I came across this article whilst searching old newspapers in the Royal Cornwall Gazette. Dated July 1864 and headed Miner with Two Wives it reads:
"St Austell - Some few years ago, a miner left St Austell for Australia, leaving a wife and young daughter at home. He succeeded very well at the diggings and for some time sent regular supplies to his wife and child; at length he stopped doing so and the poor woman suffered in consequence. At last she was obliged to apply to the St Austell Board of Guardians for assistance to support her child. The Board thinking her story doubtful, offered her the workhouse; but subsequently one of the Guardians told the Board he had reason to believe that she had really been badly served by her husband and then she was granted relief for the child. She then learned on undoubted authority that her husband had married another woman in Australia and when she ascertained that the board could not pay her passage thither she was in sad trouble. At length fortune came to her aid. She heard that some miles off resided a person who wanted to send two children to Melbourne with a respectable woman, and on making application she was approved for the purpose. Her passage thus being secured she still had to procure a passage for her daughter and being known at St Austell as a well conducted person, the gentry and shopkeepers subscribed the required amount and the Board gave her some clothes. She and her child started on their long voyage in September last. (1863)
A letter has just been received from her. She found her husband had turned farmer and was located in the bush about 50 miles from Ballarat. After some trouble she reached the spot. He was in the harvest field and on being asked if he knew her he seemed much surprised and said he believed he did and confessed, on the question being put to him, that he was married to a woman there. Ultimately the Australian 'wife' accepted 200 pounds and repaired to her parents."
Now then Rootschatters - who was he?
The above is as written in the article - no names were mentioned.