THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam aut faciam."

Otago Daily Times, Issue 183, 28 June 1862, Page 4

THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam aut faciam."

DUNEDIN, SATURDAY, JUSTE 28, 1862.

It is much easier to philosophise than to endure, especially when the first is at the expense of others, the second, at one's own. A few months ago, many of those who now are most loud in their complaints of the dullness of the times, and who are most doubtful in their belief of ,1 re-action, could talk with exceeding glibness of the depression that was to he anticipated in the coming winter months. Forgetting their own prognostications, the nature of the climate, the lessons of past experience, and we may add, the common sense view of the case, the people who do the croaking make a merit of instilling into the minds of others the forebodings that flourish in their own. Like what the Saturday Review calls " the enthusiastic but' seedy Apostles" who volunteer to preach to whoever will listen to them, and then send round the hat; our friends under discussion do the lugubrious in the most approved fashion, and exact payment in the shape of sympathy for their nameless woes. We apprehend that .Otago is not only in a sound, but in a highly flourishing condition, and that those only complain who have expected too much from it.

The winter of Otago is certainly disagreeable, and from its earliest §ettlement this season has been accepted as the dull period of the year. Yet, the severity of the climate is not nearly so great as the new arrivals were led to expect. It appears, instead of being colder than that of England, to be a medium between the climates of the home country and of Victoria. Many of those who left in dread of it, will be surprised to learn with how little serious difficulty their comrades they left".behind have weathered it. Still, the inconveniences were by no means altogether imaginary, and these are heightened by the want of those precautions that, with experience, might have. been taken. For future winters the miners will probably be more prepared. They will decide on the localities they mean to remain in, and defer their migratory propensities ,to the warmer months. Having fixed on their choice of location, they will lay in a stock of fuel,, and

build themselves substantial and warm, huts— tents being altogether unsuitable for winter dwellings. With the precautions we have mentioned, to which should be added the boon of passable roads, the miners may make themselves as happy sis "sand boys," and if there be any Mark Tapleys amongst them, they may have to deplore the want of " credit in being jolly" under the circumstances. But; although they may attain to a due amount of personal comfort,' they must not expect to find in the winter the most profitable-season for their labors. On the contrary, the winter must always be the least remunerative, because a considerable portion of the time will have to be spent in a cessation of labor; "in consequence of the weather being unsuitable for out-door work. To.this cause and the shortness of the days it maybe set down "tliat hardly more than half the work performed in summer can be got through ; hence a mate-

rially less productive season must always be anticipated. The badness of the roads will also increase the price oi necessaries, and decrease the profits. Let us now sec if we have not arrived at the materials for solving the. feeling of depression that "the enthusiastic but seedy apostles," make it their business to encourage. Taking into account the untenantable nature of their habitations and the want of fuel, the miners are subjected to a larger share of privations than properly belong to the season of the year, and hence get through less work than what* might be considered the average of future seasons. We are probably right in saying that they do less than half tbe work they would be able to do in the summer. Add to this the materially diminished population on the gold fields, and we think the decreased Escorts are satisfactorily accounted for. The reaction on the commercial community is easily explained. The increased expense of goods naturally leads to a diminished consumption on the mines, and when to this is added the rate in cartage, and the lessened population, it is to be understood how one of the main arteries of trade is temporarily closed to Dunedin commerce. As of the miners, we. may say of the merchants, —in future seasons they--will lay themselves out for what they may reasonably calculate on, a diminished demand for goods in the winter. They will make it their business to push off their stocks in the proper season, and to lessen their engagements during the unfavorable period of the year. Although the croakers may be very disgusted at finding their woes robbed of their sting, owing to the very natural circumstances to which their explanation is referrable, we think they can scarcely deny the justice of the reasoning we have elaborated. The natural difficulties of the winter season, together with unusual ones arising from want of experience, account for less time being given' to mining pursuits, and the less the labor the less, the product. The bad roads, the diminished population, and the diminished consumption, account for a less demand for goods for the diggings; hence the depression in business. Hina illae Incrimae.

These "enthusiastic but seedy apostles" must not enppose_thatLwe deny theldulness ; it is patent that things are less lively than they were a few months back. Neither do we deny their right to complain of the absolute inconvenience they suffer. What we object to is their making capital out of their woes, and trading on the sympathy they are able to excite by the gloomy apprehensions they indulge in. The ground of difference is stated in half "a dozen words. Their lamentations. imply, if not absolutely express, that the depression is of a lasting not a temporary nature, whilst we, in referring it back to its legitimately explained cause, contend that it is essentially of an evanescent nature. During tlie summer months, when the diggings were much more largely populated than at present, it was generally recognised and admitted that the average individual earnings of the miners were muchin excess of those in Victoria.' We contend that the relative value of the fields of the two countries is still kept up.

Assuming that the number of miners is reduced by twenty-five per cent., and that those remaining only perform half the work they were able to get through in the summer, we surely cannot find that the present Escorts are of a nature to create much alarm. Against them we have the knowledge that every day is further developing the vast extent of the gold deposits. Tuapeka is continually extending, until the field, once sur»posed to be limited to Gabriel's Gully, now occupies an area of many miles. Waitahuna continues its steady yield; the Waipori is expected in the spring to prove an exceedingly remunerative gold field—owing to its discovery late in the -season, it has never been properly tested, —and the Woolshed is just starting, on an evidently increasing race of productiveness. Then we have the gold deposits proved to exist in the North part of the Province. When to these are added, the commencement of gold discoveries in Southland, the proved deposits of Nelson, and the probably auriferous nature ofthedifficult-to-be-prospected, basaltic plains &f Canterbury, we are justified in supposing that the Middle Island of New Zealand will in time become one of the woi'ld's great gold producing countries. Otago has made greater progress in the development of its gold, than did Fraser River, during the same period of time. The one had the flower of the Victorian the other of the Californian miners to assist it. But it is only now after the lapse of years, that British Columbia's true position as a gold producing region is appreciated, and we may look forward for a like continuous development of the auriferous resources, not only, of Otago, but of the whole of the Middle Island. In point of climate, Otago has, to say the least, as much the advantage of British Columbia, as it is at disadvantage with Victoria, But equally with Columbia, it rejoices in a profuse supply of the greatest adjunct to gold mining—water. And we have as little doubt that the Escorts will assume their old, and more than their old, proportions, as the gold fields are further worked, as we have that, with the advent of spring, there will be a fresh rush of Victorian miners, to make another great " haijl" at the wealth of the Province,

Some specimens of quartz have lately been picked up by Captain Toogood, of the Victory, and others who have visited Wiefcclifle Bay, along the shores of the lagoon which extends some distance inland, not far from where the Victory now lies. Some of the specimens are said to contain small specs of gold, and, from tho quantity of quartz which is exposed on the surface, it is presumed that it may be the outcrop of a reef which is there concealed by the silt and driven sand. As a number of men will be on tho spot, employed in the removal of the Victory, it w likely the locality will soon have a thorough overhaul.

The contractors engaged in the construction of the electric telegraph between Dunedin and Port Chalmers are now stretching tho wire from post to post; having commenced yesterday at the Port Chalmers end of the line. The intention was to have commenced at the middle, or at both ends simultaneously, but the posts not having been completed at the Dunedin end this plan has been adopted. It will only cause a few days more delay, and that is of less consequence since the offices at each terminus have not yet been erected. ■

Li the Gazette of June 25 it is notified that on and after the Ist July the authorised fares charge, able at the'Wcst Taieri Perry will be as follows. The mail, and persons bearing a certificate that they are on Government duty, are exempt.

Prom sunrise till one hour af6er sunset :— For each person ... ... ... 6d. . „ ~ horse, niule, or ass, not drawing j -, any carriage .... ) ;,' „ iiead of great cattle ... ... Cd. „ ~ sheep, goat, and hog, when) O1 -• . , under 20 ... ... J M- „. „ sheep,-goat, and hog, when 20 \ , , . aud upwards ... j ■ ~ „ cart, dray, waggon, and carriage,) ■of what kind soever, exclu-> Is. sive of goods and passengers j ~ i, horse,' mule, ass,, and bullock,") - drawing any cart, dray, > ■ 6d. waggon, or other carriage ) _~ „ bale of wool . ... 6d. Other (roods at the rate of 2d. per lOOlbs. From one hour after sunset till sunrise the above fares and freight and one-half more shall be charged. It is notified in the?. Provincial Government Gazette that for the future the Provincial Government offices will close ion Saturdays at 1 p.m., the Waste Land Board office one hour earlier. Kobert Albion Watt has been appointed to take charge of the Dipping Station at Port Chalmers and Simon Harvey to a similar office at the Mataura River. By proclamation, published in the " Provincial Government Gazette of Thursday's date, his Honor the Superintendent has appointed the honorable John Hyde Harris, Esq., to be his deputy, to act during his Honor's absence at Wellington to attend to his duties as a member of the General Assembly of New Zealand.

Editors are placed in receipt of strange productions. One day it is a bag of coals • another, a curious insect; a third, a sample of colonial ale, and so on. We can assure our readers not a little discretion has to be exercised between giving the sample si personal test, or leaving the same to that mythical individual, the printer's devil. Yesterday it was our good fortune to have placed at our disposal a parcel'of smoked and salt fish, the produce of Stewart's Island. The appearance is sufficiently inviting to induce us to give it ah personal trial, and our readers may, therefore, shortly expect n tempting description of the dainty delicacy. Seriously, howevere, there appears reason to believe'that a new field for industry is open in the establishment of fishing -stations at Stewart's Island. The fish alluded to is.n, sample of a considerable shipment from that place to Messrs. Cargill and Co., who 'will in future be in receipt of regular supplies. If the fish prove in taste as it looks, and the price be sufficiently low, an extensive demand for it is likely to .spring up.

The Provincial Government of Auckland, seem determined to strike while the iron is hot. They have already advertised the sale of about fifty allotments ia the " Town of Coromandel," at an upset price of about.£s per acre.

It is not by any means uncommon, for Europeans living in the bush in the North Island, to take Maori wives, and instances have occurred where well-born and well educated Englishmen have become so attached to their dusky spouses, as to. prefer remaining with them to returning to England when favorable opportunities:for doing so have occurred. It is, however, in very few cases that white women hayo been married to Maori husbands; a white wife, by the way, being an object of great ambition to a Maori, but it does so happen' occasionally, and the consequences to the children are of a much more unfavorable character, for it is but rarely that they escape being absorbed into the tribe of the father. A case, however, has been brought to light lately, at the Piako River, of a singular nature. It appears that a white woman with two children, one an infant and the other about six years old, had actually deserted her children and run away with a Maori husband. The poor European children, were however, taken care of in their fashion, by the' Piako natives, but as the person who has drawn attention to the fact, says "what will be the future of the poor infants if left there ? "

A colored opera troupe, called the " Cosmopolitan," have lately been more cosmopolitan iii' their travels than, they expected. They started from Nelson in a small sailing vessel, intending to proceed to Auckland via Manukau, but the unfortunate darkies were doomed to go a very, much farther "w.ay round for the nearest." The weather was stormy and the barque frail, and the skipper, not caring to venture into the vortex of breakers on the Manukau bar, was compelled to run to the coast, of course taking with him the unfortunate minstrels. The little craft arrived at Ahipara, where we may be sure the appearance of such a band of brothers was equally unexpected and gratifying to the admiring aborigines. Bruddcr Bones arid his companions had, however, to tramp overland to Mongonui, carrying bag and baggage witli them. Arrived there they were all right, a concert was got up at the public-house, and the good folks of Mongonui we have no doubt had a heartier laugh than they had had for a long timeThe peripatetic performers are probably by this time in Auckland. ■

1 The cutting of High-street is being vigorously proceeded with, and the bank has been cut in to a face of about ton- feet in height. The workmen have now at that depth come to a very hard rock, which may possibly be of service as a top dressing to the street before laying the metal. The cutting until this rock was reached was through a stiff clay of the same character as that which for so long has mada High-street the terror of pedestrians.

.We publish elsewhere, an interesting account of the New Diggings at Hamilton and Wayne's Station, at the head of the Waikouaiti. It will be seen that the news is not such as to warrant any rush until further notice. . On Tuesday next, (July 1) the licenses granted some time back for the sale of spirits, come into force,

We have on more than occasion referred to the danger of vehicles being allowed to traverse the streets at night without lights. We have now to refer to the almost equal danger of people riding rapidly through the town at night. A case occurred last evening of a person on horseback coming along George-street at a smart pace, to the evident peril of the foot passengers. 11. was hailed by a policeman and told ■to slacken his pace, but instead of attending to the request ho made an insolent reply and rode on. A few examples will have to be made to teach people of this class to have a greater respect for the safety of their neighbors.

We are pleased to notice that the formation of the foot-path in Gcorgc-strcct is being proceeded with, but whether from the difficulty of procuring' the material, or from any other causes, its progress is not so rapid as could be wished. It is being made with a stone kerb, and will make a very fair job when completed. While the work is in progress, the street is kept in a great mess, and unless proper gutters are made to run off the surface water the street will be wet aud sloppy during the remainder of the winterand far into the spring. The "military road," also, that leads up to the barracks is being widened and re-metalled. This was much needed, as the road before was extremely narrow, and was dangerous in the dark, as any person getting off the road would roll down a steep bank. •

By mistake, in yesterday's paper, we made Mr. Brown, the new member for Tarakaki, whereas it should have been Mr. Watts.

The following, in reference to oil wells, is from a California paper :—"Pro u the account of a Toronto paper, it appears that the largestr oil well in the world has of late been opened upon land owned by.-William Sanborne, of Eyre, Pa. This well is over 200 feet deep, and flows, when allowed to, over 2500 barrels of oils in twentyfour hours. One of the largest oil refineries in America is now -being built to "refine the oils taken out of wells on. this land. There is no good reason why oil of the best kind cannot be sold in the San Francisco market—within twelve months—for fifty cents, per gallon, by the single can or case. The oil wells in Pennsylvania, and directly opposite "Lake: Erie, in Canada,, are among the wonders of this century." ■Mr. Simon Harvey has been appointed a SubInspector of Sheep for the Province of Otago, the appointment to date from Ist July, 1862. The report of Mr. M'Kerrow upon the country; in'-the neighborhood of the Wanaka and Hawea Lakes, and of Mount Aspiring, which we pnblisb. in our issue of this morning, will, we doubt not, be read with interest—containing as it does a graphic and evidently-'faithful description of a part of the Province of Otago of which less is generally known than of the interior of Africa. ... ■ ■ . .:•■. ,■ By the Clutha, which arrived yesterday, wo have our files from Auckland to June 17. f