OTAGO.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume I, Issue 23, 5 December 1861, Page 5 (Supplement)

OTAGO.

Fatal Boat Accident.—On Monday afternoon a melancholy accident occured on the river, 'which was near terminating in the death of five persons, four of whom however were most providentially rescued and recovered. The following are the particulars,—About 4 o’clock in (he afternoon a boat came up from the Port heavily laden with flour, sugar &c., in charge of a named Garey. There were also on board Mr. Bean and Son, and a Mr. Eogers. At the residence of Mr. James Macandrcw the boat stopped to take that gentleman on board, and then proceeded on her course up the river. But on rounding a point about a a half from the jetty, she was caught by a sudden squall and capsized, and all on board were plunged into the river. The boat of the Wild Wave came to the rescue of the drowning men, and succeeded in recovering the whole with the exception of the man Garey. Mr. Macandrcw was landed on the pier and conveyed to the Provincial Hotel, and for some hours lay in a very precarious state. Dr. Nelson was called in, and alter a lengthened and anxious period, consciousness was restored. Every effort has been made to recover the body of Garey, but without success. The following is Gabriel Bead’s Eeport, which will be read with interest. ' Dunedin, 6th Nov., 1801. To his Honor the Superintendent. Sib, —1. I have the honor to report to you the result of my proceedings in connection with prospecting for the Government, since The 15th September last. 2. My researches have extended from the site of the present gold-fields to the Pomahawk, and from thence towards the Mataura. 4. Throughout the country I have traversed, I have to report that gold exists in large quantities which would remunerate the day labourer, by what is commonly termed “wages,” but I regret to say that I have, not been fortunate enough to find a payable gold field, such as that of Gabriel’s Gully or the Waitahuna. 4. It is my firm impression that though I have not succeeded in further discoveries, that payablegold fields exist in the country I have inspected, and that they will before long be brought to light through the medium of an increasing and wide spreading population. I was precluded from prosecuting my search for the existence of the precious metal by means of deep sinking, by the absence of the proper material and appliances. 5. In thus furnishing a brief report of the result of my labours which I regret were not more successful 1 beg to say that I do not think myself sufficiently qualified to prosecute inquiries relative to new gold fields, and, I request the Government to relieve me of any further duties in connection therewith. At the same time, I beg to express my feelings of gratification in tho manner you have been pleased to mention my name in Council. I have the honor to be, Sir. Your obedient servant, Tnos Gabriel Bead. LATEE FROM OTAGO. ARRIVAL OP THE- ESCORT WITH 35,100 OUNCES. The Lyttelton Times says—“ The yield from the gold field is sensibly increasing. Hardly any arrivals had taken place during the week. The Oscar left on the 11th with 22,009 ounces, and the Omeoonthe 15th with 10,000 ounces, both for Melbourne. A daily- paper ‘The Otago Daily Times’ has appeared, the first yet published in New Zealand. We subjoin the following from the “Witness”— The escort arrived on Thursday with 35,100 ounces of gold. The principal item of information is a rush across the Molyneux to the Blue Ranges. We believe that some gold has been found there but emphatically- caution our readers that nothing definite is known as yet, no official information having been received. We extract the following from the “Daily Times”: — , l'he escort arrived last night with 35,100 ounces of gold, and seven prisoners. The roads were very heavy, and,the horses much “baked.” Thirty thousand five hundred ounces of the quantity brought down came from Tuapeka, and only four thousand six hundred from Waitahuna. This is easily accounted for. The gold receiving office had only been opened four or five days, and the Receiver was yet without the assistance of a clerk. Besides, there are no banks at Waitahuna, and the storekeepers are not able to purchase the gold offered. We believe the next escort will show a marked improvement from Waitahuna. - The great event of the w-eck has been the rush to tho Blue Mountains from both Waitahuna and Tuapeka. The rush appears to be caused by news that has reached Tuapeka of two holes having been bottomed with rich results iu the direction of the Blue Mountains. A corespondent from Tuapeka w-rites us : “ only are the results, as a whole in the highest degree satisfactory, but cases of individual success constantly coming to my knowledge. For instance one party of four engaged in a gully to the right of Gabriel’s, are clearing regularly £IOO per w-eek per man. The sinking is GO feet,” —rather a poser this is to the flippant ‘ Argus ’ correspondent, who averred that deep sinking here w as out of the question. x Within the past few days two important rushes have taken places : one to the Blue Mountains, variously estimaetd at from 50 to 90 miles beyond Gabriel’s Gully, and the other three miles from Waitahuna. Tho miners at Gabriel’s Gully not only continue to do well, but it is the opinion of experienced miners that the gully can bo profitably worked for years to come. At Waithuna the diggings are extending down the flat, and the few who have tackled tho ground there, w-et as it is, and crude as are the appliances are yet generally doing well. Latest Particulars. Just before going to press, the information reached us by a person just returned from Tupeka {which we give as wo received it), that a miner had come in from the Blue mountains, with thirty ounces of cold to fetch his mates. Another claim

was reported to have struck rich gold. The “ rush” is tremendous 3000 persons are computed to have already left Tuapeka and Waitahuna for tho new Eldorado.

Wc have also been favoured with the sight- of a letter from the Tuapeka in which tho writer, a gentlemen of respectability, states that a rush to mount Valpy has taken place, and he has been informed on authority which he has no reason to doubt, that one party had washed 70 (?) ounces of gold out of one dish. We give the repbrt as it has reached us but in these times of unfounded rumour, every statement has to be received with caution.