THE Evening Star. SATURDAY, AUGUST 14, 1869.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1958, 14 August 1869, Page 2

THE Evening Star. SATURDAY, AUGUST 14, 1869.

Alternations of apathy and fitful exertion., seem to mark us in Otago. Just now, while every \jtlier Province is eager in search after New Goldfields, We appear quite content. The reports of geologists, miners, mining surveyors, and others acquainted with indications of gold give every reason to believe that immense areas lie unworked in different parts of the Province; yet nothing is done to bring them prominently before the world. Even our Goldfields Wardens, instead of Bending frequent reports, as they used to do, confine the information they can give to short letters written at wide intervals of time. Some time ago the Marewhenua Goldfield was discovered. There was every reason to believe, from the reports that came to hand, that a very valuable addition to our means of employing labor was about to be opened up. An energetic Executive, alive to the advantages derivable from a wealthy field for enterprise, would have thought it a fit occasion to have sent a special surveyor to ascertain what the value of the discovery really was. Two obvious reasons dictated such a course. First, should a large area of rich ground be ascertained to exist, reliable information would have been given concerning it, that would have justified men out of employment going thither and devoting themselves to its development. It is always better that the sober intimation that gold may be found within a given area, should come from a Government, than that the announcement should be

made in the shape of exaggerated statements, by persons interested in getting up a rush. Secondly, it is the duty of the Executive to ascertain what the value of the goldfield really is, in order that they may proclaim it one and thus give to those working upon it the privileges and protection they have a right to expect. But thus far our information respecting the Marewhenua diggings is derived from private sources. We can hear of the large j finds of Auckland ; of the splendid quartz reefs there; we hear of prospecting in Taranaki, in Wellington, in Canterbury, in Southland : we see flaming announcements of quartz bearing gold, and read of vessels laid on to convey Otagan diggers to new fields of enterprise, and we gaze upon these doings with a sort of Turkish indifference, putting forth no effort to stay the tide of emigration, but seemingly content, without a struggle, to part with the bones and sinews of our prosperity. We refer to the Marewhenua Diggings, because it is a case in point, not because it forms the only instance of this singular indifference to obvious duty. Otago has suffered from every discovery beyond her bordera. No doubt it may be deemed sufficient reason for this that the population that congregated in this Province when gold was first discovered comprised a large number of restless spirits, ready to rush after every phantom that seemed decked with it. Thousands have'found-they could have done better by Remaining here than they have done elsewhere. But they have only learnt that by dearly bought experience. A few years ago, far more attention was paid to mining than has been given to it lately. Apparently it has been accepted as a rule of conduct that Otago is so faraedly rich, that there is no necessity to bring the fact more prominently before the world, or that no effort is necessary to replace the population that has gone, or even to retain those who remain. On what other ground can it be accounted for that while every other Province is parading its auriferous wealth, fancied or real, the only districts of the Middle Island that can point to their known but undeveloped treasures are Otago and the West Coast 1 ? This indifference is the more extraordinary when the depression of the pastoral interest is considered. The low price of sheep is easily explained,—animal food has increased in quantity more rapidly than consumers have increased in number: the supply is greater than the demand. The influx of population into Auckland has given an extraordinary upward impetus to prices in the middle parts of the North Island. Sheep at Wanganui have risen to twenty-six and twentyseven shillings each ; while we in Otago are exercising every ingenuity to put our low priced mutton into such a shape as to render it palateable to a distant population. The rise in the price of food in the North being the result of demand, and not of scarcity, points to a well-employed and increasing population. Mouths seek the food, and consequently are prepared to pay for it. We are in a converse position—our food has to seek the mouths, and therefore wo have to make it worth their while to buy it. We have always held the position that the goldfields of a country are the best market for its pastoral and agricultural produce. There are tens of thousands of acres of auriferous land unworked in the Piovince; the highest authorities on the subject have invariably asserted that thus far we have only scratched a very small fractional part of what is deposited in the Province: why should we allow ourselves to be outdone in the race by provinces that have thus far offered no other temptation to the miner than a determination to find a payable field if such an one exists 1 Let it be remembered that immediately before the discoveries in Westland our monthly exports exceeded 40,000 ounces. What are they now 1 The only reason why they have fallen off is the withdrawal of population from the Province. Can nothing be done to replace it ? Let the people ask the Government.

A Blank Day.—This morning the Resident Magistrate’s Court was closed, there being no case either civil or criminal for adjudication. New Steamer,—We learn by latest advices that the new steamer Maori, which arrived from Glasgow about six months ago, has been purchased by a Dunedin firm for the trade between this place and Timaru and Lyttelton. The Maori was to leave Melbourne on the 7th instant, and may therefore be hourly expected. Gas.—At the annual meeting of the Auckland Gas Company on the 2rcl instant, the Directors reported that the consumption had increased, and the prospects of the company were favorable, A dividend was declared of 10 per cent., and a bonus of 2s per share, making for the year a dividend of 124 per cent, on the paid-up capital of the company. Gaol Eeturns. —The following is the state of Her Majesty’s gaol, Dunedin, for the week ending to-day: Awaiting trial, 5 men, 0 women; under remand, 1 men, 0 women ; penal servitude, 24 men, 0 women ; hard labor, 56 men, 13 women;

imprisonment, 0 men, 0 women ; in default of bail, 5 men, 0 women ; debtors, 2 men, 0 women ; total, 93 men, 13 women. Received during the week, 6 men, 2 women ; discharged, 4 men, 4 women. The Princess Theatre. The best house of the season greeted Miss Gassy Matthews and Miss J nny Nye last evening, when they took their joint benefit, and we were glad to find from this unmistakeable demonstration, that those two deserving ladies continue to hold so high a place in public estimation. We do not know that the absence of dramatic novelties proved any drawback to the thorough amusement of the evening. Mr Henry’s rare natural talent for the imitative art shone conspicuously in his amateur representation of Dr O’Toole, in the comedietta of “ The Irish Tutor.” His brogue and appropriate action, the occasional peeping out of the footman in his gravest efforts to sustain the character of the scholar imparted irresistible drollery to his performance of the character, the true ideal of which he has evidently grasped. He was well supported by Mr and Mrs Joyce, Mrs S. Howard. Mr White, and Mr Bed. The “ Two Gregories ” came next, and was excellently played by Messrs Forde, S. Howard, Joyce, Bell, Miss Forde, and Miss Matthews. Miss Forde introduced a song which was admirably adapted to her flexible voice. This lady improves rapidly in power and neatness of execution, and with care will prove at no distant date an accomplished singer. A long sustained trill wa< very purely given, and with good effect. Captain Hutchison, who kindly gave his services as a pianist, played “Caller Herring,” arranged as a fan tasia, in goo 1 style, and, being encored, he substituted a more difficult subject, involving brilliant execution. His performance was much applauded. The piano, which was lent for the occasion by Mr C. Begg, is oue of Collard and Collar t’s semi-grands, and has a compensating arrangement for the strings, by which the effect of changes of temperature is to a great extent avoided, and the piano fitted to stand in tune in every variety of climate. The burlesque of “ Little Con Giovanni” brought the night’s amusement to a conclusion. It was played in the spirit of fun by all concerned, and went off to the hearty satisfaction of the audience.

The Taranaki. — We are happy to state that all doubt as to the practicability of raising the Taranaki is now removed. A telegram was yesterday received announcing that she had been shifted sixty feet on Saturday, and, as yesterday's tide was higher, it is likely wc shall hear of her having been moved some distance farther towards the shore. We may now reasonably hope to see her coming into Wellington harbor at no very distant date. — Evening Post, 9th inst. Gold. The following items are taken from the Canterbury Press We have received the following information from a gentleman on whose veracity there can be no doubt I have to-day been shown a magnificent piece of quartz, said by the exhibitor tn have been obtained from Puran. It is thickly studded with gold, plainly visible to the naked eye, and would yield an enormous percentage of the precious metal. No further particu ars were elicited beyond the fact of the locality from which it was obtained.’’ A gentleman resident in Christchurch has supplied us with the following information respecting alluvial diggings alleged to have been discovered near the Hurnnui. Our informant says : —“ I have been informed by a person, whose word I have no reason to doubt, and whom I have known as reliable in business transactions, that four men have been working on a flat near the Hunmui. about 10ft miles from Christchurch, and in five clear days they obtained by panning, twelve ounces of good gold.” The Government Advertising Sheet, —“Colonus,” in the Bruce Herald, a«ka ;—“ What is the use of this latter publication ? If it be of use in any way let it exist; but if does more harm than good, by the Governin' nt depending on it entirety as a mode of advertisement instead of advertising also in the newspapers, why not knock the little wretch summarily on the head, as one would a rat or any other sort of vermin ? ('onsidering the very small number of people who ever take or ace the A dvertising Sheet it stands to reason that advertising in that publication must be a very impel feet advertisement. I, for one,r hardly see this paper from one year’s end to another, and I expect there are not a great many settlers who see it oftener. To say that the paper can be had gratis for the mere ordering is absurd. We should advertise through those channels which meet the public convenience, and not oblige the public to depend upon only one source of information, ”