THE GOLD FIELDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 153, 13 May 1862, Page 5

THE GOLD FIELDS

TUAPEKA. (frcx our ovrx corresposbrnt.)

Tuapeka, May 10, 1862. No more certain indication of the belief in the permanent prosperity of this gold field can be obtained than thu constant arrival of women and children on the diggings. When a man removes his Lares and Penates to a new country, he is undoubtedly giving hostages to fortune, and must feel convinced that he will be able to " provide for himself and those of his household." . . ". I have been on many a new rush in Victoria without ever peeing the flutter of a petticoat, and as for the Eound of a child's voice you might as well expect to hear the nightingale in December. Here, however, the oise is entirely different. You can scarcely walk a couple hundred yards without being saluted by the joyous cries of children, and on a warm day youniay meet many a pretty furm and fair iace. All this points but to one conclusion, thut after having; given tiie ground a fair trial the miners feel convinced that tlicy can earn a hotter living here than in Victoria, and consequently intend to make Otago (is pormanient a home as it is possible for your fiumiine digger to do. Of course 1 shall be asked how is it then that the yield of gold does not increase. 1 answer, because save the country lying towards the Tuapeka, there has not been a single inch of new ground opened, and men are contented to make wages rather than wander about prospecting;. Moreover, our population has very considerably decreased, and as a matter of course the amount of gold produced is proportionately small. With an influx of immigrants from Great Brirain, will return increased prosperity, for they are almostcertnin toprospect the first spot.they see, a»d the chances are with fair success. Your Victorian miner is too knowing, and istoo ant toiuiagiuethat his past experience will serve him in New Zealand. Hence you find large portions of the country in the immediate vicinity of the old workings untouched, merely because he "docs'nt like the look of it." Nothing can be move fallacious, and as an instance, I may mention a case which occurred ia Muuroe!s Guily. Conversing with a storekeeper, he pointed out a small spur on which numerous parties were at work, and remarked, — "Not a likely looking place that, for gold?" "No." " Well, two new chums set in there, no one else would try it; and last week I bought from them two pounds weight of gold, which they said they had got in about 10 days." The point was rushed, and experienced miners reaped the benefit of the discovery of their inexpf riehced neighbors. No doubt, for the working of ground already opened', experiment is absolutely necessary; but, in the diacovm-y of new ground, the "new chum" is just as lucky as the old "hand." From the old workings there is nothing particular to re-ro-t. The number of puddling machines is increasing, and they continue to pay handsome wages. The sluiciag parties who have finished their races, expect to get to work about the end of the week. There is little doubt but that theyJ will1 do well. In the direction of the Tuapeka, there have been various small rushes, Tiut nothing of suffiojent importance to narrate. The miners are' very much scattered, and there is work going on along the entirs-couire of the Tuapeka river. About 7 mi{e3 down, a party of six are engaged in turning the river, and they have every pros-' pect of doing well. The work will not be completed for some time, but when finished will render workable a large portion of the river. ■■■.■'. The weather has' been cold and dry, with high winds from the south-west.