It was reported in Melbourne that there was no law or order at Turton’s Creek; that the diggers were treating the mining statutes and regulations with contempt; that the gold went to the strong, and the weakest went to the wall.  Therefore, six of the biggest policemen in Melbourne were selected, stretched out, and measured in Russell Street barracks, and were then ordered to proceed to Turton’s Creek and vindicate the majesty of the law.  They landed from the steamer on the wharf at Port Albert, and, being armed with carbines and revolvers, looked very formidable.  They proceeded on their journey in the direction of Foster, and it was afterwards reported that they arrived at Turton’s Creek, and finding everybody quiet and peaceable, they came back again, bringing with them neither jumpers nor criminals.  It was said, however, that they never went any further than the commencement of the ditch.  They would naturally, on viewing it, turn aside and camp, to recruit their energies and discuss the situation.  Although they were big constables, it did not follow they were big fools.  They said the Government ought to have asphalted the ditch for them.  It was unreasonable to expect men, each six foot four inches in height, carrying arms and accoutrements, which they were bound by the regulations to keep clean and in good order, to plunge into that river of mud, and to spoil all their clothes.

Turton’s Creek was soon worked out, and before any professional jumpers or lawyers could put their fingers in the pie, the plums were all gone.  The gully was prospected from top to bottom, and the hills on both sides were tunnelled, but no more gold, and no reefs were found.  There was much speculation by geologists, mining experts, and old duffers as to the manner in which the gold had contrived to get into the creek, and where it came from; where it went to, the diggers who carried it away in their pockets knew well enough.

The diggers dispersed; some went to Melbourne to enjoy their wealth; some stayed at Foster to try to get more; some died from the extreme enjoyment of riches suddenly acquired, and a few went mad.  One of the latter was brought to Palmerston, and remained there a day or two on his way to the Yarra Bend Lunatic Asylum.  Having an inborn thirst for facts, I conversed with him from the wooden platform which overlooks the gaol yard.  He was walking to and fro, and talking very cheerfully to himself, and to the world in general.  He spoke well, and had evidently been well educated, but his ideas were all in pieces as it were, and lacked connection.  He spoke very disrespectfully of men in high places, both in England and the Colonies; and remarked that Members of Parliament were the greatest rascals on the face of the earth.  No man of sound mind would ever use such language as that.

Some years afterwards, while I was Collector of Customs at Port Albert, I received a letter from Melbourne to the following purport: