THE AMOUR GOLDMINES.

Inangahua Times, Volume X, Issue 1575, 17 July 1885, Page 2

THE AMOUR GOLDMINES.

: • In view of the supposed to be rapidly approaching war, and the scarcity of what is said to be the sinews of that art (says the St Petersburg correspon-de-ut of the ydney Morning Herald), the Rnssians receive with ranch com placency the news which occasionally reaches them of the rich goldmines discovered a year ago on the right bank of the Armour, which have l>nt oue drawback, and that is tbe trifling consideration that the golden territory belongs to China. These mines were j discovered l>y some Russian convicts, who had estimated themselves on the opposite bank, and who, uitkuown to the Chinese Government, secretly exploited them, and extracted considerable quantities of the ore. , Gradually this little Colony on Tom Tiddie's ground grew and flourished, so that at the present moment it consists of some 500 persons. The accounts of the quantity of gold extracted by the most primitive meaus are probably exag gerated, but it is said the community is getting from 16lh to lsh of gold a week. The men work in gronpß of iO, and inhabit bots or holes dag in tfc« groaud. The whole enterprise is directed by a certain Saha'rof£ a mer chant, eight starthinas or judges (appointed by the people from among themselves; 300 soldiers to defend the goldseekers, two inns, and an office. The greatest order seems to reign in the little community; the severest laws have been made to preserve it ; a thief, for example, risking bring con demned and hanged ou the spot, as was done in California iv the ea -iy days. No women, Tartars, Jews, or dogs were allowed iv the settlement But the China Government at last got scent of the affair, and sent a fancti^n # ary- to look mi to it. The child of th* Celestial Empire proved accessible to the magic of the corrupting metal, and was bought off. The goMseekeis had a little respite, and in the meantime some 15,000 men came pouring into th« mines from Irkouu»k. Another Chinese messenger arrived, and was politely requested lo return in two months time when he should receive handsome contributions. This did not suit John Chinaman, who toon returned r backed by 500 warriors, to cbftwthe .Russians across tbe Armour aaJ

s«'H the mines to some Americans; but the convicts made a brave defence, there was a kittle, and the Russian* k»pt taeir fooling. Forty men were killed, and many more wounded, bat whether Chinese or Russians, the letter *- lich lirotight these detail* does not nay. Tito Chinese proceeded to cot off p-'ovisions, l>ut such crowds of emi*j>"a»«ts are now flaking to the magic «no fh .f in the summer most likely ti-iv w-il h-, not 1-3.000 l»ut 50jOOO hum! iii-"-. 1 , and no d »übt there wiltfo ad much oluod s ied as gold tend ia the place.