CUPID ON THE GOLDFIELDS.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12502, 1 April 1909, Page 4

CUPID ON THE GOLDFIELDS.

At the 'mbnthjy; meeting of the Yorkshire Society at .SydSe^ last week, the . President - (Mr ' Wilham Swan) gave some interesting reminiscences of his life oh the goldfields in the early; days. On one diggings.near Grerif ell, 16,000 men had gathered, shortly after the first rush. Conditions ~of life naturally were hard, and it was a rare thing to see a woman, on the field: He remembered walking over a mile in company with a crowd of other diggers to see one. A. gentleman who. came to the diggings with his wife brought a servant girl. A week after she left to be married. A second- girl was brought, and three days later, she was married.^ The third servant who came signed a bond for £30 that she. would, not leave.before twelve months. _ The next week a young squatter interviewed tlie gentleman, and said he understoo s d there was £30. to pay. The wife then went to; Sydney and engaged another servant; ■'";' When the husband .saw her he said, he -thought they wonld be able to keep her. She was' called "Gummy!. 5 ' A fortnight plater she left to be married. The lecturer added -'that, so far as he knew they, all lived happily, ever since.