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

Otago Daily Times, Issue 271, 1 November 1862, Page 4

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

DUNEDIN, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1

J ust two months and a half have elapsed since Hartley and Reilly first made known the discovery of the Dunstan gold field, and stipulated for a reward of £2,000 on 16,000 ounces of the precious metal being obtained. The third escort only has arrived, and already the total brought by this means amounts to over 22,000 ounces, whilst fully one-third as much has come down by private hands. The result is wonderful, even to those who can draw on the last ten years' experience of gold mining in Victoria and California. No new field, we believe, has ever turned out so much gold in so short a time after its discovery, and when it is considered how inaccessible is the situation, how difficult the means of obtaining food, and how much of the two months and a half has passed without any work being done, we challenge a comparison of the Dunstan with any gold field ever discovered. For a distance of thirty miles along the river banks gold has been found, not only in payable, but in highly remunerative quantities ; and when the rising of the river drove the workers from its edge, they, with scarcely an effort, seem to have discovered rich gullies in every direction. Hardly more than a week elapsed between the time of their having to leave the river and that at which other gold workings were proclaimed, and this fact, to those who know the difficulties .of prospecting and the scattered manner in which the deposits in the richest fields are generally found, speaks volumes for the universal distribution of the auriferous wealth of the Dunstan gold field. In fact the Dunstan is not more remarkable for the amount of gold it has produced, than for the immense extent over which, in this short time, the gold is proved to occur.

About one month earlier than the Dunstan was discovered this year, the Tuapeka was discovered last year. The first five escorts, covering about two months and a half, amounted to some 26,000 ounces, and the result was deemed wonderful. But the Dunstan, further removed, less accessible, and averaging about the same population, has, in the same time, produced nearly 30,000 ozs.; and we are told that the yield promises to increase instead of decrease. Throughout the summer, it is said, the prospect of rich returns,to a large population is assured, and in the winter the river banks and bed are expected to yield fabulous results. It is not too much to anticipate that the yield will average 8000 ozs. a-Week during the- next twelve months; or, in other words, that it will return to the Government in export duty alone a revenue of £1,000; aweek, or £50,000 a-year,—an income as great as that of many European States.

It is with feelings of pardonable exultation that we point to the rich promise ofthe Dunstan. When the field was first made known, the prominence we gave to the mere facts attending its discovery caused a rush of population that completely took by surprise those, who had never seen similar instances of gold mining excitement. The movement promised to be one of evil instead of good; the population was. flying in advance of the supplies, and starvation seemed to stare hundreds, nay, thousands, in the, face. That no positive ill beyond temporary suffering arose, was

due to the orderly tendencies and great powers of endurance of the miners themselves, as well as to the wise precautions taken by" the Provincial and Police ■ authorities, and we should not omit to add, the accommodating efforts ofthe neighbouring run-holders. Meanwhile many who had rushed off ill prepared for Ihe winter, and many who were physically or by inclination, unfitted for a gold digging life, returned, and indignantly proclaimed the field a failure, some went so far as to stigmatise it in the strongest phrase of the gold miner, "a shicer." Although when the rush Degan to assume extravagant dimensions we did all we could to curb i*i yet we always expressed the opinion that a very rich and extensive field would be brought to light.We endeavored to warn off a feeling of either undue elatement or depression. The result has more than borne us out—those who have steadily applied themselves to work have with few exceptions been fortunate, whilst day by day the extensive capabilities of the field have been progressively developed.

But it is not for any purpose of self exultation that we have penned these remarks, our wish has been rather to show to the Government the duty that devolves on it of proving itself equal to the occasion during the coming winter. The population of.the Dunstan is likely to be large, and the yield of gold immense. Not only is it fitted to work during the winter by reason of the water being low, but because the climate of that part of the country is singularly mild and free from rain. The difficulty of obtaining supplies will be the one serious impediment, and unless the Government, during the favorable season, take proper precautions, most serious calamities may be occasioned. A road requires to be opened that will prove usable during the winter months, and the machinery for the proper government of the gold field requires to be furnished. As yet there is only one Commissioner on the field. Even now the duties devolving on him are more than any one man can physically fulfil; and when the winter comes on, and the difficulties of moving about from place to place become more serious, the greatest inconvenience, to use a mild term, may be expected to arise. At the present onoment two commissioners, or .a commissioner and' a resident magistrate, are at least required, and during the winter probably this number will not be sufficient. It would also be well to have a town surveyed off, and if it could not be sold at once, persons erecting substantial buildings should have the assurance that when the time of sale came, they would be able to get the lots on which they built at upset price. In short, every precaution should be taken to thoroughly prepare the Dunstan for its winter campaign, and we do not doubt that the Government, which certainly has hitherto shown no disinclination to promote the progress of the Dunstan, will receive our recommendations in good part.