Cornwall Chronicle (Launceston, Tas. : 1835 - 1880), Saturday 17 January 1852, page 35


BENDIGO GOLD FIELD.

At a Meeting of the Bendigo Gold Diggers, assembled on Thursday, the 1st of January, 1852, the following resolutions were carried unanimously : — Moved by Mr. Sambach, seconded by Mr. Coombs — That we, the gold diggers at present assembled on this creek, having been apprised that the Commissioner will not receive licence-

fees for the current month in gold, as has hith-erto been the custom, and in accordance with the Governor's Proclamation, hereby declare our inability to pay our license-fee in cash, but are ready and willing to pay in gold. And we most solemnly protest against the adoption of any coercive measures, on the part of any Com-missioner, in carrying out the terms of the no-tice referred to. Moved by Mr. P. McKenzie,seconded by Mr. W. Gamms — That we do hereby appoint the Chairman, and the mover and seconder of tbe foregoing resolution, to act as a deputation to represent the same to the Commissioner for his guidance : and that the Meeting do support the deputation.

The blessings of good government.— A Mr. Anderson was stopped and robbed on Friday afternoon, in broad daylight, on the road to St. Kilda, by three men, who threw him down, held a pistol to his throat, and rifled his pockets of some gold dust and a valuable watch. A woman was attacked and robbed in broad daylight, close by Mr. Bear's stock-yard, in Queen-street, and within sight of an assemblage of three hundred people ! Pleasant occurrences these, and highly illustrative of the blessings of good government. —Melbourne Argus. Robberies.— The numerical weakness of the Police force appears to have given fresh confi-dence to the horde of bandits with which this Colony is now infested. We hear of several robberies that have been committed in broad daylight, and almost without attempt at disguise, some of them being accompanied with violence. It is to be hoped the peace and safety of the town will not be left much longer in its present imperilled state.— Ibid. Military.— The Eleventh Regiment are under orders for Victoria, and may be expected here shortly from Sydney. New Diggings, yielding largely, have been discovered twenty-six miles beyond Kilmore, at Thomas and Jones' station.

St. Kilda.— Though the regular annual sports were this year confined to one day (Friday), some private matches were run there on Satur-day, in two of which Mr. Daniel O'Reilys, 'Bansbee' were the winner. Murder.— It was currently reported in town yesterday, that a man (Drake) who was for some time a detective in Launceston, and who had lately proceeded to Mount Alexander, was shot dead near the diggings on Tuesday last. We cannot vouch for the truth of the statement, but give it just as we have heard it. Daring Robberies.— On Tuesday evening, three scroundrels attacked a man and woman who were walking near the grave yard, and robbed the man of above £4 — all the cash he had about him. On the same night, a bush-man, named Leonard, was plundered of a leather purse, containing 10oz of gold dust in a house of ill-fame off Little Flinders-street. The late Case of Mutilation.— Ann Bishop, the woman charged with barbarously mutil-

ating her husband was yesterday brought up to the City Police Court, and the depositions being completed, was committed for trial. The poor man, we are glad to hear, is likely to recover. Street Rows.— A most disgraceful scene was enacted yesterday afternoon, at the corner of Elizabeth and little Collins-streets, by two Launceston women, who treated each other to

a set-to at fisti-cuffs, and knocked each other repeatedly into and out of the kennel. About thirty men were present, who appeared to enjoy the fun amazingly. On Tuesday some fifty men all more or less engaged in gold speculations, kicked up a shindy in Elizabeth-street, and a serious riot was near ensuing. Two policemen were looking on, but were afraid to interfere. Street Robberies.— On Friday night no less than three daring robberies were committed in the heart of the city, viz., a young man named Riddle, fresh from the gold diggings, was assailed by three men in Little Bourkestreet, and plundered of £100 ; another was knocked down in Elisabeth-street, and robbed of £47 and a third in Little Bourke-street who was stripped of £13. All the victims are bush-men, and singular to say, they do not appear in the least degree to exert themselves to detect or secure the prosecution of the thieves.