THE RUSH FROM VICTORIA.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume I, Issue 14, 3 October 1861, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE RUSH FROM VICTORIA.

(From the Otago Witness, September 11.)

The nows from the Tuapeka Gold Field is having a most extraordinary effect in the neighboring colonies, especially in Victoria. It was perfectly natural that the population of Otago and the more immediate Provinces should make a rush to the Tuapeka, hut in Melbourne it was scarcely to bo supposed that the news of the discovery and the export of a few thousand ounces would have had such an effect as is apparent from the arrivals amongst us from thence, and from the tone of the press. Vfc cannot take up a Victorian newspaper without finding Otago and the Otago gold diggings referred to in divers places. Otago, a place which a few years since was scarcely known in Australia, will in future be as well known to most of the inhabitants of those colonies as their own capital (owns ; indeed it is no exaggeration to say that the Otago diggings have produced quite a furore. Some fifteen ships are advertised to sail for Otago, none of which are much less than

800 tons burden. The s. s. Lachj Bird , which arrived here bn the 10th hist., brought about 120 •passengers ; and although she was only put on the berth a day or so before she started, she was filled up with such rapidity that numbers of intending passengers were disappointed. The extraordinary effect of our gold fields is to be found in the tone and style of the press, which has endeavored to pooh pooh the whole affair, and to write it down. In this attempt, being utterly regardless of facts, making the most extravagant statements as to the delusion of the whole a Hair, and endeavoring to persuade its readers that the state of Otago is so frightful that no one should venture to go there, comparing it to the Tort Curtis rush—representing that Lynch law has been suggested at Tuapeka as the only remedy for the slate of things there and so on. It is quite clear that our Australian brethren of the pen have concluded as a matter of course that the Otago papers have made the most of the diggings, ami that our reports are to bo received with an abatement. Kow, the fact is that Qc wnc nncciKlr* frivmcr Yt«r ***» ~~ r o o any exaggerated reports. VV e have carefully weeded the information that has been given us, and in many instances rejected statements which though true, we considered to b calculated to mislead

[persons at a distance, from their being unable fully ito appreciate the whole circumstances of the case, i and any stories of extraordinary finds which were | not fully confirmed by the most satisfactory evi- ; dence, we have invariably omitted. We reiterate | the statement, that so far as the diggings have I gone, they have been as remunerative to the digIgeys as any diggings we ever heard of. The average number of persons who have been at the diggings since the first discovery is less than 2,000. [ There are not probably more than 4,000 or 5,000 there now, and the yield of gold, as shown by 'the escort and export returns, plainly indicates' that the majority of persons ha ve been successful. Now, our cotemporaries on the other side of the water have, no doubt with a very laudable intention, attempted to stop the exodus of their population by representing the Otago diggings as of a mythical character, and the state of the Province as most lawless and frightful. These stetements are entirely without foundation ; and we have so much faith in truth that we believe any, even the slightest departure from it, with any motive, is most injurious and absurd. The world generally is far too keen-sighted not to see through a m'is-state-ment. Thus the quantity of gold exported from [Otago and tint known to be in the hands of the ■miners or lodged in the banks, is a plain and evident contradiction to the statement that the Otago diggings are a myth. The consequence is that any one thinking of coming to Otago in search of gold is much more likely to take the actual returns as a guide than to rely upon the statement of a journal the motive of which in concealing the truth is apparent, and whose departure from fact in one ins( ance throws a doubt upon all it states. We quite agree with our Melbourne cotemporaries in their remarks upon the folly of vast numbers of persons rushing to Otago until the extent of the fields have been ascertained. That important question has not yet been settled. Wa have repeatedly called attention to (he fact, that the majority of diggers have been confined to narrow limits—that the most payiny field was the first discovered, viz., Gabriel s gully and its tributaries, if >uch a term is applicable. 'ihe extent of the field is still problematical ; a small number of experienced diggers, who will be able to settle that important question, we are glad to see and heartily welcome ; but we have no desire for a rush of people, who may meet with disappointment. If those who come, if they do not find gold, are to settle down quietly in the ordinary occupations of flic country, or to buy land if they have the means, the failure in the discovery of further gold fields will be of little or no consequence. We were getting on uncommonly well without them, and could so again. New Zealand is essentially a country for the small man to settle down in ; and we strongly recommend the purchase and cultivation of the soil as a far pleasanter and wiser, if even a less profitable occupation' than gold finding.