sened or destroyed. The Government also, finding that, from the increase of the digging population, and the flow of wealth amongst them, disaffection was on the increase, found it necessary to augment the police force to restrict them; and, finding that the outlay for this service exceeded the return from the tax, resolved to increase the fee from 30s. to £3 per month. Mr. Earp, who was at Ballaarat at the time, thus describes it:—
"During the evening we commenced making acquaintances, and found that the serious evil of discontent was prevalent, owing to the ill-advised measures of the Colonial Government, who passed an Act doubling the license fee. A second Act had called upon all the diggers to act as constables, under the penalty of being considered rogues and vagabonds, and being treated accordingly. It was generally understood to be the effect of a clique in the Assembly, who, alarmed at a petition which had been presented, praying for a revision of the electoral lists, had contrived to get this Bill pushed through the House, making the fee, moreover, to be paid by every one employed in any way in connexion with the gold, whether digging or not. Meetings had been held, and the diggers resolved rather to resist the fee altogether, than to pay the increased one, and the consequence has been that both Bills have become dead letters. The feeling of irritation against the Government, however, still existed, and committees have been formed to protect the interests of
