DISCOVERY OF GOLD IN OTAGO.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2130, 4 March 1870, Page 2

DISCOVERY OF GOLD IN OTAGO.

To the Editor of the Evening Star. Sir, —The extract from the Bruce Herald, which you published last evening, is certainly a great curiosity. That in the year 1853 any man in Otago should have been so utterly ignorant of what all the world besides so well knew, as to consider the discovery of gold in our midst a dire calamity; that he should be so demented as to believe he was doing a service by keepiug the fact a profound secret, is certaiuly not very creditable to our early history as a Province. But, sir, that' in the year 1870, when the discovery of gold has actually changed our then insignificance into that of comparative magnificence—that now an editor of an Otago journal should gravely propose to reward such a man with some tangible presentation, is a gross.insult to the community at large.

Truly the editor must be playing a cruel joke upon his protege, or at least doing him and his deserts a greater injustice. If this be not the case, I would propose that a fulllength portrait of each be taken, which might well and appropriately “be handed down to future generations ” on the walls of the Otago Museum, -with the following inscriptions : No. I.—“ I am the man who for seven long years kept back the Province of Otago from making ‘ a fair start ’ in its career of golden prosperity.” No. 2.—“ And I am the editor who, in 1870, proposed he should be rewarded for his ‘ faithful adherence ’ to such an egregious course of reprehensible folly.” I am, &c.. Progress. March 4, 1870. (To the Editor of the Evening Star.) Sir—ln your issue of last night, headed “Original Discoverer of Gold in Otago,” from the Bruce Herald, it seems to give the popularity to a Mr Sinclair —that must be bunkum, as it seems an established fact that Thomas Gabriel Dead was the first discoverer to all intents and purposes, or why did he get the thousand pounds from the Government, and the medal from the Great Exhibition in Dunedin, for the first discovery of gold. It brings very much to my mind something that happened to myself fifteen years ago in a sister colony. I planted a gallon of first-rate brandy in six bottles in the bush, to keep it bushrangers and my own prisoner servants ; but I am blest if ever I could find out the place again. lam quite certain that the plant has never been sprung. Now, I should like to know what use, either for good or evil, that brandy has been, either to myself or any one else ? I strongly suspect if Mr Siuclair ever found gold he never was able to find the spot again ; or, if he could, 1 he never could have hid it from himself or others ; or, if he did, both he and those in the secret were acting false to their adopted country, and all others who might pay them a visit; and in place of now making any demonstration or memorial in favor of Mr Sinclair, after such a lapse of time, to be handed down to futurity, he and they should be scouted, either for their silence, selfishness, or ignorance of what was good for themselves, and the future prosperity of their adoptedland. Previous to the gold discovery what was Otago, and Dunedin ? The latter a small fishing village. What is it now ? No ! give the devil his due. If the people will raise an altar, let it be to Gabriel Read, who had no such views, but gave his secret to the Government at once, without either the promise of place or pay ; and that would be honor to whom honor is due—a fine golden rule, though not often practised.—l remain, &c., Eosco. 3rd March, 1870,