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Otago Daily Times, Issue 285, 18 November 1862, Page 6

Cotton Manufacturers and Cotton Growers,— It lias been over and over again as erted that the inUlowners are themselves alone to blame lor the p-.e^eut cotton dearth. They ought, accopiine: to this novel hypothesis in political economy, to have anticipated the scarcity that has arisen, to have turetold a catastrophe the po&sibi ity of which nojane eJse contemplated, and to have made preparations against it. They outfit to .have sent their own.agents to the localities of cotton growth in the interior of India. They ought to have instructed the Indian cultivators in an improved husbandry at vatiance vr" th ) ude and inveterate practices i\<ur thousand years old. And they ought 10 have furnished the pniniiess peasantry J of India v.jth capital at moderate in ere^t, in su>-s ituti. n of that for which they now pay an usurious one. In a word, th- manufacturers of Lancishi.e client to have engaged in Imtian agriculture and in Indian banking at least twelve thousands miles out of sight of "their own factories and warehouses^ It teems never to have occurred to the abettors if ths preposterous hypothesis that division in the employment of capital is as indispensable to success as division, of J a bor in the processes of the mechanical arts. It wou'.d be as absurd '-in-a Lancashire manufacturer to engage m the fjrowth of cotton in India as ir would bi gin a Vorksirire one, for fear of a dearth of wool, ;o engage in sheep fanning- in Australia, or Ge.many cr Spain. , l?i»r the last seven years there has been a murrain among the silkworms'of Europe, the effici of which was jiTfatly to enhance the price of raw siik. It was just as unlooked-for as the catastrophe which has ab tracted the Ameiicnn cotton; but did anyone expect that the silk manufacturers .of.-France and Knglaud should engage in rearing silkworms and plaining mulber; ies in remote countries to meet ihe deaith ! The matter being left t" the bounty of hi^h price and, the enterprise of merchants, China was i found to niake up for the shortcomings of Europe. .The only difference between the silk and cotton dearths is that t 1 ere is no China to supply the place of the blockaded valleys of the Misbisbipi aurf Allama. It is Hardly neees-ary to artd that a combination of many employments of capital is nothing else than a return to ..rudeness and barbarism. On the contrary, perfection is attained by its 'subdivision. In - Mrmintrhani there are above 300 separate trades, the great in j'»iity employed on thr m<-ta s. Even in the" cotton munutucture there is a great division of .em--ployuun's. This couni'ry has supplied the !nveut|bii, tb.: ingenuity, the" >kill. and the capital which con-, tribuidto the e:eatiou ofthe.cot'on manufacture ";'' hut that manufacture in iis fireainess w«iu-:d •never have existed had .not men of the same ...race sis'-jour-selye^ placed under e-pecia| favorable circumfctanct's, supplitd the iudispensable raw material. — Examiner, "... : ;.,

itiE GOLD Fi^LDS MANUAL FUK - NEW ARRIVALS. V -We publish the following intormation concerning the gold fields for the benefit of new arrivals: — The principal gold fields of Otago are those at Tuapeka, Waitahuna, Waipori, Woolshed Creek, Mount Highiay. the newly discovered Dunstan and 2\ Tokomai Diggings, and several minor fields, as Coal Greek, Lindi?, the Dunstan lliver, Shag River, and Moeraki Beach. Tuapeka, although not the oldest, is the best known and most extensive]}* worked gold field. Tt comprises a large extent of probably air iferous country, but hitherto mining operations have mainly been limited to Gabriel's Gully, the scene of Mr Read's early discoveries, Wetherstone's and Monroe's Gullies, and the banks of the Tuapeka River. From these- localities alone, 336,409 ounces of gold have already been transmitted by escort to Dunedin. Miners are doing well on this field. vScattered parties of prospectors are found in the adjacent irullies, where they are quietly and steadily working. If surface indications are to be trusted, there are hundreds of these gullies which present the appearance of being equally rich with those originally opened, and no doubt many parties are now making their piles in the recesses of the surrounding ranges, unheard of and unnoted. The workings at Tuapeka are shallow, averaging from live to forty feet, rarely deeper. At Wetherstone's a large portion of the ground remains quite untorched, all attempts to botom having been defeated by the influx of water. As the Government have, however, consented to form a storm water channel for the purpose of draining the flat, we may expect that this part of the field will shortly be rendered accessible to the miners. The washdirt is gravelly, and therefore easily worked. Sluicing is generally adopted. The supply of water is most ample, arid races, some of them many miles in extent, have been Conned for this purpose. The gullies and the points of the hills are the favorite sites, but along the Tuapekn, hill workings have been resorted to with very great success. Wood is scarce in. the immediate vicinity of the diggings. At the beads of the. gullies there are patches of scrub for firewood, and i.ear the confluence of the Tuapeka with the. Clutha, there 13 timber available for slabbing, &c

Lignite for fuel is abundant, and, a.s it ie found near the surface, is in great request. At Wetherstone's and near the Junction township, sit the foot oT Gabriel's Gully, pome large and valuable deposits have been -discoverer!.

The route to Tuapeka from Dunedin is by the Main South Ro;».d, via East Taieri and Lake Waihola to Tokomniriro, thence by the WooKhed and Waitahuna. Distance, 70 miles by the travelled road ; but from Cameron's Liotei, on Tokom:<iriro Plains, there is a I short cut over the ranges by the Woolshed diggings, which minces the distance to sixty miles. The population is now estimated at 1,700 persons, of whom only 700 are miners. Waitsihinia.—Thi* iieid is on the river of that name. At Waitahuna only a few gullies have yet been worked ; from these the gross yield of gold to present date, as per escort returns, has been 78,640 ounces. All around is what are termed likely looking hills aud gullies. The workings are similar to those at Gabriel's and Wetherstone's, already described. Timber is scarce, but there is plenty of lignite in the neighborhood. The route from Dunedin is that by the main South Road to Tokomairiro—thence by the short road already referred to through the Woolshed. Distance by dray road over Mount Stuart, 59 miles— via Woolshed and the ranges, 50 miles. Present population, 1,500. The Woolshtd is a comparatively new field, the workings having gradually extended down the creek (where they were first discovered) to the soutli branch of the Tokonviiriro River, where some very rich ground ha" been opened up. Some of the auriferous lands in this locality are private -roperty, but in every instance the proprietors have dealt with the miners in a fair and liberal spirit: and a Government road, upon which a payable lead was recently struck, has been thrown open for mining purposes, on condition of surface damages being made good. There is also a I iarge extent of Crown lands available for the prospector, and parties are known to be working with succe-'s in the neighbourhood. A quartz reef was some time since discovered in Canada bush on the adjacent plain?, between the branches of the Tokomairiro, but we have no further information on this subject. Since May last an escort has been dispatched from the Woolshed, the amount ot gold sent down by which, presents a total of 3,883 ounces. The population is estimated at about 450 persons. Distance from Dunedin by East Taieri and Tokomairiro, 45 miles. The Waipori field is on the Waipori river and its branches. The workings consist principally of ceek workings and hill sluicing. The population—never very large:—is now estimated at 300. Since the "first escort in February last, 6,155 ounces have been se^it down by that mode of conveyance! Situated higher up in the spurs of the .Lammerlaw mountains, tne climate is more severe than that of Tuapeka and Waitahuna, but Waipori presents an excellent and comparatively untried field for operations during the summer months. Growing timber is very scarce in the vicinity, but beds of large trees in a state of good preservation exist immediately under the soil, and tnese are stated to be available not only for fuel, but for slabbing and other purposes. The gold found at Waipori is coarse and nuggetty, and frequently intermixed with fragments of quartz. ; Near ihe township a re.rf showing promising; auriferous indications, was lately discovered by some quartz-miners from Bendigo, who purpose erecting machinery to fairly te9t its value. The route from Dunedin is by West Taieri and the Maungatua ranges. Distance^ forty miles

Not far from the Waipori river to the eastward is the Lee stream, hitherto neglected, except by a few straggling parties, but on the banks of which gold' in payable quantities was long since discovered. All these fields continue to yield remuneraive employment to the miners engaged upon them, and there is ample robin for many more. The Mount Highlay diggings are situated in the valley of the Upper Taieri, and the main workings are at Timbrel's Gully, and at Deep Dell and Filly Burn—tributaries of the Taieri River, but several parties of miners are scattered over the surrounding country in every direction. rrhe population of this field has never been lar^e—and at present the number is estimated at 500 miners. When it whs discovered, in Jun,.- ---• ast, the inert nvney of the weather tended to prevent the rush which otherwise would, in all probability, have occurred. The diggings are situated at a considerable elevation above the sea level aud are

consequently subject to-heavy falls of snow during the winter. There is sufficient timber () near Timbrel's for moderate use. and scrub, t j for firewood is found on the margins of the | streams, and.in' the hollows of the ranges j Lignite is. as usual, procurable in the fiats, and t the neighboring mosses- yield good' peat. Water is plentiful; and sluicing is in conse- ,; quence the favorite mode of mining. Although the Mount Highlay field has [, been so scantily prospected, the existence f of auriferous deposits, over a very large area, v has been ascertained beyond a doubt. There 7 is no escort thence, but the quantities of gold „ brought down by private hand are very con- p siderable, when the spareness of the popula- 0 tion is taken into account. . •{] The gold at Timbrel's is rough and heavy, s greatly resembling the Waipori gold. That r from Deep. Dell is finer, and more waterworn. A quartz reef, in the stone of which fine 1 goll is apparent, was discovered at Mount v Highlay, nnd ,a prospecting claim granted to 1 the discoverer, but no steps have yet been a taken to test its value. r The route generally preferred is by steam- 1 boat to Waikouaiti; thence by Mount Flea- t sant, the Shag River, and- Hamilton's and f Wayne's station (No. 10.9) to Saxton's Run, s (No. 210), on which the diggings are situated, t The distance from Waikouaiti by this route is t estimated at 55 miles. There ia another road t overland from Cunedin, by way of Blueskin ; c but it is exceedingly bleak, rugged, and difH- s cult, and impeded by dangerous morasses, r both on the margins of the numerous inter- ( secting streams, and on the tops of thy 'ranges, c j Intending visitors to this field will therefore 1 do well to take the sea-route. t j Murphy's Gully is on Hamilton and Wayne's :■ I station, about seven miles from Highlay. Gold in fair quantities has been obtained there. ' Several of the creelc3 at the head of the i Waikouaiti River, and the branches of the ] Shag River, are also known to he auriferous : ' but so few are the miners" in the locality that 1 this promising field may be said to be as yet ; untried, and consequently undeveloped. i Coal Creek, 'about twenty miles above i Mount Ilighlay in a northerly direction, is i one of the head branches of the Shag River. Sluicing operations are being conducted in the s bed, and on the banks of the creek with remu- ' nerative results. The mining population is : very small, but will probably increase during the summer months. Lignite of a very superior description crops out on the bank?. There ere no hotels, and but little accommodation, on this road at present. Travellers have mainly to rely on the stations along the line for provisions. It is therefore advisable to carry as large a supply as possible oi flour, tea, and sugar. Beof and mutton are, of course, to be obtained everywhere. The Lindis was the earliest discovered, and is one of the least-worked of the Otago gold fields. Shortly afttr ir, was first rushed, the I more brilliant attractions of uabriel's Gully drc'W off the few miners—about 300—then on the field, and there has not yet been any reaction in its favor. A few men are stiil at work there, and the locality presents all t'ne appearance of a large and rich gold field. The Lindis diggings are on the run of Mr. M'Lean (No. 216). They are co;ifi\ei] to one or two small gullies, near the Lindis Pass on the hesid-waters of the river of that name. The »ok« is heavy and nnggctty. The climate is somewhat inclement in winter, and scow lies on the ranges till the summer is far advanced. The gullies being sheltered enjoy a milder atmosphere. There is a well-supplied store in the vicinity. The usual road to the Lindis gold field is via Waikouaiti, thence by Sha«Valley and the Upper Taieri Plains, across the ranges to the head of the Manuherikia Valley; thence, following up the main-branch of .the Manuherikia River, past Mount St. Batlmn's to the Lindis Pass. Distance about 160 miles. Another road is by way of Oamarn, and a third over the Lammermoor Ranges and Rough-ridge. But the first-named route is considered the best, as it is also the road to Highlay, Coal Creek, and the Dunstan gold fields— and consequently more travelled than any other. Dunstan River is another partially-deve-loped field. A few miners have been digging there for some months, with what measure of success is best known to themselves. The 1 precise locality of their operations is at the confluence of the Dunstan with the Manut herikia River. At Moeraki Beach, gold of a very fine dcs scription is found in the sands of the sea- ' shore, mixed with iron-sand and fragmentary : gems Washing operations are now carried on 1 opposite the town of Hampden, between the : Big Kauri and Little Kauri streams. But the • entire beach, as far as Shag Point, appears to . consist of similar deposits. Gold, at the rate lof 100 ounces to the ton. has been obtained i 1 from the clean-washed sand, and it would : seem that if science and capital were brought to bear, a magnificent yield would he the result j The Dunstan gold-field is situated on the { t Clutha River, at the south-western base of the [' Dunstan mountains, and includes the spurs of the Garrick ranges on the,.opposite bank of ) the river, which has here worn a passage ; through the solid rocks. The workings are principally confined to the shallow beaches • and river bars, where fine gold is found inter- ■ mixi'd with magnetic iron sand. The meltin^ .of the snow has lately caused a "fresh " in tlie • river, i:it a great degree preventing the -pur-' 1 suance of the mode of operations. But the t adjacent valley of the Manuherikia presents I abundant indications of being highly ■auri- • ferous, consisting as it does of extensive 1 "flats," with " made hills" and terraces. _The i sinking would be through loose gravel, re- • quiring timber fir slabbing. ' But the depth is • not great, and timber is now beinu rafted from 1 the Lake country at the head of the river j Parties have commenced tunnelling from the • banks, on a very limited scale,. and ' large gold ; has been found. It is believed that, ifpro- - perty worked, a rich harvest will be the 5 result. ■ There are about 4,000 miners on this field. ] These appear to have done Avell. Six thouj: sand ounces have been brought down by esi cort, 2 000 ounces, have reached town by pri- > vate hand, and it estimated that an equal 3 quantity has been sent to Tuapeka, making an aggregate of 10,000 ounces. Large quantities i still remain in the hands of the miners ovvino'to the want of cash on the field for purchasing ' A fortnightly escort service has now been ■ established. , There are patches of bush along the 1 river, but the only timber available! 3 for miningl purposes is found near the lakes at the Uiead of the Clutha, • where there is an extensive forest of black 1 birch. Coal, or ra?her lignite, abounds; there 'is a fine spani of "go~6d quality cropping out on the east banks of the river near the junction lof the Manuherikia. (;. ; . The climate of this district is described as ; mild, aud dry in the winter, although snow i covers the surrounding mountains. Hartley" ; and Reilly state that whilst they Were reaping 1 their golden harvest, from May to August/ . rain rarely fell, and on three days only were they prevented from working by stormy weather. In winter also the waters of the Clufha are at their lowest, and a larger extent"of- the rocky bed, in the led^t-s of which the gold "is retained, is within reach of the miners. Punts and boats have been placed on theriver by .private enterprise, so that miners aud their drays may cross at various points. J

Stores of all 'kinds are becoming more easily obtainable on the. than they were at the first rush. ;/, Carta»:e;;hoivever. still rules high, and provisions are consequently very dear; miners are therefore recommended to take a smmlv with them. *

. -I'J'V ihere are several routes to the Dunstan One is via Tunpeka, and thence by Gardiner's, .Miller's, and Baldwin's stations; and from the iatter by a well-defined track over the Knobby Ranges to the junction of the Manuhvrikia with the Molyneux. Distance from Tuapeka, 70 piles. This road is represented as being impassable for drays, and in places difficult for park-horses. Another track, to the eastward of the former U somewhat more practicable, hut one part is intersected by the Teviot stream, which, when swollen, presents a formidable obstacle to further progress. Another route is from Dunedin by West Taieri, over the Lammennoor ranges" to the valley of the Manuherikia; distance,'about 110 miles. After leaving West Taieri there are no hotels or accommodation houses on the road, but the track passes several stations, a list of which, together with their relative distances we subjoin :—Healey's station, distant from West Taieri 10 miles ; thence to Thompson's, 12 miles ; thence to Valpy's, 35 miles: thence to Murison's, 5 miles ; thence to Newton's, 14 miles; thence to Lowe's, 12 miles; thence to the Clutha, 5 miies. That nortion of the road which is situated between Taomnson's and Valpy's, winds across the elevated region of the Lammermoors, upwards of 3,000 feet above the level of the sea. It is consequently bleak, and at certain seasons not without danger to persons unacquainted with the country, beinj* liable to heavy falls of snow. Beyond this the road is fair and easy. A third route is via Waikouaiti and Shag Valley, distance from Waikouaiti about 120 miles. This road is much in favour with pedestrian?, as it passes through a series of valleys, where the climate is p.oportionably milder. A party of Government surveyors are now employed in finding or constructing a better and more direct road —a work which it is to be hoped will be effected before the approach of next winter.

The miners have extended their operations along the Kawarau for nearly ei^ht miles. They are also working on the Earnscleugh and other tributaries of the Upper Clutha towurds the Lindis River. The M:\nuherikia River is also being successfully prospected. A.t the junction of the latter with the Ciutlia, the Government prospecting party have secured a claim, in what they have asot'rtaincd to bo a payable gold field. On the Teviot stream and other creeks intersecting the route from Tuapeka, several parties of miners have set ia and continue working. There is now a continuous chain of diggings from the Tokomairiro River to the upper Ciutha Valley, for many of the miners have penetrated beyond the junction of the Kawarau, into the untried but richly promising district beyond. Gold has been found as far north as Quartz Creek, a tributary of the Ciutha, having its source in the ranges which divide Lake Wanaka from Lake Hawea. In many a sheltered nook of the mountain'!, and on the unfrequented portions of the rmr, prospectors are psaigly nestled, secretly gathering the golden spoils which nature has so abundantly scattered over the nrovince.

The Nokoniai divings are the List discovered. The only gully at present opened is on Moa Creek—a branch of the Nokomai River—having its source under the remarkable conical bill known as the Steeple, in the Rocky Mountains. This gully—named Victoria gully by the prospectors—is about four miles in length, and in breadth generally about a quarter of a mile, but contracting in some places to 20 or 30 yards. The gold is Isuge, heavy, and waterworn. There is plenty of scrub in the gaily, and about 20 acres of timber, principally birch, at the head.

The route to the Nokomai from Dunedin is via the main South Lload and Tokoniairiro to the Molyneux Ferry—thence to the Long Ford on the Mataura river, which i 3 there crossed. The road then continues along the west hank of the river to within three miles oi McKellar's station, where the Mataura is a«ain crossed, and the east bank is followed to the junction of the Nokomai River. The distance from Dunedm i 3 ahout 170 miles. The following are the main points on the line of route, with their relative distances: —

Molyneux Ferry, distant from Duuedin 58 miles; thence to the YVaiwera, 16 miles; thence to the Waruna, 12 miles ; thence to the Waipahi 6 miles; thence to the Waikaka, 15 miles; thence to the Mataura 6 miles; thence to McKeKar's, 82 miles ; thence to the Nokovnai, 25 miles.

There is an inn at the Molyneux Ferry, and an accommodation house at the Waiwera. Between the Waipahi and the Waikaka, the station of Roberts and Begree is passed, and on the 2s Tokomai it^-eif is Mr. Cameron's station. Stores are not yet on the ground, in sufficient quantities to supply a large population, and miners are, therefore, strongly advised not to start for the Nokomai without provisions.

The present population is estimated at about 300, but a gre*t number of miners are scattered over the surrounding couatry prospecting in every direction.

From a recent report it would appear that the Nokomai is not turning out so rich as was at first expected. But it is only fair to say that except in the upper part of Victoria Gully the ground has not been tested, owing to the heavy influx of water, and the want of proper appliances to keep it clear. The depth of sinking to the bed rock is about 2<» to 25 ?aet, through loose shingle, and the slate bottom dip 5 rapidly from the head of the gully where only has it been reached at a depth of from 2 to 5 feet:

The claims of the prospectors and those immediately adjoining, have averaged about half"an ounce a day per man.

Mining operations on the Nokomai have been attempted in several places, but the depth, loose nature of sinking, and quantity oi water, has hitherto rendered prospecting mpossible. ■

On the W'iaikaia River, to the S.E. of the Steeple Hill, Irom which it is distant about 8 miles, payable ground has recently been struck. T The prospectors 1- claim has been proved to yield about half a pem^veight to the pan of coarse gold, with 2 feet of wash dirt, and a soft slaty bottom The Waikaia is nearer to Dunedin, whence it is reached by following the i^okomai road to Koberts's station, midway between wliich and ■ the Waikaka, there is a track which crosses that river near the east branch leading direct to the YVakaia. The road this way is about 140 miles. From Moa Creek to the Waikaia is 10 miles.

TLe road by the Long Ford is passable for drays. There is also: another track—p acs ticable only for packhorses—which diverge from the first track about half-way between Roberta's station and the Waikaka, crossing that river near the east branch, passing between 3Yakaia and Pyramid Hills, then crossing the Wakaia river" and following the east bank of the Mataura. This road is about 15 or 20 miles shorter than the other. ;

Th-re is also a track about 25 miles in 'l^njitli; connecting Nokomai with the I)u|nstan ifoi'd field. It is, however, little used v rujininji uver.jsn&w-covered iflGuntams, and it will be .*afercforvtho.''e who desire to cross from either ocalityto take the longer but more'praticiib &\ lute indicated, above. • - ;