BLUE MOUNTAINS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 49, 11 January 1862, Page 2

BLUE MOUNTAINS.

We have received the following letter in reference to the supposed Blue Mountain gold-field. It is right that we should state that it was accompanied by a private letter, signed by the writer and his mate, in which they assured us that if they had had horses to carry provisions, and the means to persevere they would not have turned back :— To the Editor of the DAri/r Times. Sin.—l have just returned from the Blue Mountain ni3li after traversing the country between the rivers Molyneuxand Alntaura fromCapt. M'Kenzie's, northward, for the last two months without any favourable result, our party being inefficient either in men or means. Our conviction of the aurifurousness of the country is, however, stronger thnn ever. The quantity of fine gold in and near tin? rivers Molyneux and Pomahawk particularly, and the appearance of the country generally (such a? made hills, and abundance of quartz both washed and otherwise,) are reasons sufficient to convince us that although unsuccessful ourselves, a payable gold-field does exist in some place not far distant. I might add that another feature came under our notice and one which would be esteemed on the othei' side of the water, namely a pipeclay bottom. I trust, therefore, that the Government, lifthey are fully aware of the importance of a goldfield, and are really anxious to find some inducement to keep the numbers who are daily arriving1, will lose no time in equipping a prospecting party. Now Sir, I will leave the matter to your able pen, believing you are alive to its importance, and with ever y respect beg to subscribe myself Nil Desperandum. To the Editor of the Otago Daily Timus. Dunedin, January 9th, 18G2. Sik, —As the City of Hobart is likely to be the last steamer to leave here in time for the January Mail for England from Melbourne, I would suggest the propriety of your preparing a summary for -England, after the manner of the " Argus." That journal, as <you are aware, has seen fit to write down the importance of tlje Otago Gold Fields, and its editor will continue to do so now that he has determined on that course, oven though our escorts should bring down

! 40,000 ounces per week. Believing that the best class of future colonists will be those who leave the mother country direct for this port, it behoves fillwho intend to settle here to do their utmost in bringing the people of the old country out here. For this purpose a carefully prepared summary is one of the best agents that could be used. It should show the great advantages to ha gained by coming to a new country, where all the public works have yet to be initiated and carried on, and where everything that can make the country habitable has yet to be done. By contrasting this state of things witli what is likely to 1)8 gained in Victoria —where it is well known no more advantages can accrue to the now comer, than that to he obtained by his removing from one English town to another —you will do much to counteract the evil and real injury already done to this Province by the summaries dispatched from the "Argus" office. (Jne thing especially ought to he published, and that is, the fact ot land having been sold in Dunedin for the enormous amount of at the rate of £80,000 per acre. That, Mr. Editor, is the rate at which Messrs. Young and M'Glashan solil their land at on the 7th of January,—of course I allude to the Princes-street frontage—and from the number of bidders present, had tlicre been frontages enough to be obtained, I am sure one acre might have been sold at that rate. I will conclude with a remark that I hope you will give this subject your immediate and serious attention, aud that you will use a powerful pen in trying to arrest the evil effects of the "Argus" summaries issued during the last two months. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, A Victorian, But one who intends to settle in Otago. [An elaborate summary will be prepared for transmission by the Aldinga, which is due to-day, and which, there is every reason to suppose, will be in time to catch the return mail to England.]