THE GOLD FIELDS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume I, Issue 9, 30 August 1861, Page 2

THE GOLD FIELDS.

■ (From the Otago Colonist, August 23) It is, we hare no doubt, a very interesting and exciting, as well as profitable occupation, to go on from week to week adding ounce to ounce, and pile to pile of gold, and fortunate diggers are not likely to complain of the monotony of such a pursuit. It is, however, a somewhat different thing to have to chronicle, hcbdomadally, a repetition of incidents presenting but little variety of detail, being merely the uninterrupted and increasing success of the “lucky” diggers—that is to say, of the majority of those who by experience, industry, and proper equipments, are really qualified for the work in which they are engaged.

The past week has, however, afforded something iV.-di In- (ho arrival of the Escort fromTuapekaon V, tduesday, bringing about 5055 ounces of gold. Mr. Booth, who lias also been amongst the most fortunate, also brought in about 70 ounces on his own account, and from the latter we have received a few particulars with regard to the state of things on the diggings- It appears that the Eecciving Ofilce was opened on Saturday at 1 o’clock, for the receipt of gold, and closed at 5, by which hour as much had been deposited as the horses belonging to the Escort could carry. Great dissatisfaction was expressed at the inadecpiatc provision made by Government for the transmission of the gold to town, the diggers appearing to have become alive to the clanger of retaining largo quantities of the precious metal in their own possession, from 15,000 to 20,000 ounces being still in their hands. Many who had been waiting the whole afternoon outside the Eecciving O slice did not succeed in depositing their gold, and the loss of time was bitterly coin, plained of, the scene being described as somewhat similar to that at our Post Office upon the arrival of an English mail, the customers being served at the rate of about one in every ten minutes. The diggers are represented as being universally willing to pay for the carriage of their gold toDunedin, provided there were a proper escort; and as 10,000 ounces '[> week may bo estimated as the present yield, and which will soon be largely increased by addition to the mining population, it is to be hoped that the Government will make the necessary arrangements as soon as it is in a position to do so. The total amount received in Dun. edin during the week has been about 6,000 ounc-

Tliere does not; appeal’ to bo any great discrepancy in the earnings of practised diggers, about £5 day they consider to be a fair average, and in a few eases this is exceeded. One party of five obtained 511js. in five days, and another of nine got 7llis. in the same time. Of course there arc hundreds having no practical knowledge of the work whoso earnings are on a much lower scale. Prospering is being carried on with great energy and with most astonishing results, proving the field to be rich and extensive beyond present calculation. Not a spadeful of earth is turned in any direction without bringing gold to light. Two gentlemen prospecting at some distance from the Tuapeka obtained 31bs. weight in two days, and other instances of remarkable sueecssare mentioned. There is probably room for 50,000 people on the gold fields, and we should not be surprised to sec that

pumber employed by tlic end of the next twelve In connexion with this part of the subject, there is one point which demands the serious attention of the Government. Wherever valuable gold fields have been discovered, large numbers of Chinese have found their way, and wherever these Celestial have appeared serious riots and loss of life have been the inevitable consequence. The probability is that many will bo attracted to our shores —and the fact is that an eruption of the kind is apprehended, and a determination has been universally expressed by the diggers that not a single Chinaman shall set his foot on the Tuapeka gold fields. We are not going to argue upon the abstract right, or wrong, involved in such a deter, mination; we have to do with a most serious practical fact. An apparently nnextinguishable hatred springs up wherever the two races come into contact, and it is indispensable for the security of life and property that the Government should be prepared for the very probable contingency to which we have alluded, by the adoption of necessary measures for the protection of the Chinese should they make their appearance on the gold field, or, which would bo far better, for preventing their introduction into the Province at all. The weather lias been somewhat severe at the •Jigging 3, the rain and snow having caused cessation of work for about four days during the last fortnight. The roads arc still in a lamentable condition, though something is being done in the way of bridging the crocks, and provisions are consequently getting scarce and arc likely to rise in price. Flour is at present retailing at Is. per pound, beef is a shilling, mutton, llld. to Is. .Jd., tea, Gs. Gd., coffee, 2s. 6d., sugar, Is. Gd., and cheese at 2s. sd. per lb., eggs, Gd. each. The number of arrivals from the other provinces for the diggings during the week has been about 200.