THE GOLD EXCITEMENT.

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

THE GOLD EXCITEMENT.

(Communicated to the Ctarjo Witness J

There is something so refreshing in the exhibition ol enthusiasm that one feels indisposed to arrest its outpouring ; but when this feeling assumes the foim -of a delusion, it becomes the duty of every honest man to do what he can to avert the serious consequences. Otago at the present moment is the object of one of these delusions which periodically atiect mankind. It was but the other day that a comparative stranger, hearing that tin re were traces of gold on the banks of a tr.butarv of the M olyneux river, proceeded with his (in dish to the neighbourhood, and after a little prospecting, hit upon “Gabriel's ” gully ; subsequently, other persons succeeded in discovering gold in two gullies on cither side ; and these three, up to within the last ten days, comprised the entire Gold Field of Otago. - Since then, even though numerous parlies have been prospecting in every direction, only one additional gully or valley has been discovered, 'lbis, with the* Lindis, is (he whole ascertained extent of the gold field of Otago. M e will readily allow that there is reason to hope, if not believe, that the auriferous district is much more extensive, and that the ranges in the interior, and bordering on the tributaries of the Idolyneux, and extending north,ward to the Canterbury border, and southward beyond that of Southland,'will be found to yield gold in remunerative quantities, but this is little more than conjecture, and it is our duty to state that at present no nuggets, as in Austrrlia, have been discovered, but few specimens of gold in combination with quartz, and to add, that, owing to the absence of fuel, there are discomforts attending the miner's life which are peculiar to (his couptary. These thoughts have arisen from the evidence we have received from Melbourne, Sydney, and the Northern Island of New Zca’and," of an impression which prevails that our gold regions are rich beyond description, and vast beyond calculation, an impression which is leading to a perfect avalanche of population, inevitably tending to future sufiering of no ordinary character and intensity. It is well that these facts should be extensively' known, and that this increasing rush should be arrested before it is too late. On the continent of Australia, the evil attending such rushes is comparatively trifling to what it would be where the ocean is traversed in pursuit of the new field. From the loth August to the 11th of this month no less than twenty vessels have arrived in the harbor of Dunedin, nominally bringing ISO 9 passengers, rcaly landing some 2200; and, as the spring advances^these numbers—unless tire (ruth be stated—will be greatly increased. And. should other fields not discovered, vast multitudes will be suddenly thrown out of employment, without tire means of obtaining their daily food, and dependent on public or private charity. We would entreat all intending diggers carefully to consider what has been here adduced. Iho argument does not apply to those who have capital to invest, be it only £2OO or £BOO, as there is tn abundance of fine laud to be readily obtained ; but we would earnestly invite those to pause who possess nothing beyond the ordinary implements of a digger's occupation, before (hey exchange their present home for another, which may net offer the same attraction, and may be surrounded with untold evil. The silence of Government may be construed into an intimation that as yet there is no sure evidence of either a very extensive or -a very rich gold field.