LATER NEWS FROM OTAGO.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 62, 4 September 1862, Page 3

LATER NEWS FROM OTAGO.

The s.s. Airedale, Capt.-Bowden, from the Southern Ports, arrived in 'Wellington harbor on Wednesday morning, the 271 h insr., at 7 a.m. She brings important intelligence from Otago. There was a general rush from Dunedin and surrounding districts to the newly discovered Gold Fields. Wages had risen considerably. The Aldinya paid ss. an hour for coaling. The crews of the vessels were deserting and going to the Hartley diggings Ho passengers were returning by the si earners to Melbourne. The (Jmeo left Lyttelton on Tuesday last, for Otago, with 150 miners bound to the diggings. Thy Airedale left Otago on the 2-ith hist, at 9 a.m., and arrived at Lyttelton on the 25th at G a.m., after a passage of 2l hours. Left Lyttelton at 1 p.m. on the gCih and arrived at Wellington on the 27tb at 7 p.m. after a rapid passage of 17 hours. The Airedale leaves to-morrow for Lyttelton, Otago, and the Bluff. We extract the following from the Daily Times of the 23rd hist—The great, subject of interest has been the discovery of new and exceedingly rich diggings, on the Oiutiia or Moleyneux River, at a distance uf about a hundred and ten miles from Dunedin. We publish elsewhere an account of these diggings and the extraordinary rush that has set towards them. Another matter of some interest has been the putting of an application for a prospecting claim for the sea beach at Moeraki. it appears that it has been found that gold exists in the sand, and the prospector is very sanguine about it, and intends Working on an. extensive scale. A sample of sand forwarded to Dunedin, and which we have examined, is certainly rich in gold. Some little excitement has been caused by the.statement that pearls are to be obtained in plenty some where on the Coast. Enough small pearls to till a small tea cup were taken the other clay to a jewelier in this town, by a man who said that he could procure plenty of them but who was silent as to they were obtained. Some of them were large enough* to be worth seven shillings a piece. A case of death by drowning became known on the 19th, the body of a man being ; found floating in the hay. It appeared, from | the evidence at the inquest, that the deceased i had been drinking in Dunedin the previous evening, and is presumed to have fallen into the water, from the jetty, which is quite unprotected. The news from the other gold-fields is very satisfactory, the cessation of the inclement weather having had the effect of inducing the miners to resume their wonted activity. The escofts have increased, the last escort having brought down 7,283 oz. The reports from Tuapeka. Waitahuna, and the

Woolshed are all very assuring, and in spite of the existing ferment about the new discovery. the prospect of these fields are very cheering. The management of the Theatre Royal gave a special performance on the 20th for the benefit of the Lancashire Relief Fund, when L4O was handed over to the fund. The Aldinga with the English mail-'arrived on the evening of the 22m1. Considerable disappointment was occasioned to this community in not being able to send replies per the return mail. There is nothing else of importance to mention, the new diggings seeming to absorb the attention of every one. Ourprognostications as to what would await those'' who have rushed off heedlessly and indifferently provided to the Dunstan Diggings have been verilied. We learn that a considerable number of people who had gone off hy the West Taicri have returned, being fearful of venturing across the Maungatua ranges, which are reported to he deeply covered with snow, the miners in many cases having to walk waist deep in it. This resuit might easily have been expected to follow the inconsiderate manner in which great numbers of miners have hurried off to the new diggings. Excitement will accomplish great_things, and assist people sometimes in overcoming serious difficulties, hut it will neither melt snow nor carry swags. We could wish to inculcate a little more prudence in those intending to proceed to the Hartley Diggings. There is no need for hurry, and there will be plenty of room for all. (Fi'O 'M the New Zealand Adeerlktr, August 28. J The news brought hy the s.s. Airedale, from Dunedin, continues to be of an exciting character. The Times and Colonist have both raised the price of single copies of their papers" 100 per cent., and printer's wages have been raised 50 per cent, more than (hey were formerly at Dunedin, or 200 per cent, higher than Loudon prices. Carpenters’ wages also have risen to 20s. per day, and those of labourers and others in proportion. It is reported that 300 persons took their passage at Lyttelton in the Umeo, for Dunedin, and great numbers, including several printers, will leave here by flie Airedale tomorrow.