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New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1725, 20 September 1862, Page 1 (Supplement)

SUMMARY OF INTELLIGENCE FROM THE SOUTHERN GOLD-FIELDS. [From the " Wellington Independent," September 13.] The St. Dunstan diggings, which a few weeks ago, were the all exciting theme of speculation and which as in the case of every fresh gold discovery were rushed by an immense number, have not as yet answered the expectations of miners, the sanguine individuals who inflamed with the tempting actual find of 87 lbs weight of gold by Hartly and Riley, deserted other occupations to try their fortunes at the New Eldorado. Recent accounts from that quarter tell a rather doleful talc of suffering and hardship undergone in consequence of a too precipitate rush. The Otago Times has the following items on present prospects there. THE DUNBTAN' DIGGINGS. On Tuesday evening, and duiing yesterday, a good many of those who started early for the Molyneux Diggings, and who reached to, or near the spots indicated by Messrs. Hartley and Riley, returned to Dunedin. Some of them, (as in the case of Mr. O'Blien, mentioned elsewhere,) are now on their road back with cradles and provisions, for which their mates are waiting; others are off in a day or two. But whether intending to return to the new field or not, all agree in the opinion that the field will undoubtedly prove a paying one to a large number of properly equipped workers. One man with whom we spoke was brief, but clear in his reply : —"I say let any one who wants to know what it is like, go and see for himself. 1 don't want to tell any one, but the tucker is what is wanted, with that there's plenty of gold to be got. I'm going back and I believe I shall do very well."

Provisions were both scarce and dear, the various stations on the road were besieged for food, and flour wps selling at 3s, per lb. On this subject the same journal says—"Next to food the greatest want was cradles. Our informants on their way up, saw men at Murison's station, who had walked the 49 miles back to that place to buy timber for making a cradle. They got some pine at the rate of Is. 3d. per pound. Flour was selling at half-a-crown per pound, at a point almost close to the diggings. At Newton's station, where nothing eatable could be had at any price as the men went up, they found flour selling at Is. per pound as they returned ; sugar was " quoted" at Is. 6d. tea at 65., a quarter of a sheep at 7s. 6d. Close to the banks of the river, plenty of sheep could be pot at 355. each, " dead or alive." This stage of things uiffers from that suggested by a story which we have heard from two or three persons who have returned by the Waikouaiti road ; which is to the effect that a Coal Creek a dead bullock was found in the water, and the better portions of the carcass cut off ha'.f-dressed and eaten joyfully by a party on their way down to Dunedin. ,Later accounts confirm this intelligence, and large numbers of disappointed diggers have been returning, upwards of ISO arrived at Lyttelton on the Bth in the Airedale, who generally reported that the Dunstan Diggings seem only capable of supporting about half the population at present on them. The truth would appear to be that the richest spots are close to the banks of the river, and thus with a slight rise of water become unworkable. There is, however, a general opinion expressed that the yield is good. The excitement of the Dunstan has scarcely had time to subside ere we arc once more startled by the announcement that a fresh auriferous field has been discovered near the Mataura, and only about 30 miles distant from the first mentioned. A party of miners alter working for three weeks in the Moa Creek, on Nokomai river, obtained a yield of lbs. of gold. The country is reported by Mr. Lamb to promise equally well all round; the Nokomai to present indications quite as encouraging to the digger as the Moa Creek—and Mr. Lamb has no doubt that gold will be found in the Nokomai of the same quality as that obtained from Moa Creek. There is a supply of provisions and other stores sufficient for present wants to be had at Mr. Joyce's store on Mr. Rogers' station.

OTAGO COMMERCIAL.

(From the " rimes," September 8.)

An almost unprecedented dullness has pervaded our markets during the past few days. The town trade has been flat in the extreme, and the demand for the older diggings has ceased in the meantime, whilst any wants for the Dunstan diggings have not yet been felt in first hands, and even the enquiry which had been noticeable for mining tools, &c., has died away. The news from the mines has been such as to moderate the extravagant expectations held by many, and great caution is likely to be exercised in dealing with the new field until the establishment of a settled population there. There have been reported some important arrivals, the Rita and Sea Nymph from Adelaide, bringing together some 450 tons of flour, also the Carlotta from New York with an assorted cargo of lumber and notions.