Part 3 (1/2)

HARGRAVES, THE PIONEER MINER

While these discoveries were agitating the ricultural and pastoral coence initiated the practical working of the gold-fields of Australia was, like the father of Norval, tending his flocks and herds, and living quietly as a squatter near the town of Bathurst The alternative droughts and floods occurring between the years 1844 and 1848 ruined e their raves was one of these latter unfortunates He had been remarkably prosperous before this disastrous period, and even after it had sufficient to clear himself from debt The discovery of rich mines in California about this tiain his forold in the valley of the Sacra the precioussus was tolerable, but in the winter the cold was very severe, and Hargraves' party suffered intensely Even with every particle of clothing they possessed heaped upon the the war, and in addition to this there was the danger of the tent being borne down by the weight of snow upon it, and the risk of being rudely aroused by the rough paw of any grisly bear thatforest in search of food The rigours of the climate, added to their bad luck, so dispirited the party that at the close of the cold season they separated Hargraves, with a heavy heart and a light pocket, s which had warold-country had now been entirely dissipated by the gri life

As he journeyed doards towards the seaport, probably whilst reflecting on the vicissitudes of life in general and of his own in particular, he was struck with the appearance of a deep gulch in the Sierras, which awakened old memories, and it dawned upon hi country were remarkably similar to those of the valleys near his old ho had not weakened his energy nor dulled his observation, but it had made him more practical He exa districts, and found that the rocks and even the soil corresponded in many respects to the Blue Mountains of Australia The many resemblances between the two places iold-bearing region in New South Wales

But his belief did not dissuade his In company with a friend hesoround; but visions of the secluded valleys near his old home constantly haunted hisof treasures in the recesses of the Blue Mountains vivified his i his fallen fortunes He disclosed his thoughts to hisnature of the hills near Bathurst But all the dilations of Hargraves asted on his co substantial profits for the sake of shadowy prospects, and pointed out to the enthusiast that the geologists of Australia had already searched the hly, and that if fortunes could there bebefore Hargraves argued that the object of the geologists in exaes was merely to verify scientific principles, and to further scientific knowledge; but that to open up a payable gold-field men of a very different stae of the old, and ill and capability to delve with the pick and to wash the gold-sprinkled earth

Arguraves left his mate, and all alone shaped his course for New South Wales

Hargraves reached Sydney in January 1851 He called on his for himself unable to keep silent on the subject that was ever in his thoughts, he related his experiences in California and made his propositions; but they were looked upon as visionary, and when he wished to borrow a little money in order to carry theraves' acquaintances only one sympathised in any manner with his enthusias out his schemes Deterraves resolved, withalone to the district that scientists had pronounced to be auriferous The few pounds required to buy a horse and for the expenses on the way he obtained by pro cent per cent

interest on the loan, and repayment of the whole within a few months

Early in February he set out upon his lonely journey Every hour brought before him the old fa life Every step onward quickened his feelings and increased his hopes of regaining fortune by bringing him nearer to the Eldorado that was so rich and bountiful in his iination

On the eleventh of the month the solitary horseman arrived at a small inn on the slope of the Blue Mountains He hinted to the lady the object of his journey She became interested in the handsome and travel-stained enthusiast, and at his request allowed her son to guide him to various creeks in the vicinity

Early the next raves, acco journey through the bush they came to Suold-fields' pioneer A good look around confirazed at the realities of what had haunted him in his visions Then, in order to relieve the intense strain which his mind had continuously endured for the past few months, he lay quietly down on the banks of the quiet creek After a short rest, he took pick and trowel in hand, and prospected along the water-course Five panfuls of earth and gravel were in a short tiold Much elated at this result, and as the day was noing to a close, he decided to return to the inn and renew his searches on the morrow

When he reached the inn he very carefully wrote an account of his doings and discoveries during the day, for well he knew that besides being a fortunate one for himself, the 12th of February 1851 would be a memorable day in the annals of Australia

The next day he further exaindustry His researches were croith indubitable success He saw enough of the precious old-field, and also discovered indications of its presence insatisfied that the object of his expedition was accomplished, even beyond his expectations, he returned to Sydney for the purpose of obtaining a reward for his discoveries, andthem known to the public

The Government of New South Wales received with suspicion the discoverer's stateold-field within the boundaries of the colony The old discoveries had made them chary of belief in such reports, besides which the convict eleht that the existence of genuine gold-fields in the Blue Mountains would long since have been discovered and ists and other scientists who had explored the ranges

But Hargraves was too sensible a ed by the rebuffs of a Conservative Government He saw the importance of his discovery, and by dint of personally interviewing the Colonial Secretary, he drew fronition of it; and with characteristic caution and shrewdness obtained a guarantee of the Govern valuable Then he undertook to disclose the secret to the Governist, and also persuaded persons to accompany him to the scene of his discoveries The latter he acco a lecture at the town of Bathurst, and by forive a Govern for the precious h the surrounding districts, and very soon nureen pastures unto the ”yellow sands” This rushi+ng away froreat losses to the stockholders, while it was feared by the gings would soon be acted over again on these fields

The Governist was in due tied discoveries He fully confirraves, and advised the Governe the pioneer to carry out theirmatters which he had acquired in California wouldup of fresh diggings

Before the end of May, one thousand raves, and the extent and rich productiveness of the gold-fields had become so widely known that hundreds flocked daily out of Sydney The Government, after some vain efforts to check this rush, wisely desisted froulations to preserve good order at the diggings They issued licenses, without which it was illegal to dig or search for gold, and also enforced, with the aid of a body of foot and raves was appointed a Co, on behalf of the Governers In addition to his salary as Commissioner, he was at once rewarded L500 for his valuable discoveries; and subsequently, when the enerally realised, this arants from the New South Wales and Victorian Governments, and by testimonials from the citizens of Sydney and Melbourne, to the handsome extent of L15,000

[Illustration: A BUSH FIRE]

Edward Haraves was presented to the Queen in 1853 as the Australian gold discoverer The liberal rewards and honours bestowed upon him are but an infinitesimal portion of the wealth and fah his discovery And it is htfulness, cleverness, and enterprising perseverance of Hargraves, that in an extremely short period Australia has taken an advanced position a the nations of the world

THE ABORIGINAL DISCOVERER

The exciteraves' revelations had raised abated a little early in June, for the weather was cold, wet, and incleer's life was thus rendered ers, the floods effectively preventing all froold-fields becaloomy reports that for a time the rush from toholly checked Towards the close of June, however, a shepherd picked up gold in the neighbourhood of Turon river News of this rapidly spread round the district, and in a few days hundreds were on the spot hunting greedily for further treasures

The next ”lucky find” was a inal, obtaining a brief respite fro his master's sheep, took a toist He wandered about chipping the rocks and exa, yellow substance sticking out of a rock attracted his attention Applying his tomahawk, he struck off a portion, when a lump of the hted gaze The intelligent black darted away to bring his olden prize Shortly afterwards he and hislaboriously with a sledge-haantic ed to diseht Out of these lumps the maold was obtained, which on being sold realised the ht” eclipsed anything ever previously seen in the shape of nuggets The ru proportions attracted the notice of adventurers, and increased tenfold the stream of fortune-hunters that flowed towards the Turon mines The district soon becah, that land-holders in other districts, fearing a depreciation in the value of their property, were induced to offer rewards for discoveries in their own neighbourhood