SHOTOVER.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 197, 18 March 1865, Page 3

SHOTOVER.

(from our own correspondent.) March 9, 1865. On leaving the Upper Shotover district, I feel it encumbent on me to notice a circumstance which, more than anything else, speaks highly of the friendship of the mining population for one another when laboring among the mountains—almost out of "humanity's reach." lam sure that it must be a source of great consolation to the relatives of the twelve miners (ten of whom are named herein; other two names unknown) who were buried alive in Ballarat Gully, Sandhills, on the occasion of the first great flood, of the 22nd July, 1363, to know that their fellow miners recovered the bodies and interred them decently on a terrace at the Sandhills, and afterwards subscribed a sum of £26 10s towards a fencing fund, with which amount they were enabled to enclose the burialground, and to cause the name of the mourned occupant of each grave to be affixed thereto. It will also give much satisfaction to the generous subscribers of the enclosure fund to know that the money has been faithfully expended in _ the following proportions, under the direction of Mr Constable Daly, who was for a long time _in charge of the Skipper's Point and Sandhills districts: —First cost, as per specification, £l3 10s; second cost, for repainting the whole this spring, £3 ; total, £26 10s. The names of deceased were :—David Angus, Jas. Allen, William Cummins, John Eraser, Jas. Graham, John Hornbuckle, George Jack, Joseph Mortimer, William Wilson, and Samuel Wilson.

March 17.

The Point is beginning' to present a very desolate appearance. The Grey is the theme of everyone's conversation, and the exodus to it has left but few diggers on the river. Even Skipper's sluicing claim seems to have no power to retain those who have the Grey epidemic. Shares in some of the sluicing claims that are said to be paying good wages are being sold at £5 each, in fact, are being given away for a mere nominal amount. The Ingle wood Race Company are on good washdirt. They washed four and a half ounces from a little dirt taken a few days ago from off the high reef when they were brought to a standstill by the breaking of their shaft. This damage has been rectified, and to-day they were taking out wash, and through being too eager to get as much as possible, stripped too close to the crates, and the consequence was the river broke through on them, but will be in working trim again to-morrow.

Millen and party have registered their ground until the removal of the Inglewood Race Company's wheel nearer to them. This shows a dogged determination to try their claim no matter what diggings, or how .rich, are breaking out around them. Connor and party's ground is paying well. They are at present stripping a new paddock, having fifteen feet of drift before coming to the washdirt.

Barrett's claim, above Maori Point, has taken out some wash, but it has not turned out as well as expected; the run of gold seems to be lost on the side they are now working, and it is a matter of debate whether it has run out altogether or merely transferred its resting place to the other side of the river. Jones and party, immediately above Barrett and party's are making preparations for sinking. The ground they are about to try has been worked, but the present party seem to think not, as it ought to have been, so they intend trying it again. Sutherland's Beach is completely deserted. Business at present is very dull. The weather has been favorable for mining purposes, although the Heavens have been, at times overcast and storms have threatened. THE OKI TIKI RUSH. [by electric telegraph.] LATEST INTELLIGENCE BY THE CITY OF DUNEDIN. (From an ' Extra.' issued in Dunedin.) We learn that the steamer Nelson brought into Nelson 1,900 ounces of gold, and the Wallaby had 1,100 ounces shipped on board. The latter vessel struck on the bar, and encountered a heavy gale, and had to Jmt into the Grey. No overland news.

Thousands are taking the overland route in consequence of the bar, few vessels being able to cross it. There are upwards of 800 people waiting in Nelson.

The escort is expected in Christchurch on Tuesday. City of Dunedin, 8.8., arrived at the heads. No passengers returned. We are requested to state that the City of Dunedin has arrived, and will leave at four o'clock to-morrow (Wednesday.)

The « Canterbury Press ' says :—" The following extract of a letter from the sergeant of police at the Okitiki has been placed in our hands. It is hardly necessury to point out to our merchants and traders that not only a

commercial but a moral obligation lies on them to supply the food, without which there will be great distress on the goldfield. This is a work in which Government cannot and ought not to interfere. It lies entirely with the merchants, and their own interests will no doubt stimulate them to the necessary exertions: — February 27. The population upon the coast will now number about 2,000 ; of this nnmber about 1,700 are working on the Waimea, the remainder are employed at Okitiki, and upon the old diggings at Greenstone, Totaro, and Saltwater Creek. The scarcity of flour is still very much felt upon the coast, more especially upon tho diggings, where it is purchased a week before it leaves the Okitiki. The storekeepers say that none can be purchased in Nelson. Horse feed is again become quite scarce; the quantity of chaff imported by the Wild Wave only lasted ten days. An ounce of this commodity cannot now be had upon the coast. The value of horses has materially increased since the discovery of the Waimea. About 200 are now employed in packing from Okitiki to the diggings, and at least another 100 are required to meet the wants of the population. The steamers Nelson and Wallaby are no-v in the Okitiki, having brought down 200 diners. It is stated that Nelson is crowded with diggers, all waiting the arrival of those vessels to bring them here, The steamers arrive here regularly every five or seven days from the date of departure.

The 'Otago Mail' of the 14th says:—" We are informed that a rush lias taken place in a gully about three miles on the east side of Hindon. A party of miners have succeeded in striking payable of gold, and have obtained out of two small paddocks from six to eight ounces of beautiful heavy water-washed gold. The party in question intend to winter in the gully, and their success has induced many to relinquish their intention of going to the West Coast. The lead of gold is narrow and difficult to strike, it being only about from one to six feet in width; consequently many fail in their first endeavors. It is said that payable prospects have been obtained on the terrace on each side of the gully."