THE GOLDFIELDS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT 21 



November, 1854. Since the patched -up truce which resulted from 

 the concessions made to the Bendigo miners in September, 1853, the 

 peace had not been disturbed, though on many of the fields very 

 strained relations still existed. 



In the meantime, the population engaged in mining had increased 

 enormously. Towards the close of 1854 the returns gave 70,000 

 men so employed. Four years later this number had quite doubled, 

 but the great majority were then workers on wages for companies 

 or associations. In the earlier period nearly all of them were toiling 

 for their own benefit, and stimulated by the hope of great personal 

 gain. Hence they were of a more independent character, more 

 resolute in action, and more tenacious of their rights. Towns of 

 commercial importance and social activity, like Ballaarat, Castle- 

 maine, Bendigo, Maryborough, and a number of smaller centres, 

 had sprung into existence, enabling many of the miners to locate 

 their families, and to exchange their nomad existence for some 

 approach to domestic comfort. The concentration had other results. 

 It brought men together after their day's work, and led them to talk 

 over their individual interests and their associated grievances. It 

 stimulated the growing idea that as a class the miners were entitled 

 to a full share in the political power then monopolised by a mere 

 handful of electors. Further, they resented the difficulties placed in 

 their way, when successful in mining, in investing their gain in a 

 share of the fertile soil, where they might make a permanent home 

 for their families, and rest from the exacting toil which had been 

 their stepping-stone to fortune. In these legitimate aspirations they 

 were very properly supported by nearly the whole press of the colony, 

 for its journals could now be counted by the score. Not always, 

 however, was this done with the best taste, or with tactics likely to 

 secure the desired end. Several of the papers used the cause of the 

 diggers chiefly as a vehicle for deriding the Legislature and be- 

 littling the Lieutenant- Governor and his Executive. 



The contempt for authority, so persistently preached, the inces- 

 sant suggestion to the miner that he must assert himself if he 

 would not always remain the easy prey of officialism, wrought 

 disastrous results, and over a wide area spread a rankling sense 

 of injustice. There were plenty of professional agitators in all 



