WAITAHUNA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 229, 13 September 1862, Page 6

WAITAHUNA.

(FROM OUJt OWN* COttItESI'OXDENT.) Waitahuna, September 10. A great number of the diggers are again returning to Waitahuna. Some cursing Hartley and Reilly, others the Government and the newspapers for the long journey they got, and after spending their money, and worse than all, when they have arrived back to fiul strangers in their claims. A few days ago, when the first of the miners began to return, there was nothing but pegging out claims afresh; others jumping claims and, in soma instauccs, it ended in a few rounds of boxing. There are a good many strangers now on Wnitahuna, some who came over from Victoria lately, others who came from the lJuustan rush, and had been at some ot the other (Sold .Fields in New Zealand. I have been speaking to some diggers here this d ty who left Waitahuna for the Coromandcl diggings some six .months ago, and they give a bud account of it. They state; that others who left Wnitahuna with tin in, have gone to Sydney, smd that they themselves arc now very sorry for leaving for the Coromandel diggings. Some of these diggers who have returned, are intending to «tart again as soon as they hear of provisions being anyway reasonable there. Others, that are provided with horses, are coining for cradles and other appliances, together with what tucker tl.cy can manage to puck en a horse's back. I Live seen a sample of the gold from the Hartley di^iu^s, it was shown to me l>y Alexander Cusr, who has returned for provisions. lie stated ihat when leaving Waitahuua his mutts, Henry Lloyd and John Carson, hail started before him, and arrived there two days before himself, as he h;id a pack-horse lat'c'ii. They went the short road. On his getting there he w;.'s I surprised when they showed him no less than jls ozs., for two days work. He status that they I have sc-curnd a claim on the bank of the river, {lie* also sti-.k'S that the river.rises and fails, and that so quick, lhat lie wiys,—" It will do so very often while panning oil'a dish of stufr.

A report is very prevalent here that three men have perished on the Waipoti lJoad, beyond Thompson's station, from cold and hunger, and that the fourth man was relieved by some digue.* (on their return), who had some: bLscuit. *Tliis report has reached here through the dig-ers who have returned. " °

AHo/ctlicr for lhe Li-st few d.sys a live'v stir is again up in Waitahima iroiii what it had been two weeks ago. Trade is again looking v'>. The bakers have raised the price of broad to 2.5., there being such a rush on them tor the " stall of life." A beautiful concert room has just been fitted upVu Coleinan's Hotel, and it is enlivened every evening by Messiv. James Hall and Win. White. Mr. Hall has amused everybody here with his local songs on the i:ew rush ; * he is a second Thatcher. The Miners' Arms Hotel is also not short in provuiinsr anmscmvut for the diggers after their duyh work is done. Mr. Jaimesou, of the Bank of New Zealand, here, purchased about 10 ozs. of gold from the new rush at the I)unstan,o:i Saturday last. It is very fine, and very hard to be extracted from the black sand. A meeting of the Deep Sinking Association is to bo held to settle all accounts which may be due by the Association. | A billiard match between Mr. Smyth and Mr. Murphy, came here oil"yesterday, for £'.U> a .*i'it\ lO'il) up. Mr. Murphy won hv'-tiO. The frame came oil" on Mr. William Stephe;;->n's billiard tablc.MrLmuan actinir. as the marker. This is the thir.l lime that these gentlemen nave met, Smyth defeated Murphy on the two former ova-ions." The deputation, consisting of i);\ Samuels, Messrs. M'Uregor, Summers, Lrr/ari:.:. and WilHams, who woro a]ij).)inted at the tmxting on Friday last, waited on Captain Ualduiium Saturday, relative to the Mining Hoard for the- Waiiahuiia' and Wooished district. Captain Baldwin informed them that ho had only received a communication from the Government on the night previous, and that he had written again on that morning to the Government to know whether the election would go ou, or if a fresh proclamation was to be issued, giving a month's notice. He seemed to take great interest in the-election of* a-Mining Board, and stated to. the committee, that as soon as he should receive an answer''from Government, he would inform them. The Committee thanked him for his courtesy, and lor the interest he had taken in their welfare.