THE OTAGO GOLD FIELDS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume I, Issue 13, 26 September 1861, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE OTAGO GOLD FIELDS.

(From tiie Wanganui Chronicle.) We hare been favoured with the following extracts from a letter from Mr. F. Deighton, late of liangitikei, to Capt. Deighton : Dunedin, 17th Augt. i'SGl.—I am sorry to say that I can t give you a very flourishing account of my doings at present. People seem very fond of sending all sorts of lying accounts from here ; but as I don’t see the good of doing so, you will find my account somewhat different from what you have most likely licard. >1 hen I was in Welllnnton and Lyttleton, I heard from every one that almost all the men had left this place for the diggings, and that Dunedin was perfectly deserted. At Akaroa 1 heard the same thing, and of course Bob and I thought we should find lots to do here, with very good pay. We were rather surprised when we landed and found the place full of men. It is a very busy place, and reminds one of an English town, but there are lots of men doing nothing but waiting for fine weather, 'there are between 2000 and 3000 on the diggings now, and some of them doing very well, but most of them are doing scarcely anything, and have awful hard times of it according to all accounts. Most of the men that are on the diggings now are from Wcl-

lington, Christchurch, and other places, and some who could not stand the wet and cold have come back, and I believe more than half the people there would returu if they had the means of doing so. There are a great many people here that intend going as soon as the weather gets a little warmer, which will be in about a month. People are in a great state of excitement here about the diggings, and every one seems to think they will turn out very well indeed. The place is full of long toms, cradles, and all sorts of diggers’ tools, and in the windows of several of the shops where they buy gold, are dishes full of Tokomairiro gold, which looks awfully tempting, and makes one long to be on the diggings. The highest price given for gold here as yet is £3 11s. 6d. ; but when the returns arrive from Melbourne of the real value, it will most probably be much higher. We made a mistake in coming here so soon. It will be soon enough in a month’s time to go to the diggings. We find it very difficult to get anything to do. If you know of any one who thinks of coming down, advise them by all means to wait for a month or so, and I hope to be able to send you a better account. I shall write again as soon as I have settled to do something. Tell P. 11., if he is coming, not to bring any tools with him, as he can get everything lie wants here without having to pay any more for them, I believe. Provisions are not dear here, but it is the carting to the diggings that makes them so awfully expensive there. I heard to day that flour is £7 10s. per 100 on the diggings, but it will be reduced considerably when the roads get better. The Superintendent has gone to the diggings on purpose to see if he can make some arrangements to have things taken round by sea in a small steamer, and if he can it will make a wonderful difference in the price of things.