for "discretion and judgment, combining promptitude with firmness, and conciliatory manner, and persuading to a right course before stronger measures are resorted to." For this purpose reliance was to be placed upon the co-operation of the workers, among w h o m regulations were to be established, and some of the most respectable and willing were appointed special constables. The desirableness was also impressed "of causing Sundays to be properly observed; to put down all attempts, should there be any, to labour on these days, and to encourage and promote by all possible means the attendance of the people at religious observances, if the clergy in the vicinity should find themselves in a position to afford means for public worship." Favourable accounts poured in every hour to Melbourne, and one gentleman on his way down counted 400 persons and 70 drays on the route from town. O n the 27th, two brothers, named Cavanagh, appeared in Geelong with 60 pounds' weight of gold (valued at ^2,300) the produce of four weeks' work.
THE FIRST GOVERNMENT ESCORT.
The Government at length determined upon organizing a weekly armed escort for the safe conveyance of gold from Buninyong to Geelong, and thence per steamer to Melbourne. It was to leave Buninyong every Tuesday at 6 a.m., arriving in Geelong at 4 p.m., and the following morning start for Melbourne, where it was due at 3.30 p.m. All gold to be so sent was to be forwarded to Buninyong by 4 p.m. on the Monday, where an authorized officer would take charge of it. Previous to receiving it, he was to have it accurately weighed in the presence of the bringer, and then tie it up in a leather bag which was to be sealed and labelled with the weight, the name of sender, and consignee, and whether resident at Melbourne or Geelong. The depositor was to receive a receipt containing all the labelled particulars. There were to be two boxes in which the gold would be secured, viz., one for Geelong, and one for Melbourne. O n reaching Geelong, both boxes were to be placed in charge of the Police Magistrate, who was next morning to deliver the Melbourne box to the officer in charge of the escort, who was to duly hand it over to the Colonial Treasurer. The consignees would receive their gold at Geelong and Melbourne upon producing their authority, signing a receipt, and paying an escort charge of one per cent., on washed gold, to be estimated at the rate of £5 per oz.; and on gold mixed with a larger portion of stone at the rate of £2 10s. per cent. Every precaution was to be taken for the safety of the escorted gold, but in the event of loss, the Government was not to be responsible for it. ' O n the 9th October special instructions were issued for the conduct of the escort. Instead of the sender fetching his gold to Buninyong, it was found more convenient that the Commissioner should collect and deliver it to the Police Magistrate, who was for such purpose to go guarded every Monday to the Commissioner's station, take over the gold, and bring it to Buninyong. The mounted men of the general police doing duty at Ballarat were to be withdrawn, and the Buninyong Police Magistrate was to have under his control 1 sergeant, 1 farrier, 29 troopers, with 1 non-commissioned officer, and 5 troopers of the native police, whose cost was to be paid from the Territorial Revenue. T w o troopers were to be detached to Melbourne, to form the escort from the river Exe to Melbourne, whilst two more were to go to Geelong as an escort from Ritchie's to the Exe, 1 trooper to be stationed at each of those places to take charge of forage, and render assistance if required. The escort from Buninyong would be furnished from that place, proceeding as far as Ritchie's on Tuesday, and returning next day. The escort was to consist of two mounted men to be relieved at the different stations, and an armed trooper in the mail-cart who accompanied it the whole way, and returned with the cart, the entire party to be under the command of Mr. Lydiard. Mr. Commissioner Doveton was to have a trooper-orderly, and 1 sergeant with 10 troopers for protection, and to maintain the public peace. O n the 18th it was announced that arrangements were made for the substitution of Ballarat for Buninyong as the starting-point of the escort. The mail contractor would be permitted to bring one or two passengers with the gold, "provided they were gentlemen well known to the Police
