TOKOMAIRIRO & THE WOOLSHED.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 55, 18 January 1862, Page 2

TOKOMAIRIRO & THE WOOLSHED.

Notes by a Mining Kepohter. Jan. 14, 1862. It is with much pleasure I have perused several of your leading articles, bearing on the mining policj' the Government should adopt towards the thousands of skilled diggers that populate and enrich this province. The views enunciated by you meet with the hearty concurrence of all intelligent miners. We are gratefnl for the warm interest you manifest in our welfare, and tha able manner in which you have advocated our cause. In yesterday's issue a strong case is made for the practical mining prospector ; but while agreeing to a great extent with all you state, still it may be noted that more hope should be held forth to the legitimate worker, by suggesting the propriety of a similar reward being given to him here, as the one he may calculate on obtaining in Victoria, if he be the fortunate finder of a payable goldfield, viz., pecuniary compensation for his discovery, as well as an enlarged claim. It is needless to observe, that in this' co mtry there are hundreds of working miners practically and scientifically fitted for prospecting, and I can certify that scores in the vicinage of the Tokomairiro are labouring successfully to develop the auriferous resources of Otago. I may add too,- that notwithstanding our nomadic habitudes, the attraction of the nuggetty " Waipori" has not affected us in any way ; outnumbers augment, and the chances of profitably remuneration are more apparent the longer and the more frequent mechanical contrivance and systematic t'ict unfold themselves. You recommend the immediate appointment of "milling surveyors." They certainly arc very useful when lines and angles traversing and intersecting subterranean cavities arc in dispute: In a land presentin" such superficial mining phases as this does, thevare not yet required, and the majority 01 the miners are quite capable of making all the surveys that existing surface workings need. For some Ion"- period, I think, our principal diggings Will be of this nature, and we are not too rich to be able to afford the luxury of a surveyor with-his scale of fees for all imaginable items. The lawyer and the surveyor have netted pretty well a moiety of the diggers' earnings in Victoria. We wish, if possible to avoid them here, for, like " misfortunes, thev'come not singly," but go " hand in hand together." ". You might direct your influence to the ventilation of a subject fraught with most momentous consequence to us all ;it is also one in which the future welfare of the colony is deeply concerned ; in fact, it is whether the Government will retain us permanently as boua fide settlers by affording us the opportunity of making comfortable homesteads, so that we" may amongst the daughters of the land seek fitting and virtuous helpmates, in the confidence that we shall have a cozy cabin and a " wee bit farm" for them to be happy in and preside over, where, by industry and perseverance, poverty and discomfort will be kept in their proper place at the wrong side of the door. Digging for most of us is no longer invested with the. romantic ch:\rra that some years back it possessed ; neither the " Canadian,"" nor the " Great Welcome Nugget," now enffice to lure us away from a regular,

though not, magnificent, income. Years of" rough and tumble," ncross the water, have convinced us it is time to curb our rambling propensities, an I to make us content with " the gifts the gods give," and they have not been doled out here with a niggard hand ; and here we would remain could we but receive sufficient, inducement. This mitcht easily be arranged if every miner by virtu/j of his miner's right could hold, for agricultural purposes, a plot of Crown land, say a few acres. Numbers would avail themselves of such- a boon ; mining and the culture of the soil ■would each develop thi other ; a fixed, respectable, and energetic population would soon people and beautify your secluded glens ; woman's joyous notes, and refining tendencies, would be heard and seen on every side. The howling wilderness would be transmuted into a smiling garden, and benefits morally, socially, and physically conferred on us .and tho country generally. To tho accomplishment of this great good I would urgently beg your assistance, —through yon we may achieve these glorious results. My budget of news this week is rather sparsely filled. The weather has been favourable, the river is very low now, and all hands, -water-wheels included, sinking, pumping, and sluicing,—merry as grigs. The heaviest lump of gold found here was obtained m my claim last Saturday ; it is a nice nugget, weighing within a few grains of nine pennyweights—it was imbedded in the reef, known amongst diggers as a " jointy slate " one. Wo think some more coarse bits will be got when wo have worked in on the false bottom on which the heaviest deposits of gold have been found in these workings Several parties have penetrated it to a depth of five or six feet, and have found gold as they sank, though not papablc, but did not succeed in reaching the bed-rock in any instance. The false-bottom, so called, is an alluvial deposit,—a stitF yellow clay. Portions of trees have been found entombed therein, so that it is possible, wero the reef reached, some good paying wash-dirt might be got overlying it.

1 am sorry to chronicle that one of the men employed cutting the long race by Murray's property, met with a sad accident while blasting in the rock yesterday. The reef crops above tho soil along a good bit of the cutting, and requires to he removed by blasts ; while firing a shot, the charge, owing to a want of proper fuse, exploded prematurely, and the poor fellow received three or four ugly contused wounds in the head and face— his hands were also severely injured. A medical gentleman was sent for immediately, and no sarious consequences arc now apprehended ; but he will be incapacitated from following his avocation for six weeks at least. The men making this race are still persisting in the face of no ordinary difficulties, but they have great faith that they will be amply repaid for all their labour.

Your"" Daily "is a source of solace to us ;we can know now how the world wags a few hours after publication. It arrives here at 12 p.m. very often. This shows clearly what private enterprise can effect. By way of contrast we shall, if it please the Postmaster, and are fortune's favorites, get such letters as the Aldinga has brought for us next Tuesday. She steamed into port on Wednesday. This speaks volumes for the necessity o a sweeping change in the postal service. It is not fair too, I may remark, that we should be compelled to go to the post office at the " Tokomairiro" township for our epistles. We can count along the river and scattered about its various tributaries, the gullies right and left, four or five hundred persons. The most central part of this place is only two mile 3 distant from v. here the coach changes horses. All the dwellers round about come to the stores here to make purchases. In justice to tis, then, we ought to have a post office of our own, particularly when there are such facilities tor direct communication and rapid transmission up and down. The Tokomairiro town and its rural lands are not more densely populated, nor the claim tor the post office more substantial, than the one we make. Possibly it will surprise you to be informed that a letter is transmitted from Victoria to Dunedin in less titns than it takes to bring it from the last place named to tliis ultra-mundane locality.

A licensed public-house is very much needed at the junction of the two roads to Waitahuna —the dray and the foot traffic ones. The coach obtains a relay of horses there, and the passengers stay to dine or breakfast, as the case may be ; it is also a halting place for the wearied hundreds that go to, and come from the various diggings. There is now- an accommodation house erected, comfortable and commodious. The landlord is civil, respectable, and well-adapted for the management o such an establishment. "W§re it a licensed house it would be a public benefaction, and no more worthy or cleanly host than the occupant, Mr. Lcgge, could preside over its destinies. I hear he has an application in for a license, and I trust it will be granted at once, as such an establishment is highly necessary in that neighbourhood. Will you inform us how and to whom we are to make application for registration as electors for this district ? A short foot-note in answer will bo a special favour. [The information our correspondent desires we will furnish in detail next week. Meanwhile we 7nay state that, up to March, applications for registrations will be received. A large number of forms are now in course of preparation at our office.—Ed. D. 77) «

We had the pleasure last night of inspecting the silver cup to be presented by Mr. S. Jones to the Otago Jockey Club at- the ensuing races. It is very elegantly chased, aud bears the inscription, "Testimonial cup presented by S. Jones Esq., of the firm of Jones, Bird & Co., of Dunedin and Sandhurst, on the occasion of the first race meeting held in Duncrlin after the discovery of tne gold in the province of Otago.

The Customs Revenue for yesterday (Jan. 17) was on imports £224 Bs. Id. ', on exports (gold) £1707 4s. 6d. Total, £1931 13s. 4d.

At the sale of lands by auction at the MolyneauK on the 15th January, there wove 37 sections sold, realising £GOl, or an. average price per acre of nearly £05. The highest price given for a section was £23 10s., and the lowest £13.

The Aldinga, which sailed for Melbourne yesterday, took away.-14,839 ozs. 3 dwts. 8 grs. of gold, ■ -«» We understand that tne sum of £900 has been already'collected towards building the new Epis copal Church. Subscription cards have been issued to a^arge number of the members of the Church, and we believe that vigorous steps will •tit once be taken to collect the funds necessary to erect the net? Church ; the want of which is becoming more evident every week. The comic drama of "Delicate Ground," and .the amusing little overture of " Batchelor's Buttons," were performed for the second time at the the Music HalLjlast night, and were exceedingly well received oy a numerous audience. We understand that considerable scenic additions will soon be made. The remainder of the companyarc tfailytexpected from Wellington ; and we perceive that the valuable services of Miss Kedinayne have been secured in the orchestra.