OTAGO.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume I, Issue 21, 21 November 1861, Page 6 (Supplement)

OTAGO.

The reaction of the Dunedin rush has fully set in Ships to Melbourne, Sydney, and the New Zealand Provinces are now as full of passengers returning as they have been coining here. The town itself is not near so full, nor is there anything like the bustle or number of tents there has been about the town. As regards the Diggings, there are more diggers (with all the returns) there now, than there ever have been, and although the returns increase in number daily, yet the stream of diggers coming continue to out number them by far. The escort is still on the increase, last week’s being 15,400 ounces, being an increase of* near 2,000 ounces over the previous and in some days shorter time, and as long as an increase continues fresh arrivals will take place. Several four horse coaches are now running regularly to the diggings and back ; Messrs. Cobb & Cole are the principal proprietors, and very first rate teams they turn out, and remarkably easy travelling vehecles, the fares being £3 10s. up or down. Some hundreds of men have embraced the Govermuent oiler of ss. per day, and the labor market is too well stocked with hands, both in the town and on the diggings.

The diggers suffer great inconvenience from having to go a long way in search of fuel. They generally lay in a stock on Sunday to hist them the week out. Others pass “ the day of rest’’ in hunting and shooting wild pigs. Mentis described as excessively scarce and deal*.