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every-day life resumed. But this was not for long, and people had soon some other evolvements from the laboratory of Nature to wonder at. Ere two weeks had passed the astounding intelligence was posted d o w n from Sydney that, on the 12th February, M r . E. H . Hargreaves, a returned Californian miner, had discovered what got to be k n o w n as the Bathurst Goldfield. This was a panic of a very different kind, and the astonishing news, supplemented upon the arrival of every sea-going and overland mail from Sydney, so bewildered the people as to render them for a while incapable of action, almost of thought. O f course it was in everybody's mind that everyone should be off to the " diggins," as the treasure-ground was termed. Trade slackened, business depressed, and there was a general stand-still. Tenants gave up their holdings without observing the etiquette of a week's notice, and many of themflitted,forgetful to pay the rent. T h e coasting trade from Melbourne to Sydney was an exception to the general rule of dullness, and dozens, scores, and hundreds winged their way northward, resolved to return when they had m a d e their fortunes. M a n y w h o had staked their all in Melbourne bravely held their ground, the sagacious and long-headed brought their heads together, and the only rational conclusion followed, viz., to use every effort to find out gold deposits in Victoria, which would in some degree, if not completely, counteract the attractive influences of N e w South Wales, and so keep the Victorians at home. There was an impression indelibly imprinted on the public mind, not only of the residents of Melbourne, but throughout the province, that hidden layers of golden store existed in several localities, if they could only be found; and to stimulate and prosecute researches towards this end, both hope and energy were directed. Small volunteer parties lost no time in instituting gold searches, and in a few months news of small findings dribbled into town. Early on a Sunday morning (1st June) a labouring m a n called upon M r . Howie, a watchmaker, in Elizabeth Street, and, producing a small bag, rolled upon the counter thirty pieces of yellowish composition, which he pronounced to be gold. They were tested, and found to contain gold of the poorest description. Several of the pieces weighed lA[, and others ^ oz.; and the man, leaving one of them with orders to have a ring manufactured, departed with a promise to return in a few days. Howie elicited in conversation with the stranger, that the latter, whilst engaged digging on the River Plenty, had accidentally turned up the treasure-trove. H e would not give any further particulars, remarking " that he must have enough himselffirst,before others got possession of his secret." O n this becoming known, hunting expeditions were hastily formed, and money was raised in various ways. In one instance, half-a-dozen carters clubbed and sold four of their drays to provide for the purchase of equipment, whilst the other two vehicles were laden with provisions and implements to be used in the future operations. O n the 4th June, a bushman called at the Waterman's Arms, in Little Collins Street South, a few yards from Elizabeth Street, and showed to the landlord (Mr. W . Clarke) some splinters of quartz with a metallic substance attached. Clarke had them immediately examined by what he believed to be a competent judge, w h o pronounced the yellow stuff to be gold. T h e finder said he had got them within four miles of Melbourne ; and Clarke, having wormed out the place, was off there without delay, only to have his trip for nothing. Rumours n o w came pouring into town that gold (as yet not even seen) abounded at the Pyrenees, the Goulburn, the Murray, and almost every other nameable place throughout the interior; and not only gold, but silver, copper, coal and other minerals. Brentani and Crate (another jeweller) declared that they had lately obtained some specimens found at the Pyrenees, and it was proclaimed as a certainty (but by w h o m could not be ascertained) that a rich vein of platina had been discovered at a place named (not inappropriately) M o u n t Disappointment. T h e public feeling was n o w worked up to a boiling-point of distraction ; and to increase the general state of unsettlement, an insane reaction suddenly set in, in the form of a m a d spirit of speculation, to check which the banks raised the rates of discount. Provisions grew scarce, and leaped to such a price as added to the general embarrassment. Alarmists predicted a coming famine, and to such an extent did this go, that on the 6th June a meeting of citizens was held to consider the propriety of starting a milling and baking company, so as to keep d o w n the price of bread. After some discussion, it eventuated in the nomination of a Committee " to devise the best means of immediate relief to the industrious but overburdened portion of the community." T h e movement