OTAGO GOLD FIELDS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 27, 2 January 1862, Page 5 (Supplement)

OTAGO GOLD FIELDS.

ARRIVAL OF 53,205 ozs. OF GOLD BY ESCORT. We extract from the Daily Times , the subjoined account from the diggings. Nothing definite is known concerning the Blue Mountain rush ; the impression decidedly is, that somewhere across the Molyneux gold digging is going on. The escort arrived on tho 22nd with 21,090 ounces of gold, of which 15,402 ounces came from Tuapeka, and 5,688 ounces from the Waitahuna. After the books closed, more gold was offered at the receiving office in Waitahuna, and next week it is anticipated the quantity from thence will be at least double. A few miles from Waitahuna, Inspector Cadell, discovering an imperfection in one of the wheels of the waggon, thought it prudent to transfer the gold to°a dray, which he procured through the courtesy of Mr. Mills, agent for Messrs. Colo and Company, the coach proprietors. The escort had to walk to Tokomairiro, atwhichplaceitarrived at one o’clock in the morning. At daylight the waggon was under repair, and at eleven o’clock the Escort started from Tokomairiro, reaching Dunedin at six o’clock, —an hour earlier than last week. Much credit is due to Mr. Cadell for the promptness with which he arrived in Dunedin. To watch the arrival of the escort is the only relaxation which the busy folks of the town permit themselves ; a considerable crowd always assembles as soon as the telescopes descry the cortege coming over the hills in the distance. Certainly the arrangements are very satisfactory, and the escort is composed o£ a fine-looking disciplined body of men. Dunedin has secured the pick of the V ictorian constabulary force. The News from Gabriel’s Gully speaks of continued success among the miners. Large finds are stilly being made ; one instance has been three weeks in the colony, having already realised a considerable amount of gold in a claim they were fortunate enough to secure. At Waitahuna, the miners are also doing well. Great inconvenience is experienced here through there being no Magistrate. Captain Baldwin’s appointment by the General Government has not yet arrived—another

instance of the inconvenience of being so long a distance from the seat of Government.

In respect to the Blue Mountain rush nothing further is known ; the general impression is ,that there is something in it. Perkins, who led away several hundred men from Waitahuna, is stated to have declared that if he did not bring them to the rush he would consent to their killing his bullocks, burning his dray, and doing what they liked with himself. The locality is variously surmised ; some say the Mataura ; others, between McKenzie and McNab s stations ; others, the land-slip on the Pomahaka.

(From the Otago Daily Times, December 13. Aeeival oe the Escoet with 16,141 Ounces. —The weekly escort arrived at Dunedin yesterday with 16,141 ounces of Gold, of which 10,953 ounces were from Gabriel’s Gully, and 6,188 ounces from Waitahuna; also six prisoners. From die Otago Daily Times, December 14.1 SUPPOSED GOLD FIELD NEAR DUNE-

DIN. GEE AT EXCITEMENT, PEOBABEE ESCOET. Great excitement was caused at Tuapeka by the arrival there on Tuesday morning of a man named O’Hara and his mates, with the report of a discovery of a new gold field. They had with them 34 ounces of gold, which they sold to the Union Bank. It was of a coarse, nuggetty description, interspersed with quartz and conglomerate. A prospecting claim was granted them. It was found on one of the tributaries of the Waipori, on the west Taieri Road, about eight miles north ot the Waipori Ferry. It was obtained by turning the bed of the river. The excitement at Tuapeka was immense. Nearly 2000 men were proposing to start yesterday morning, but the rain prevented them. Major Croker is going to visit the spot himself. It is about 27 miles from Tuapeka, and the same distance from Dunedin. The Escort this week from Tuapeka is 9693 ozs. 10 dwts. The Waitahuna contribution will probably bring it up to about 14,000 ozs. LATEST NEWS. ARRIVAL OF THE ESCORT, AND LOSS OP THE S. S. OSCAR. By the s. s. Storm Bird, which arrived yesterday at 6 p. m. we have news from Otago to the 19th instant. ISie escort had arrived with 14,307 ozs. A special messenger who came overland from Invercagill in 22 hours brought news of the loss of the s. s. Oscar on her way to Melbourne at the New River. She had crosssed the bar when she struck on some rocks with her starboard side. No further particulars were known except the passengers, gold and luggage were saved. She is reported to have broken her back. The Omeo and Guiding Star were to start for the wreck immediately, so that the former will not come on to Lyttelton. Captain Scott has arrived to get off the Victory ; it is expected that she will be afloat in a few weeks.