CHAPTER XI.
Some time in the month of August a quartz reef was discovered at a place called Jackass Flat; a rich lead was found cropping out on the surface. The discoverers marked out a prospectors’ claim and then laid on their friends. Claims were marked off for three miles on the supposed line of reef. There were six in the prospectors’ claim, not one of whom would sell out for £500. One ton of stone was packed down to Adelong, a distance of seventy miles; was crushed at one of the machines there, and yielded 120 ozs. Nothing more was found; the reef had run out. It was merely a “blow.”
A party of gentlemen connected with the squatting interest, desirous of trying their luck at the diggings, started on a four months’ trip, limiting themselves to time so as to return to their station in time for shearing. They had bad luck until the end of their time, when they got fair prospects. One of the party cleared off the surface to a depth of 2 ft., when he came to the bed rock. All at once one of his mates said, “What is the day of the month?” “The fifteenth,” was the reply. “Not another day’s work will I do at the diggings,” said he, at the same time sticking his pick into the rock. His mates were willing enough to give up the digger’s life. One of their number put the billy on the fire, and the others set to work to pack up their traps. Some new chums passing by asked them if they could put them on a piece of good ground. “Yes,” said one of the party, “this claim is for sale, tent, tools, and all.” “What do you want for the lot?” “Twenty pounds,” was the reply, A bargain was struck. The squatters lost no time in making up their swags and away they went. Before the billy placed on the fire by them had boiled, one of the new chums took up the pick and, after a few strokes, unearthed a good-sized nugget. They worked steadily on, and in less than a month cleared five hundred pounds a man. The squatters did not hear of their ill-luck till some time after their return to the station.
12th August.—Moved into our new office to-day, a wooden building with shingle roof; it contained two rooms besides the bank chamber, namely, bedroom and parlour. The bank
