Alexandra Times at KellyGang 26/4/1872 (3)
Here was an opportunity afforded to the dejected tradespeople of Gobur, to assist this tribute party by supplying carbon for their bodies, and tools and materials for their work, with the advantage of knowing that gold was in the ground to be operated upon. Did the said dejected and almost despairing tradespeople. gladly avail themselves of this opening, which was to be the beginning of better times for Godfrey's Creek. Verily, nay. One said “he would not trust the, beggars sixpence worth, or a box of matches"; another would not let them have even a loaf, albeit bad bread and light weight; another held aloof, shut up his books, and ultimately his store, and went right off, rather than be found encouraging mining in the district.
All in fact, with one comment, began to make excuses, and the party of tributers were about to come to grief. Not one of the tradespeople of the town could see to the distance of an inch beyond their noses, and their axiom was, "Better look at the goods upon ourselves, than run the slightest risk by assisting the miners to develop the resources of the lead on Godfrey's Creek."
I said the party of tributers were about to come to grief. They did not. Fate had something better in store for them, and it was in this wise. At the critical juncture before referred to, a certain gentleman bought the store, stock, and business of a firm in Gobur which had lately dissolved partnership. Being a business man, with views some what more extended than the tradespeople of Gobur, and moreover believing that Godfrey's Creek possessed golden resources, the developing of which would give remunerative employment to many working miners, he started the storesaid party, giving them credit for such goods as they required from time to time.
Men of little minds generally hold more obstinately to notions they may have entertained or opinions they may have formed than other men; and so in Gobur it was reiterated and insisted on, that the tributers would not be able to bottom their shaft, or if they would, that payable gold was not in the ground. and that they would be forced to give it up. Great was the outcry against the interloping storekeeper for daring to differ in opinion with the wise acres of Gobur, and, sad to say, scandalous reports were circulated to injure the new comer, and mean tricks resorted to having the same object in view. The miners, however, pursued the even tenor of their way, always hopeful and eventually successful. And now that payable gold is being produced, it is past the common amusing, to fill all those tradespeople who would not assist in the least in developing the resources of the place, putting forth all the energy at their command, and using both fair means and foul, to secure if possible part of the trade, which, as a natural consequence, passes their doors. They would now gladly grasp the ripe and tempting grapes which hang suspended beyond their reach, and have not yet, like the fox in the fable, even pretended to think them sour.
One thing, however, is certain - the money now being circulated in Gobur, the product of the lead, would yet be lying undeveloped and useless were it not for the assistance rendered by Mr Jewell (the enterprising storekeeper hereinbefore referred to) to the working miners of Gobur.
Other parties are now taking up ground on the lead, encouraged by the success which has so far attended the tributers and others, and two new shafts have been commenced. Let Gobur flourish, be the motto, and with that must always be associated the name of the man who treated the miners of Godfrey's Creek as if he thought them respectable and honest men, and not as either rogues or beggars.
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