Mr.
T. C. Power who had been sent to enquire into the matter, that there
was no mistake about it, and gold there was; and it now only remained
to be ascertained as to the extent of the gold fields.
The
natives here have got hold of the report, and I expect a few days will
see Kandy thinned. A pretty "mess" for a time we shall all be in. Latest Gold News.
We have just seen the joint report of Messrs. MacCartney and Power dated yesterday from Yattelgodde.
To satisfy themselves they selected a fresh spot, dug the earth, washed it, and found gold.
The
diggers then continued their operations, and out of three pans of earth
washed a quantity of gold which Mr. Power was to carry to Kandy for the
Governor's inspection.
The
small quantity of gold hitherto found is fairly attributed by the
diggers to the imperfection of their machinery. This was to be
immediately remedied when the value of the discovery would be decided.
We
learn from another source that so confident is the leading digger of
success, that when he gets the requisite machinery, he says he can
afford to pay parties employed by him £2 per day wages! He says
he is confident there is a much richer spot close to Ambepussa, which
he passed on his way to the present locality.
Mr.
Caldwell, who accompanied Mr. MacCartney from Colombo, has drawn a map
of the surrounding country from which it appears that the spot where
the diggers are at work is just within the Seven Korales District, it
being about 50 yards from the Maha Oya where it bounds the Western
Province. The locality it appears is within a few miles of Ambepusse.
Hundreds
of persons were flocking to the spot, so that it was deemed necessary
to leave a small party of Police to preserve order.
In the ancient manuscript to which we have alluded elsewhere, gold is specially mentioned as found in Belligalk Korle.
(From the Colombo Observer, March 16, 1854.) The " Examiner's " Gold Intelligence. The Examiner issued
an Extra last evening purporting to give the resalt of the personal
researches of one of the Editors, but all the real information afforded
bears a marvellous resemblance to the two grains of wheat in a bushel
of chaff, or "the needle in the bottle of hay. Considering also that
the writer is no longer a disinterested party, having invested in the
purchase of land for building purposes, his statements, where they lean
to the sar,guine, must be received cum grano. It- is certainly
very important to know that the diggings are called "Bradley's
diggings." That is a fact. But we announced in our regular issue that
the locality was close to Ambepusse, and actually within the limits of
the Kurunegalla district. Why Mr. Layard should be blamed for sending
his Mudaliyar to ascertain what personal observation alone could
settle, perhaps the writer can explain. The horror indicated at the sin
of Sunday travelling is amusing enough, considering the quarter whence
it comes. We suppose no portion of that day was occupied by our friend
in prospecting or in concluding his bargain with the natives for their
lands. Why the diggers should have been angry at the charge of having
asked and obtained leave to go prospecting, we cannot well see, but we
can easily imagine the more intelligent and reasoning Editor of the Examiner mollifying
the diggers and telling them candidly that there was nothing to be
angry at. That would be the part of a generous man and a gentleman
under the circumstances, and of course " Brutus is an honorable man."
The public will be glad, however, to learn, that the six diggers had
regular discharges from their Captains: three from Capt. Manning of the
"Faithful," and three from Capt. Ross of the "Martin Luther." We are
thankful to learn that a "Tom" is not "a vncker appltcmce," as iq our
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