SOUTHERN SUMMARY.

Auckland Examiner, Volume 1, Issue 22, 14 May 1857, Page 2

SOUTHERN SUMMARY.

OUR Southern files acknowledge the Nelson Gold Fields as a great fact; 1000 men are now at work, many of these, of course, draw blanks, and, although the “ Examiner” attempts to show that it is not a lottery, two of our Auckland returned diggers say that where one man makes good wages ten do little or nothing, and as winter is near upon us, the diggings are not likely to prove so seductive as our Southern contemporary believes. The “ Lyttleton Times” in speaking of the prospect of Nelson says, “ the future of Canterbury will doubtless be much affected by the success of the diggings, whether in Nelson or in our own Province, in the meantime we must recognize the Gold Fields, not necessarily as either a great curse or a great blessing.” The Nelson Provincial Council was still in Session. From Wellington we have nothing important to note. Our Otago files contain information of the discovery of a Gold Field in that Province. The “ Witness” says—- “ A report has been in circulation in Dunedin that some person had arrived from the South, bringing 11 ounces of gold, obtained at the Mataura. We have made careful inquiry and find that the rumour is untrue. We have seen the person alluded to, who informed us that he had been to the diggings near the Mataura, but that there are no experienced persons at work there. He had obtained an ounce in about two days, and being an experienced Australian digger, he was favorably impressed with the value of the field; he, however, stated that to render any operations successful, it would be necessary to form a a strong party of industrious and experienced hands, who would have to provide themselves with a tent, tools, and provisions, when he has little doubt but that they would be successful.”

There is no material change in any of the markets. Flour was quoted lower at Wellington. At Nelson the following quotations are made : —Fine Flour £l7 ; seconds £l4 ; wheat 5s ; bread 5d 21b loaf; beef, mutton, &c., same as our own. It is evident that no serious effect has been produced by the gold diggings.