Friday, June 18, 2021

1872

AUSTRALIAN ALMANAC - GULGONG.

Banks
  • Bank of NSW - Gulgong Branch - C. B. Cairnes, Manager
  • Australian Joint Stock Bank
Country Attorneys
  • Johnson, Richard - Mudgee & Gulgong - Agent: H R Way
Country Lodges
  • Gulgong - Lodge Abbotsford (U.D.)
Source: The Australian almanac. (1872)

1872 - [NEW LANDOWNERS]
[3109] Department of Lands, Sydney, 21st June, 1872.
IT is hereby notified, that the persons mentioned in the subjoined list have been permitted to purchase, under the 8th clause of the Crown Lands Alienation Act of 1861, the portions of improved land specified against their respective names.
The deeds for these portions will be issued as early as practicable.
JAMES S. FAKNELL.

Names of Applicants.
John Brigden
T. G. Jenkins
Thomas Ryan
Margaret Gless
Sampson Jacob
W. A. Smith
H. A. Swan
W. Kinson
Thomas Yabsley
Charles Monk
G. L. Keighran
Joseph H. Murray
Henry Rossiter
Patrick Gallen
John Souter
John T. Woods
James Long
Edward Tarrant
John Thomas Frost
W. Hewson
F. S. Osborn
Robert Stewart
William Wesley
Nicholas Cooney
William John White
Daniel Doyle
Moses Brothers
William Kemp
James Court
Daniel Asher
F. W. Clifford
B. Benjamin
Witton & Company
John Pericles
D. Pope
John Scully
John Cogdon
William Frost
Thomas Saunders
R. Angove
R. H. D. White, pro Bank of New South Wales
William Selff
John B. Clarke
Cornelius Driscoll
James Redmond
Williams & Taylor
Abraham Hyams
William Selff
Sun Tong Lee
Patrick Brady
Richard Creek
Mary A. Bloomfield
John T. Woods
Michael Downey
Edwin Davies
Henry W. Phillips
Joseph Price
Samuel Samper
Charles E. Whicker

Source: New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 - 1900) Fri 21 Jun 1872 [Issue No.172] Page 1596

SELECTED ARTICLES FROM 1872

1872 - VIEW OF GULGONG FROM THE HOSPITAL HILL.

1870s VIEW OF GULGONG FROM THE HOSPITAL HILL.

1872 - VIEW OF GULGONG 
(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)
LOOKING from the Hospital Hill, Gulgong presents a very busy and important appearance. In the distance the blue prominent peaks of ranges about Cooyal stand out against the eastern sky. Nearer, and to the left of the picture, the huge mounds of red, white, and blue stuff indicate the locality of the Black Lead and the Happy Valley—the spots from which the present wealth of the gold-field is being extracted. To the right are seen the workings on the Red Hill, with the red flag of the Golden Hill Company flying over their claim, and denoting that they have struck the precious metal.

The valley between is thickly studded with the white tents and bark huts of the diggers, whilst the foreground is occupied by the town of Gulgong itself, with its numerous publics, stores, and shops of all descriptions, sizes, and architectural designs.

The population of the diggings is estimated at about 10,000, comprising people from all parts of the world, and from every diggings in Australia, English, French German, and Chinese. The men of course predominate, but I was very glad to see a fair proportion of the softer sex and a great many children. The population is, without exception, the most orderly for a diggings I ever saw. They seem a quiet self-reliant class—working hard all day, and at night promenading the streets to make their little purchases or hear the latest news. I saw but one or two cases of drunkenness during my stay, and although I observed a strong body of police there did not appear to be as much occasion for their services as I noticed in my omnibus drive down Brickfield-hill.

The buildings are all composed of wood, calico, or bark, presenting strange contrasts by the variety of colours and designs. The finest building is certainly the new Roman Catholic Church just completed, and reflecting great credit on that congregation. Near it is the Wesleyan Chapel, also a very neat structure, and on the rise of the hill the English Church, to which is now being added a respectable parsonage.

Selfe's Hotel, at the junction of Queen and Herbert streets, being the only two-storied house in town, and on the top of the hill, towers above its fellows, and gives a permanent look to the place. The public-houses appear to be well kept, and all doing a quiet steady trade. Good meals, good liquor, civility, and attention are to be obtained everywhere, so far as my observations extended. The stores also are well-stocked, and the articles extremely cheap. The two Chinese Stores in Herbert-street are a feature in the town. Their assistants behind the counters are all Celestials, and their expertness in dealing and the ready manner in which they have become acquainted with English weights, measures, and prices, speaks well for the persevering industry of the race.

There are four churches, which I believe are well attended; three schools also well attended. A hospital, which I am happy to say, is not so well attended, although liberally supported. There is a good theatre, under thc management of Miss Joey Gougenheim, supported by a good company of artists, and apparently well patronised by the public.

The Court-house, and the police barracks are substantially built on the top of the Red Hill, and immediately on the Mudgee-road. There appears to be no doubt as to the permanency and extent of the Gulgong. It is not my place to describe the different loads, or their prospective value. I leave that to your regular correspondent, who has faithfully kept you posted up in those matters; but I will just mention that the country around for miles, bears the same character, and is being gradually opened up, and I doubt not, Gulgong will remain for many years the centre of a very large and rich gold district.

JANUARY - A NEW AND STRANGE DISEASE
A correspondent of the Empire at Gulgong writes - During the first four weeks a new disease has developed amongst the population at Gulgong. It is cutaneous in character, and very annoying to those afflicted. Its cause is generally attributed to the water used by the people, and is said to be accounted for by either the diseased sheep that have been washed in the creek from which the water supply is obtained, or the remedies employed to cure such diseased sheep.
Blotches come out upon the skin of those taken with the disease, and although the general health of the party does not appear to be affected, the singularity occasions much remark.
'Arsenical sores' is a term that has been applied as descriptive of the disease, but whether this is a proper term or not we leave for surgeons to decide. It will of course become important to the people to know if such a disease can arise from the cause assigned, and if such should prove to be a fact, measures must be adopted to prevent it.
Source: The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1893) Thu 11 Jan 1872 Page 4

JANUARY - FRIGHTFUL MORTALITY.
The sickness now prevailing in this locality is something frightful to contemplate, and appears to be on the increase. On Sunday there were five funerals and several on Monday, and in the evening we were told by a medical man that three others had succumbed during the day. It is an exhaustive fever, but lacks several of the characteristics of typhoid. It is what is generally called colonial fever. Amongst others buried on Sunday was Mr C. F Wickers, of Pyrmont, Sydney—a gentleman who has resided here about five months, and was the proprietor of quite a number of town allotments and mining shares. He 
died at Driscoll's Warburton Hotel, at 2 o clock on Saturday.

FEBRUARY - The number of deaths registered at Gulgong during the month of January has been 37, a number largely in excess of the average per month in the preceding quarter. Of the above number 21 were children under 5 years of age, 6 between 5 and 12 years, and 4 were deaths from mining accidents, thus showing that the mortality is confined to children principally.
Source: Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919) Sat 10 Feb 1872 Page 6

FEBRUARY - The Gulgong Argus, of the 14th, also relates that some excitement was caused in the town on Monday, by a large number of the diggers parading the street with a band of music, flags flying, and the effigies of Mr. R. Rouse, J.P., and Mr. H. Tebbutt, J.P., being carried upon a platform for the purpose of a conflagration, (that the ire of the owners of the block claims on the Black Lead might be appeased) through the adverse decision given by the above gentlemen against them. The procession proceeded along Herbert-street to Queen-street; it afterwards went down Queen-street, along Medley-street, thence round Naughton's corner to Selff 's Hotel. The crowd had now increased to about six thousand, when it proceeded past Tuckermann's Hotel, on to the Red Hill, where the two effigies were consigned to the flames amid the cheers, groans, and shootings of an excited populace; during this part of the programme, one man had his leg broken, and another his arm, by tumbling over the quartz.

1872 - CEREMONY WITH EFFIGIES
A most novel and amusing scene took place here yesterday morning — the exhibition of two mummies, or effigies, who bore a striking resemblance to two of our worthies of the peace. It had been notified by the bellman that at 4 o'clock a procession would start from the lower end of the Black Lead, and that it was desirable that every man on the field should put in an appearance in order to witness the imposing ceremony. All was in readiness, and, true to the hour, the different officials took their proper posts of honor. First came a front guard of horseman — and women, too. Next the town crier, bell in hand; next came the standard bearer; then the band, playing the "Rogue's March;" then the two objects of derision, arm in arm, and seated at the foot of the gallows, erected on a frame borne by four men; then came horsemen, carts, drays, footmen, etc., in all over a thousand. The procession moved along all the principal streets, stopping at every corner, and exhibited their mummies, whose phizzes were unmistakable, until at length they reached the summit of the Red Hill; and, the hour being come, one of the crowd stepped forward, and pulled the rope. The two trunks dangled in the air, until at last the necks gave way, and the trunks fell to the ground. A fire was then lit, and they were consumed amid the groans and curses of nearly all present. One party returned back to the Camp reserve, playing "God Save the Queen," while the other proceeded down Herbert Street, playing "Patrick's Day." What does our so-styled Justice now think of the "heathen savages of Gulgong "? February 13.

Source: Trove

APRIL - GULGONG. [FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]
Never since the great rush to this place, which commenced some ten months ago, has the town presented so dull an appearance. The thousands who thronged the streets, on a Saturday night especially, are no longer to be seen, and the town, always remarkable for the orderly conduct of the inhabitants, presents at night a quietude which hardly suggests to a visitor, unaware of the fact, the contiguity of an extensive gold-field. Some noticing the change from the busy whirl of excitement which characterised the place, would be inclined to suppose that the gold-field was declining. But the escorts prove to the contrary, the average of about 4000 ounces per fortnight having been well sustained up to the present time, while there can be no doubt that when some of the deep shafts are bottomed and the rain comes, there will be a great advance upon that quantity. The uncrowded appearance of the streets during the day is a great indication of the stability of the place, for no doubt many of the men who were formerly idlers for want of work are now hidden from gaze, at depths varying from 50 to 100 feet down the shafts of the deep-sinking claims on the principal leads. Then, again, a large number have been drawn away from Gulgong proper to the Canadian lead, about five miles distant, and which promises to rival even Gulgong itself for buildings and population. Here the red flag is flying in all directions, and the advantage of the miners who have struck gold lies in the great depth of wash dirt, which in one claim I descended was fully eleven feet in depth. Consequently, although the field may in some cases not exceed an ounce to the ton, yet the quantity of it, and the comparative ease with which it is obtained, go far to counteract the apparent inequality. On the Black lead the greatest anxiety ie felt as
to the result of the bottoming of the shafts in claims beyond No. 40, for if either of them comes upon good dirt, scores of claims beyond will be worked with the greatest activity. The Star, Moonlight, and Scandinavian leads are also looking up, and I hear some very cheering accounts from Stott's, Lowe's, and Rouse'e paddocks, the last three being private property. Your readers will have seen that largo areas in W. R. Rouse's paddocks, at Biraganbil, and Mr. G. Rouse's paddock, at Guntawang, have been taken up by speculators, and formed into public companies. If other owners of land in the neighbourhood, known to be auriferous, were to follow this example, and throw their property open to the pick and shovel in a similar manner, a solution of the vexed question of mining on private property would not be
far off, so far as this district is concerned. I may add, that another landed proprietor (Mr. R. Lowe) has permitted a company to be formed to work a claim of ten acres on his Ellerslie property, on which an unmistakably gold-bearing reef exists; and I have seen samples of the stone, which yielded at the Mint nearly an ounce to the ton. Our great want now is, as it has been more or less for nine months, water. The dams are nearly dried up, and pyramids of washdirt surround the majority of the shafts that have struck the bottom. The greatest dissatisfaction is expressed upon all sides regarding the amended regulations, and the opinion of many intelligent and experienced miners is, that the "frontage" system is utterly unsuited to the requirements of thie field, and must ever be a clog upon its progress. One thing is certain, that it is prolific of litigation, and the general mode appears to be for two magistrates to give a decision, and for two others, sitting as on appeal Court, to reverse it. A petition is being numerously signed by the miners for presentation to the Parliament when it meets, praying that some legislation may take place to enable them to enter upon private auriferous tracts and mine, paying the owner a compensation to be decided by Government arbitrators. The petitioners mainly depend upon the reservation in the Crown grants of all precious metals, &c., which they urge clearly entitles the Crown to resume possession. We are great people here for memorials and petitions, but unfortunately little good seems to come from them. The latest grievance is one of the new regulations, which provides for the issue of leases of auriferous ground of various classes, and of a maximum area of 25 acres, at a yearly rental of £1 per acre, and they conclude their memorial to the Minister for Lands by saying that "they emphatically protest against a system of leasing, which creates a class of unscrupulous adventurers, who, by their speculative practices, defraud the investor, injure the miner, and do not develop the gold-fields."

Shortly after I commenced this letter, at a little before 7 o'clock this evening, an alarm of fire was raised in Herbert-street, and it soon became evident that Asher's general store [near Ryans's Hotel] was on fire. The great want of water struck with appalling force upon the senses, for if the flames gained any ascendency the greater portion of the town, built as it is of such fragile materials, would have been jeopardised.
Fortunately there was no wind, and, as everybody felt it to be his interest to check the fire, there was a much larger quantity of water provided than could have been expected.
On the lower side of the store stood the Treble X Brewery, a small building built principally of bark, and it was in a very few minutes levelled to the ground, thus cutting off communication in that direction. On the other side was a small gap, dividing the burning building from Moses's store,. "The Wonder of the World," and by means of blankets, saturated with water, it was saved. In less than ten minutes from the alarm of fire, the flames had such a hold that extinguishing them was out of the question, and in less than half-an-hour from the outbreak the store and its contents, stated to be worth about £3000, were a pile of ashes. The excitement has been so intense that it has been impossible to ascertain, accurately, whether either the building or the stock was insured, but it is said that the
latter was about half covered. The fire was caused by a too common accident, the bursting of a kerosene lamp; but it would have been easily extinguished by means of a blanket thrown on it by Mr. Asher, jun., had not some one with injudicious zeal, thrown a quantity of water upon the flames, and so spread the oil bearing them all over the place. Gulgong, Saturday, April 20.

MAY - A VISIT TO THE WESTERN GOLD FIELDS. No. 2.— GULGONG. [FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.] May 17.
The road from Mudgee to Gulgong runs the greater part of the way over alluvial flats, level as a bowling green. A gently undulating forest country intervenes now and then, just to vary, as it were, the monotony of the bush-track without rendering it anywhere steep or rugged. An easier passage provided by nature to a rich gold-field it would be hard to imagine. The difficulties encountered by diggers twenty years ago in getting to such places, suggested the inference that they were all, without exception, girt round with mountains and ravines. That idea is found to be erroneous, like many others entertained by the first adventurers. Gold is now thought to be almost everywhere obtainable at different depths, after having crossed the Blue Mountains.
Several vehicles run daily between Mudgee and Gulgong, carrying passengers, at the low charge of half-a-crown each way. The distance is about eighteen miles. My friend and I travelled on horse-back, as being more favourable to a leisurely survey of the country, and affording us an opportunity of looking at the Canadian Lead, — an off-shoot of the diggings at Gulgong.
I shall postpone my observations upon this comparatively new lead, in order that I may carry the reader's attention at once to the more famous field last mentioned. On arriving at what is called the Red Hill — an eminence of no great height, composed of an ochreous kind of earth, thickly strewed with pebbles and splinters of quartz, you obtain a full view of the township—so to call it—or gold-digging settlement of Gulgong. It is situated on a flat, and stretches over an area of about two miles square, or rather more than two thousand acres at a rough calculation. The whole space is dotted with habitations of a hybrid character, being neither tents nor huts, but having a mixture of the features of both canvas and calico predominating in some, and bark and slab in others. Intermixed with these tent-huts in every direction, and equally if not more numerous than they, are heaps of excavated earth, sometimes as high or higher than the huts themselves, and not unfrequently surmounted by a windlass for hoisting the stuff from below. This apparatus, in the case of a paying shaft, is generally encompassed by a rude frame-work which supports a covering overhead of some sort — often bushes—to shelter the workmen from the burning rays of the mid-day sun.
At a distance — as at the view from the Red Hill —these tent-huts and heaps of clay appear to be a thick and confused medley, but on a closer inspection, — as I ascertained afterwards — they appear to have been subjected from the first, to on arrangement having a suitable degree of regard to facility of intercommunication.
To the left of this spacious array of tent-huts and piles of earth, and on a somewhat higher level, stands the business part of the settlement. This is divided into streets, which cross each other at something like right-angles. Every foot of ground is appropriated. Shops of all kinds, and public-houses of ever degree of rank, from a simple bark shanty to a pretentious brick built hotel, closely elbow one another— the public houses, I think, being not only greater in number, but also superior in size and commodiousness. There are upwards of seventy of them, I am told, within the space which the eye looks down upon from the Red Hill. Let not the teetotallers be alarmed! A large proportion, if not the whole of these fulfil the purpose for which public houses are professedly licensed by law — they are houses of entertainment, and their varied scales of accommodation are adapted to the means and taste of the peripatetic section of the community.
Excessive drinking is not charateristic of the diggers as a class, and I am disposed to think that, except in the form of habitual sottishness on the part of those who have given up all hope in the future, very little of it exists in Gulgong. A fit of the kind is generally succeeded by the teetotal pledge for a season; so that 'perfect sobriety,' as total abstainers love to call it, gains on the whole, perhaps, as much as it loses by the occasional mistakes of those who outstep the boundaries of moderate drinking. Every thing, 'from a needle to an anchor,' is purchasable at the shops here, at little or no advance upon Sydney prices. The streets—so to call the dusty avenues between the rows of shops and inns—are thronged in the daytime, by much about the some number, though not, apparently by the some sort of persons, as the streets in Sydney. There is not the same bustling activity about them, intent, in the case of each individual, on the immediate discharge of a high duty, that you will observe in the Sydney people. Here they are more meditative in their aspect, and deliberate in their gait, as though they had business in view that required thought and circumspection rather than quick despatch.
There are also fewer women amongst them, and fewer well dressed men. The yellow, clay-stained fustian trousers which have never made and never will make acquaintance with the wash-tub, invest the lower extremities of every two men out of three (perhaps of every three men out of four) you meet. Some are looking after backers, it may be; some are hunting up mates on the spree; some compounding with their creditors; some seeking employment; but few if any are indulging in voluntary idleness. Though they move along at snail's pace as compared with the brisk fellows in the business part of Sydney, yet they are all so much on the move that there are no stationary groups at the street-corners.
At night the thronged appearance of the principal thoroughfare resembles that of the centre of Sydney, at the intersection of King and George streets. On Saturday evenings, I am told, the trading portion of the settlement exhibits as crowded and busy an aspect as 'Paddy's Market,' in Sydney. The division of labour is carried to a far greater extent in commercial business here than it is at Mudgee. Instead of being general stores at which all sorts of goods are sold, as at the last mentioned town, most of the shops at Gulgong are confined to the sale of a single species of articles. The rather antiquated method of announcing auction sales, public meetings, entertainments, &c., by means of the street-crier is resorted to at both places; but at Gulgong the practice is most prevalent, and a higher degree of vocal talent seems to be engaged in the occupation.
One of the Gulgong public criers is distinguished as well for the strength of his lungs as for the distinctness of his articulation. His professional deliverances are generally made on horse-back, and he calls himself 'The Campanologist,' to connote, perhaps, along with the skill he displays in the use of a large hand-bill, the sonorous character of his own voice. He is quite a local celebrity, and should be, I imagine, in a fair way of laying the foundation of a fortune, by a mode of industry which no where else in the world could lead to such a result.
The shops here are said to sell articles at as cheap a rate as they are obtainable in Sydney, and considerably cheaper than they are to be had in Mudgee. And this cheapness is likely to continue and increase, as waggons and drays loaded with merchandize of all kinds are continually arriving.
The shops and public-houses are, for the most part, of a very temporary and unsubstantial character, considered as buildings. A large proportion of them are capable of being removed, peacemeal, and set up again on a new diggings in the event of Gulgong declining in prosperity, and a rush taking place to another field within a day or two's journey. The materials of which many of them are composed have already done service in a similar capacity at Two-mile Flat and elsewhere.
As to the public buildings— so to call the churches, schools, &c, — the only one which has any pretensions to architectural elegance and suitability to the purpose for which it was erected, is the Roman Catholic Church. Though entirely composed of wood, it has a very graceful exterior, together with an appear ance of strength and permanence, which is seldom exhibited by structures of the same material. It stands in the centre of a large allotment which is enclosed with a somewhat rough/pailing fence. At the time I passed it, a large number of children, who attend the Roman Catholic School, were at play within this enclosure.
All the principal denominations have churches and schools here, I am informed, which are well attended —the schools particularly. Religion and education, therefore, appear to maintain their ground though entirely self-supported. The Public School system has not as yet obtained a footing. Children of all ages are numerous throughout the whole settlement, but especially so in the poorer-looking quarters of it. They are, generally speaking, I am happy to say, decently dressed, and healthy looking.
A considerable number of married persons with families appear to have taken to gold-digging as an occupation. It is certainly not a very congenial one for them as respects the comfort and the interests of the younger and weaker members of their households; but it may be expected that as time flies on, and their turn comes for making a lucky stroke, they will, one family after another, settle down upon the waste lands as free-selectors. This has already been the case, I am happy to say, in many instances. In the immediate neighbourhood of Gulgong small farmers on land of their own are numerous, though rather scattered, and too far apart from one another to enjoy all the advantages of the social state.

1872 - Burglaries, Stealing from Premises, &c.
Stolen on the 18th ultimo, from a shop-door of Messrs. Wilton & Co., storekeepers, Gulgong,—About 25 yards of green plaid; value, about £2. Identification doubtful.
Stolen between the hours of 6 and 12 p.m. the 18th ultimo, from the house of Daniel Downey, miner, Gulgong,—An American tomahawk with a small piece out of one comer, and two-pence in coppers. Tomahawk identifiable.
Stolen about noon the 22nd ultimo, from a hut at Gulgong, the property of Robert Rolling,—One pair gray tweed trousers and vest, one blue cloth sac coat, and one five-chambered revolver, small size, round barrel.
Stolen on the evening of the 24th ultimo, from the house of Stephen Brooks, Black Lead, Gulgong,—About 1 ounce of gold, one piece weighs about 3 dwts., and has a small piece of quartz in the centre, flat shape, identifiable; and about £3 worth of silver, not identifiable.
Monday
The Post-office was burglariously entered by the rear-window on Sunday evening, between 8 and 9 o'clock, while the postmaster and his wife were at church. About £10 was stolen, but the letters and papers were not disturbed.
Mining affairs at the new lead are lively.
Messrs. Sweeney and Gilles have been selected as delegates to proceed to Sydney to advocate the block system for the whole of the Home Rule claims.
The weather is cold and unsettled.
Thursday.
The escort takes 3465 ounces to-day.
There is much excitement between the frontage and block claim holders at the Home Rule.
Raining steadily.

SEPTEMBER
Street Metalling - We are glad to see that the very necessary work of metalling the two principal streets is now being performed. Both Queen [Mayne] and Herbert streets are now metalled in the centre for some distance, and several ugly holes have been filled up. This was much required both for the convenience of pedestrians and to support the heavy traffic passing over them. The sidewalks however, also require a similar coating, especially in wet and soggy weather; but considering the reluctance the Government have always exhibited in voting money for public works on Gulgong, we must learn to be grateful for the most infinitesimal grants from the Colonial Treasurer.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 116, 25 September 1872

DECEMBER - TOWN IMPROVEMENTS.
Gulgong is being rapidly improved in its general appearance. This comes about not only in the superior kind of dwellings and houses of business, but in the alterations that are made by straightening lines and smoothing corners. Queen-street is now very compact, and almost uninterruptedly elegant for nearly three quarters of a mile, and has completely eclipsed Herbert-street. Commencing some distance on the Home Rule-road I notice that Mr. L. S. Donaldson, C.P.S., has recently enclosed his allotment on the northerly slope of Red Hill with a good substantial paling fence. Within the enclosure he has also erected a a nice verandah cottage. These constitute a material improvement to the air of comfort in that part of the street. Approaching the town I find that Mr. George Sanders has opened the Prospector's Hotel where the Star and Garter was formerly, and has made very substantial alterations in the house and premises. All the street from, Mr. J. B. Clarke's Club house upon both sides down to the corner of Herbert street is now compact, all the gaps having been closed. The building of Mr. Young, one of the most costly and imposing edifices in town, is now nearly completed, the carving by Mr. Hurbottle being a credit to that artist, and a new front has been put to Smith's hotel below. On the opposite corner an agreeable change appears in the Bank of New South Wales and its surroundings. The ground in the rear has been prettily laid off as a garden plot, and planted with choice flowers. A neat summer house has been erected, and a nice fence encloses the whole. Passing up Herbert-street, a great improvement is observable in the Court house, which not only looks much better, but in reality has been made very comfortable inside as well as out. Opposite this building Mr. Aspinall has put up an elegant and commodious billiard saloon and furnished it with every thing necessary for lovers of this game. Being unconnected with any bar or public-house, temperance people have no conscientious scruples in visiting and patronizing the the table. A few yards above, the Joint Stock Bank agency have erected a beautiful and imposing edifice where the business is now transacted. Nearly opposite the bank is the Congregational Church reserve which has been enclosed. Upon this there is a fine large cottage nearly completed, for the Rev. Mr Trevor the pastor of that church at Gulgong, or, we suppose, for his successors whoever they may be. Returning to the corner, we pass down Queen-street, and notice the tasteful fronts to the buildings of O'Neil Bros, and Mrs. Williams. Nearly opposite, the old Bowling Alley has been transformed by Mr. J. W. Clifford into a neat and cool saloon, where that veteran caterer to the gold miners has established a branch of his Sydney Brewery. Below we find that the old wine vault is now a comfortable Inn. Mr Ward has rejuvenated his commodious Turf Hotel and treated the outside to a thorough coat of paint and made corresponding improvements to the interior. Immediately in the rear of the lofty structure of the Theatre Royal, in rapid course of construction attracts every eye. Mr. Rossiter made an improvement in his Hotel, by adding a capacious parlour, and opposite, the little old shops have been replaced by a large building to be opened as a wine shop and cold drinks saloon. The Harp of Erin has also been greatly improved, as has Downey's and the School of Arts. Still further down a large house has been erected and opened as an hotel. Coming back and going down Herbert-street our attention is attracted by the alterations in Hunter and Co.'s Bazaar and Cameron's Crystal Fountain, which have been much improved. Mr. E. Purchase, the druggist, has also treated his dispensary with fresh paint. Mr. Wesley's Hotel now presents as fine an appearance as any hotel in town, and a new building is going up between the stores of Mr. Coleman and Mr. Collins. Messrs. Moses Brother's have opened the large iron store below Mr. Graham's, where wines and spirits are disposed of wholesale. Opposite is Clifford's new Sydney Brewery, where the celebrated XXX beer, so well known upon every gold-field in the colony for twenty years, is manufactured. The Belmore Hotel, by Mr. Allen, is one of the neatest hotels in the town. We have, in this sketch, only passed along the two principal streets, but the improvements do not end here. They extend, and are observable in every part of the township. Mr. McKinnon of the Robert Burns Hotel is building a new house on the old site of the Australian Joint Stock Bank, and expects to open by Christmas.
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