Page:Statistics of Australia (Haughton, 1853).pdf/6

 Carriage of goods to the diggings, £1 per ton per mile; at this rate the amount paid during six months, winter season, would pay the entire cost of railway to Bendigo and Mount Alexander.

After a long enumeration of the advantages resulting from the discovery of gold, and the immense wealth with which it has, as it were, flooded the colony; Mr. Westgarth turns to the other side of the picture, and describes in strong language the sufferings which it has brought upon many; the social evils which it has engendered, in the shape of "atrocious crimes," "deeds of frightful daring and merciless atrocity." These he attributes to the convict population; but, as he looks on the discontinuance of transportation from Great Britain as a settled question, so far, at least, as they are concerned, he speaks with hopefulness of the future. He says, "in the midst of mines of wealth, and a race of progress, our society is for the present beset with difficulties and discomforts. Time will, however, rub off many of the asperities which the sudden changes in our condition have induced"

In The Argus, a Melbourne paper, which appears to be conducted with much ability, under date of 18th August last, are to be found some highly interesting statistics of the colony of Victoria; they strongly corroborate the statements made by Mr. Westgarth, in his comprehensive address.

Speaking of gold, the editor says, "Symptoms of marked improvement in the yield of our gold-fields, have again begun to make their appearance. Fresh spots have been discovered, which give indications of extraordinary productiveness, and even the old ground has been so much for prolific as to yield, the last week, as well as the one preceding, more than has hitherto made its appearance in any one week the last six months. There is no doubt that for the last seven months the yield has not been all that could be wished; in fact, the yield has declined until last month, when it seems to have reached its lowest point."

The quantities received, per escort, within the following periods, was:—

These figures do not give a full account of the yield, as considerable quantities are taken by those who do not send their produce to Melbourne by the escort.

Flattering accounts had poured in within a week or two of a new field discovered on the banks of the Goulburn, about eighty miles from Melbourne.

The statements in The Argus, coming down to a period of about four months later in this year, than that contained in Mr.