own chamber. That is unquestionably a very paternal punishment, and we congratulate the new ministry on the happy result of the extenuating circumstances in this its first prosecution for an offence of the press."