THE GOLD FIELDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10, 26 November 1861, Page 2

THE GOLD FIELDS

We were called upon yesterday by Mr John Ou train, and Mr. W. Fisher, who had just returned from Waitaliima, and they informed us that a nugget of solid gold weighing 12oz. 9 dwts. 12 grs. had been found by a man of the name of George Skeen, a Victorian miner, It was found on Thursday last, in a gully 3 miles east from Waitahuna, called by the miners " Nuggetty Gully," and it is stated that several other nuggets varying in size, but not equal to this one, have been found. Messrs. Fisher and Ontram endeavoured to purchase this nugget, and oifered to give any price the finder chose to place upon it, but he declined parting with it, stating' his intention to take it to Captain Baldwin, Commissioner at Waitahuna. This nugget is 3 inches long, and 2 inches wide, and fl-.it in shape. It is of fine gold and no quartz. We have been favoured with permission \o copy a letter written by a miner at Tuapeka to a friend who lately left the diggings. The information it contains is exceedingly interesting, and there is no question as to its genuineness. " Waitahuna, "20th Nov., 1861. JL/EAII o ' } " As you have now been gone some time from amongst us, 1 will try and give you a faint idea of our doings since you lefc. To commence—it is now three weeks since I last saw you, and in that time wq have bagged each man 17 some odd ounces, and that is not so bad, although we are not by any means amongst the lucky ones. One party almost alongside of us are taking out 4 ounces each day per man, but in Gabriel's they still stick to. the pounds weight ; 'there are fortunes in that gully yet. On the whole, the diggings are going steadily ahead, and every one seems to be satisfied. For my part, I am not sorry I came to the" Scotch settlement of Otago. The Blue Mountain rush is a regular duller. It cost our party, for one man, £23.besides loss of time. It is believed to have been got up by the people in Southland, to get the Victorians down there to prospect the country for them. I suppose you saw it noted through the papers that old Perkins took a great many.of the diggers away ; it is a fact they are gone, and God help him. if the truth is not in him this time for once. We have now on this iield about 9000 ablebodied working-men. As you may see by the gold we hand down by the Escorts, this field is truly the poor man's diggings. Any man can go along here, some slow, soars f'ist, but all going ahead. " Well, I went up to Tuapeka the other day, and, in strolling about, I dropt into the Police Court, and there I saw our old friend Sergeant Barker putting some of the " rough one./' through in good style ; we wanted him amongst us long ago, but since he has come he has had his hands full. I understand he is promoted in the service, and right glad you will be to hear it, as we Victorians are. There are no " Joe's" for him ; we know him to be a zealous, honest, hard-work-ing, persevering, efficient member of the police, and, as such, he must command the respect and esteem of not only us (the diggers), but those who are placed in power over him." " I would strongly advise you to come up here again, as you yourself must know this is much better than Victoria, although, with all its faults I love it still. I for one would not think of going back, and the longer I stay the less I want to go anywhere else. I must stop, as I think I have spun a pretty good yarn. Yours as ever the same Old Digger. To the Editor of the Otago Daily Times. t Dunedin, 21st Nov., 1801. Si u,—The ladies of Otago, and more especially of Dunedin and its vicinity, seeing that you espouse the right cause on every occasion, beg that you will take up the cudgel on their behalf, and let the General Government know that, fond as they are of red coats in general, they object to their husbands having to pay for them unless a band—and a good one—be immediately added to their number here. Perhaps your hint may bear some effect upon those in power, and advise them to accede to our modest request. Apollo. [We are sure such an appeal as this will' not be thrown away upon the gallant 70th, and that they will lose no time in summoning the service of a band.—Ei>. O. I). 2V]