OTAGO.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 77, 18 December 1862, Page 5 (Supplement)

OTAGO.

GRATIFYING NEWS fuom the DUNSTAN. It),GOD O YACKS OF GOLD ARRIVED BY THE LAST ESCORT. RETORTED NEW RUSH. Tun intelligence from the gold fields is very satisfactory. The Dailg Tiinei of the 28th inst. states that The Escort from the Gold Fields to arrive today, will bring down the following quantities of

The following paragraph is from the same journal. Reliable information has reached Tuapcka to the client that a new rush has taken place to M'Auly’s station. The ground opened is said to be exceedingly rich, but at present no details as to the actual yields have been obtained. The locality is stated to be a gully running from the Umbrella Mountains, and about 3U miles from the Moa That, in the direction of Nokomai. Various parties have come trom this direction, and taken away triends and acquaintances who were for the present working on the Molyneux in the neighborhood of Musgrave and Anderson’s station, and it was through this medium that information was obtained as to the new rush. From the letter of their special correspondent at (he Dunstan wo make the following extracts ; Vkw -DiscovKiiTES.—Fox and party arrived here at twelve o’clock on the 20th, and deposited 2GO ozs., which they state is the result of three weeks’ work. They have also sold a little over 50ozs. for current wants. The scat of their exertions on the Arrow river, a tributary flowing into the Wakatipi Lake. It is situated on Mr Rees’run. They do not apply for a prospecting claim in this locality. They also state that on the Overshot Creek, about ten miles distant and near Lake Vakafipi, they obtained within an hour’s time 7 ozs. ISdwts. As they do not again apply for a prospecting claim in this instance, it is a most dillicnlt matter to understand their proceedings. -1 bey are confidant as usual, and believe fhe country they have opened will accommodate any number of miners, whether one or ten thousand- They will not apply for prospecting claims, preferring their own private arrangements and local knowledge. They further state that they know other places that will pay equally well. Bill Fox, as ho likes to he called, is the chief man, and prides himself upon his experience and to

was two of his'matcs who took down the twentytwo pounds weight, as mentioned in a previous despatch. Altogether they have obtained close upon (JUUozs. Within two hours alter Fox’s arrival, your correspondent’s special messenger also arrived, and ho delivers the following report. As already stated, ho is an intelligent minor, and a point of honor alone prevented his remaining near Fox’s discovery. He does not wish'his name to appear in print; but it would be a poor recognition of his services, should testimony not be borne to the zeal with which he has executed the task, at a probable loss to himself. He has left himself at the mercy of new ’’.mates,'’ with whom he is not acquainted, and may on his return find his claim jumped. As he was instructed to enquire into the merits of both rushes, they will in his report be combined. It is slightly condensed. He says: ’■ I crossed the river (Clutha) near the junction with the Kawarua, and followed up the west bank, Trom the junction this brunch runs through extensive Hats. Table ranges, with gravelly terraces intersected these Hats. Some parts of this formation arc likely to be auriferous, but the working of them is not at present probable. Better means ol getting timber, and a supply of provisions are required. It is a sluicing country, and would entail an outlay of capital, or cooperative bodies ef miners to get sluice heads of water to work elfectively. I followed and crossed these Table ranges, till I reached the Cardrona Creek. I found I,OUO persons here on last Wednesday (19th November). The prospectors had then obtained, as lar as 1 could Hud out, about three pounds weight of gold. No other persons had then done anything. All seemed to bo in a desponding kind of mood, though they did not blame the prospectors, who they thought had only dropped on a patch. I think from the observations I made of the surrounding country, that gold is to be found, but that it will require perseverance. I would not advise any one to go there, though very rich patches may at any moment turn up. 1 think it is an auriferous country, but that the prospectors’ finds are of a peculiar character. Heavy gold like theirs might turn up any day. They have so lar found it on a land slip. 1 think good gold must be found somewhere about tills place, but would not go further backwards from the creek. I will not state in which direction as it might mislead people. If not successful, elsewhere, I shall try this portion of the country Leaving this quarter, 1 followed up the Cadroua Creek on the right hand. it splits into two streams, about ten miles up from the workings on the creek. 1 ou must still keep the right hand branch till you come to a saddle range. Immediately after coming upon this saddle hill, you see the Razor Back Ridge, as it is culled there. This formation consists of burnt slate, but the gullies proceeding from it are more or less auriierous. Good gold will probably be found here. Bussing the Razor Back, you descend on to a rough Hat, which you traverse for about a mile and a half, and then reach another leading range which will take you to the Roy or Arrow River. This river is very deep, but you can ford it in places at two feet deep. To arrive at Fox’s claim yon must cross it. 1 found there fifty tents, and perhaps two hundred anti fifty people. They were all contented with their results and prospects. 1 can give no general idea of the gold obtained, as people would not tell. The answer was, ‘ I am satisfied.’ J do not think it was very rich, but good. It is a very large river or creek, and the gold is in the batiks. Rees, the squatter, charged three pounds t welve shillings for a .-beep, and ‘ kill it yourself.’ I he sheep average ah,me fifty pounds weight each. Butler, a storcke k, r, had packed up Hour, which he sold at three shillings per pound. 1 rove ions are almost, impossible to obtain. Learning that Fox and his male had started for the Dunstan, 1 started back at once to place you in receipt of this information, according to my agreement. 1 do not wish my name made known. There is plenty of ground there, and any amount of likely looking places. I return at once.” Returning to the more immediate locality of the Dunstan, these rushes do not interfere with the daily opening of fresh gullies and continual rich finds. People are absolutely tired of hearing about these things. It will require a tabulated form to convey a fair idea of their number and value. It is in course of compilation, hut cannot be completed for this occasion. Desultory statements are so lost in a place like tin’s, that it will be quite a sufficient guide of its increasing value and importance to refer to the escort which will convey —if the horses are able—fully twelve thousand ounces. The population has necessarily been of a very fluctuating nature, and (his, taken into consideration together wirh the additional fact that the miners sell their gold most reluctantly, is quite a sulllcient account of its progress. Of this large escort over three thousand ounces consist of deposits from individual miners. As a proof of the productiveness of some of the outlying gullies, it will sulllee to say that twelve men deposited on an average over fifty ounces each. This was obtained in a short period from Potter’s Gully, and not out of any of the best claims. That they should have been able to part with this amount, pay an increased rate of prices at that place for their provisions, in consequence of having to employ packers at from sixpence to one shilling per pound, is the clearest proof of the correctness of the stalemenhs given by your correspondent. These gullies are all nearly worked out for the first time, though hereafter they will reward the gleaners when sluiced. In the meantime the continual diseovwy R’ fresh places around them, (hough not perhaps so rich as those first ! opened, supply fresh scenes ol’labor fur (hose ar- ! riving, and who do not care to extend their journey, or visit (he fresh nadurcs announced. The report of Air. ( ’corge, a gold broker, demands more than a :■ notice. 11’the quartz is so rich as dose;- ; a oro.namlel is likely to be added to the . jurees of the Dunstan. The fears expres . h. -is concerning the doubtful nature of the t ...n from v bual are confirmed._ It appear; n inherently worded telegram in the Age. now .; a;. that tiie tide of suei cess had turned in ih\t.nr of the Fedorals. The i following is the Age version ; —London, Ist Octo- , | ber, A great battle lias been fomdit at Alary-

land. The Confederates were beaten —20,000 killed and wounded. They have retired across the Potomac.” The other telegram stated that Inc t onfederates crossed the Potomac in good order, so Unit the repulse may not be so serious as the message just quoted would indicate. The worst ol these alternate successes is, ’that they servo to prolong the war. Had the Southern army been victorious in Maryland, the Federals would certainly not have been reluctant to obtain peace. Whether this would have been based upon a reconstruction of the Union with Jcffer^ ll Davis as President, or upon the recognition of the Southern confederation, with perhaps a third Confederation of the border States, it is imp o3 siblc to say. Put alter this victory everything seems again wrapped in obscurity.— Otago Daily Tillies. According to the Annual report of Mr. Wm. Logie, Chief Inspector of Sheep for Otago, there are about 772,500 sheep in this Province, of which some 103,000 have been imported and introduced into Otago since November, 1801. By the return it appears that the sneep runs occupy 5,214,280 acres, and that there are about 31,000 diseased sheep in the Province. On this subject Mr. Logie makes a serious charge against the tlockmastcrs. He says lam sorry to see such a large number of diseased sheep in the list, and must say that some of the settlers are very much to blame in the matter. Several of the runholders have been in the habit of taking sheep to the diggings, and when found unsaleable there, they have driven them back to their stations, and turned them on their runs without dressing, thereby diseasing their own flocks and likewise their neighbours . But as soon as the shearing is over, it is my intention to take stringent measures to have the disease eradicated. —Otago Daily Times. Simultaneous attention, it appears, is being devoted towards the exploration of the AVcst Coast on behalf ol several provinces. A private expedition from Canterbury is already on its way. iThe Otago Government are proposing for an extensive one, and arc calling for tenders for a steamer for the purpose ; and the Southland News , in the following paragraph, tells of one fitting out from Southland^: —-“The party fitted out by Mr. J. G. Hughes ol this place, for a Scaling and Exploring Expedition on the V. est Coast, sailed an Monday last, the party, consisting of seven men, is under the immediate supervision of Mr. M’Laren, and is well equipped in every respect, and furnished with provisions for four months.”

gold oz. dwt. g r - Dunstan ... 13,005 10 0 Tuapeka 4,821 10 0 Waitaluma ... 1,212 0 0 Teviot 37 13 0 19,109 13 0 Add IVoolshed, say .., 500 0 0 Total ... 19,609 13 0