Some Incidents of the Australian Gold Fever.

Otago Witness, Issue 1917, 17 August 1888, Page 38

Some Incidents of the Australian Gold Fever.

Melbourne dates its pro^je; ity fiuin 1851, the year of the gold discovery . Th.it was a period of wild excitemcul ; everybody who could go v;-fc:it to the diggings; un<\ uu wonted bileiico leigned in the well-nigh deserted screuts, the shops and public re r ->orfs w°re almost empty, and the few \iayfarjrs wlio remaim-tl at home had a restless and excited appearance. Towards Christmas, however, the deserted cily suddenly put on a gay a:id altered aspect, for the successful diggers abandoned their labours for a f.ime and swaruiod in crowds to spend the festive season in the city. A season of reckless extravagance ensued, and the gold of the digger was .M-aU.;i("l with wild profusion, and w:i.i sjiviil ovon more .quickly than il Imd been uuiummjil. With this prodiguliiy was connected an unb'uiuking lavisliues«; t.hoy gavo to others as foolishly as they spout on bticuuiclvi.'.s. Among well -authenticated anecdotes of such liberality is one of which the daughter of an English, gentleman of i\iuk w.ib tise object.. This young lady entered a shop and aslc.-d the price of a valuable shawl, which &he regretted to find beyond her means. A stalwart digger was ttanding near, and overheard the colloquy between bhe young ]adj r and the shopman. He iruinediabely purchased the shawl, and, advancing bowards her with his prize in hand, he held ib out condescendingly to her, and said : " Here, my pretty lass, ye shan't be disappointed of your shawl ; I can afford to pay for it, if ye can't, bless ye ! " The young lady, who loved finery beyond the limits of her purse, and who was nob troubled with scruples of delicacy or propriety, smiled, bowed, thanked him, and accepted the handsome gift. — Exchange.