1852
1 December 1852
The Meroo diggings have hitherto proven exceedingly rich; and from my observations of the nature of the country, and various communications with parties well qualified to give information on the subject, l am persuaded that a vast amount of the precious metal lies embedded in the soil, for miles and miles, indeed, throughout the length and breadth of the district.
A great deal of gold has been obtained from the surface by mere scratching, at various spots; and whenever a spade has been put into the ground the stuff has proved, more or less auriferous1
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1 December 1852
The Commissioner, Mr. Broughton, informed me that he had issued 490 licenses for the month of November, for the whole district, including the Louisa Creek. Of these 460 were digging licenses, and 30 storekeeping. Mr. Broughton fully expected to issue 600 in all.
The largest number of licenses issued in this district was 900, in the month of December last past which time, however, the Dirthole Creek was included in the district. It has since been transferred to the Tambaroura district.
The result of my visit to the western gold fields is a conviction that the whole country over which I travelled is highly auriferous. All the tributaries of the Macquarie, the Turon, Tambaroura, the Pyramul, the Meroo, and all the creeks which feed them, have been proved upon trial to contain gold; but I am persuaded that hitherto their real richness has not even been suspected. One of the chief features of our western gold fields is the very general dissemination of the precious metal. Instead of being found in large masses, as at Mount Alexander and the other diggings of the southern colony, it is spread abroad over a very large extent of country, and occurs in tolerably equal quantities, - thus affording far greater encouragement to a number of diggers, than if they were accumulated in solitary spots; and I have no scruple in stating my opinion - an opinion which was formed before I had visited the country, but which has been abundantly confirmed by personal inspection - that there is ample room and verge enough for an immense population, and gold enough to support them in comfort, and to make the fortunes of many thousands. To estimate the number which our gold fields would maintain would be idle, since there cannot be any sufficient data on which to found a calculation; but if I hazard the number at 50,000 working men, I am quite satisfied I shall be very far within the mark.
It will be seen that my inspection extended only to a limited portion of the district. I had no opportunity of visiting Ophir, nor had I time to investigate the rumours I heard of the auriferous character of the Cudgegong river, which several persons, whose opinions were entitled to every consideration, assured me would be found exceedingly rich, if properly worked. I may however, say with great truth, that the gold fields of New South Wales are as yet in their infancy; and when a large influx of population shall have taken place, and more especially when a more careful, systematic, and comprehensive method of working the mines shall have been introduced, there cannot be a shadow of doubt that the golden produce of this colony will far exceed anything that has yet been achieved, or even hoped for2
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