3 June 1854
THE PYRAMUL.
We learn from an authentic source that the rush to the Pyramul has merely subsided. Still there are comers and goers - men who come and dig for a day or two, prove unsuccessful and "roll up their blankets," whilst others more fortunate, remain. Being a nuggetty country it is either good luck or no luck at all. The digger either makes what on the diggings are termed very good wages, which means about four times the income of a petty German Prince, twice that of an English attorney, or three times that of a Scotch doctor in ordinary practice, earns as much as the conjoined incomes of all three or does nothing at all. A son of Mr. P. Crook's, publican of the Pyramul lately dug up a nugget weighing 9 ozs. 16 dwts., and another of 4½ ozs. which were sold to Mr. Suttor. The diggers are beginning to spread themselves out and try new ground. It is said that from certain indications which have not been described to us, they are confident of meeting with something superior1
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22 December 1857
THE PYRAMUL.
Whilst the neighbouring diggings are languishing for want of water those at the Pyramul rejoice in an abundant supply of the element so essential to our mining operations. In some of the ground it is even too abundant to be pleasant, but in no instance insurmountable. A great number have recently left the Pyramul, and it consequently presents rather a forsaken aspect, but the exodus has had the effect of greatly reducing 'the number of the unsuccessful. Those remaining here are for the most part earning something above mere rations, and a few are doing "a stroke." The shallow ground opened near the road turned out a pretty good patch, some of the claims having paid four and five ounces per man for the week's work. The gold runs coarse amongst others a nugget of five ounces was taken out. The Crudine rush, as was. anticipated, has turned out a failure, and most of those who went from the Pyramul have returned without having obtained a pennyweight. It appears that some Chinamen struck a small patch of payable ground on a point in the vicinity of Buckley's station, and most exaggerated reports of the quantity obtained by the Celestials getting into circulation caused the rush. The majority of the Chinamen, however, have left the place, and the Europeans are fast following their example. The Pyramul River some two or three miles below the present diggings is attracting the attention of the diggers here, and should it turn out to be of any account will be able to give employment to a large number of men.
14th December, 18572
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26 January 1858
THE PYRAMUL.
During the past week or two we have had nothing but excitement at the Pyramul. More gold has been getting here during that period than for some time previously; and we have had the Commissioner to settle disputed claims in several instances, very rare occurrence in this usually quiet settlement, in the old ground the returns have been much better than they were, many places having turned out well which former holders had abandoned. The gardens facing Price's Store have been rushed, greatly to the horror of their proprietors ; how ever, there was no remedy, the diggers fancied the place and rushed it - all that the crop owners could do was to gather everything in the shape of vegetable matter sufficiently advanced for culling and let the diggers fall to. A great many holes have been put down which turned out the usual average of "shicers" and some very good claims. The gold in the gardens, like that in the adjoining ground, is of a very coarse character, nuggets of from one to five ounces having been found, together with some good patches of small gold. The sinking runs from six to 12 feet, and some of the ground is very wet; the wet ground, however, about these diggings is mostly the richest. The Pyramul is gradually becoming more known to the diggers, and the number at work on it is on the increase, and looking at the exhausted character of most of the goldfields on this side of the colonies, it is not saying too much of this place to pronounce it one of the best diggings we have. Comparatively little ground has yet been opened, and all that has been opened has turned out well, and been but partially worked, so that the Pyramul stands in the position of almost a new gold field, the resources of which are at present unknown. Surrounded as it is on all sides by diggings, every one of which has been highly productive, and looking to what has already been done here, there seems good reason to suppose that this gold field is as rich as any of its neighbours have been. Gold is selling freely at £3 15s. per ounce.
19th January, 1858.
Two or three thunder showers have given us a partial supply of water, and once more there is a display of vigour amongst the miners, but it is very doubtful whether this will bring back the number who have loft within the past few week. With the Paling Yards abandoned, the Washing Gully almost in a similar condition, the new gully giving little more than rations, and the Green Valley Creek left to three or four workers; there is little hope at present of any large increase in our population. The old ground about Golden Gully seems in the most favour, but from the heavy nature of the work very little beyond small wages can be made there, and this cannot last much longer. The fact that Tambaroora has for nearly six years supported a large population on the lime ground proves beyond a question how rich that ground must have been in the first instance, but the time is now at hand when this old ground must be exhausted and something new opened or Tambaroora must be deserted. The Chinamen and the Pug Mills are rapidly using up every spot where a pennyweight is known to exist, and it rests with the men of business here to make an effort to direct the energies of the working population to the development of the large tract of untried country which surrounds these diggings. Two or three hundred pounds subscribed as the reward for the discovery of a payable gold field within five miles of Tambaroora, would give an impetus to prospecting which would result in the discovery of something to induce a large population to migrate to our neighbourhood. In the present depressed condition of all the diggings any new discovery of a gold field of but medium quality would lead to a larger "rush" than this colony has seen for years, nearly every man on the mines being ready to start off for the favoured locality on hearing of even a pennyweight to the tub. Gold remains at £3 15s. 9d. per ounce.
18th January, 18583
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