OTAGO.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 16, 2 January 1863, Page 2

OTAGO.

(from our own correspondent.) DUNEDIN, Saturday, Dec. 27. "A Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. May you live long and die blessed." This to you and all of you, down south thereaway. Should 1 do a bit of sentiment, I wonder, in this, my Christinas letter? Editors and correspondents always do. Shall I begin by saying that this is the festive season which brings in its train a thousand beautiful associations of the happy past, and awakens in all but the most indurated and callous breasts, the tenderest feelings and the kindliest sentiments ; that man, which, of course (as in acts of Parliament), includes the woman, yearns witli aspirations innate and uncontrollable, to reciprocate the tender and delicious offices of friendship and love ; that at this joyous period, hallowed by the memory of many a jolly night, passed away never more to return (how passing strange ! ) our sympathies (true indices of our immortal natures), gush out' and overflow in streams, •which v:ash away and obliterate, for the time, every bitter feeling, every bad passion, every animosity, all evil thoughts and the remembrances of our wrongs, while around the heart, take root and spring up the fragrant flowers of peace, love, charity and goodwill to all men. By-the-bye do you really believe that the whiskey punch of the present day, has the delicious flavour and aroma of the olden time? Should I not, think you, do as most new paper writers do — work out the subject of Christmas until I bring in something about its being the time which, as an " oasis in the desert of the heart," or about some "immaterial essence," which pervading all space, conveys over thousands of miles of ocean and ice and burning plains, by some deeply mysterious agency, the assurance that time is dwelling in thought and mental commune wi'.h each, — God blessing one another with sisterly, brotherly or motherly intensity, as the case maybe. Should I not — Oh, no ! certainly I should do nothing of the kind.

Look you here now ; a good deal of the sort of newspaper "writing which goes on at this time of the year is sheer twaddle.

I don't believe in associations and reciprocities and all that sort of thin"; so much enlarged upon. Can', sir, ninety-five per cent, of it at the very ! west estimate. At home in the old country, -\ve sit down in rooms with closed doors and rousing fires. We have our sisters and mothers and sweethearts around us ; we make little presents of sourer' s one to the other ; we go to church, t'lon home to lunch on «i mince pie and glass of sho.ry, then for a t:Jk of old times. Then dinner — such a dinner 3 r ou know — turkey from aunt in the countiy ; hamper of wine from father's oldest friend ; a pudding that ha" taken three days io get up, and — and all like that .you see. You understand. Is that the case here? Do wo shut the doors, and latch clo c the widows ; do we have blazing fire ■? ;1 So far the reverse, quite the contra' y," as Sam Weller says. "We have a , urkey, it is true, biu it does not come from the country ; it is purchased in the Arcade from a b.avker. Ip "d £1 15s for mine this j year. Then about our fathers and mothers and sisters and sweeliear — have we them j near us? All, no. My mo her (God bless her and take her to hims. 1 ?) died years ago in the land of her birth. So did yours no doubt— so has most o? our mothers. My 1 s : v.-rs arc all man led, with any number of li 'c ones to proude fov and watch over. It is only the other day I remitted ten. pounds t'> jiay up my youngest sister's husband's insurance on his life ; for he will leave her not xing but that when ho dies, and I even fear his creditors will come in for a greater share of the money. As for my obi sweetheart, blie long ago, and soon after I left for this hemisphere, married a licensed victualler; and has, I hear, since taken to drinking. I hope yours has not gone the same way. Now what is there here to call up all these sweet recollections and associations which would-be sentimentalists talk so much about. I had an excellent dinner on Christinas-day and some pleasant company; but I was thinking a good deal whether a man whose bill in my favour eoine due on the first would take it iip. Pooh ! there is ho Christmas Day in tins land. It is merely the 25th December, ISG2. That's all. Let me to business. Monday, 2Pth December. The escort arrived in Dunedin rather early on Friday afternoon, bunging down from the: — o'/s. dwtsDunstan 12,:)-5!> 10 Tuaprka 3,<>3S 15 AVaitahuna 80d Io Xokomai 72S 0 "vVoolshed. 5:53 10 IS, 150 10 This shows a good and steady return from the Dunstan, but the amount pales and sinks into utter insignificance before the intelligence which has reached here from the Lake d' triut. The news coming to hand last ni; lit (Sunday) is of a most extraordinary and stalling character. As a Dunedinite, I gieatly regret that we shall not receive that ' benefit from these new fields to near the extent that you will in Invercargill. If you are only alive to your own interests Invercargill will yet take pi ?edence of Dunedin. I must give you an extract from a letter of Seigeant-Mnjor Bracken, whose word lias never been doubted, and whose cool and excellent judgment is on all sides acknowledged. He .«ay.s :-- Things lonic well. Diggings going rrpidly ahead. One party of four brought oxe itrxnuED roryDS weight of hold to tlu- Police Station on Saturday. The men were afraid ofhein^ stuck-up, so I took charge of it for safe keeping. They slated that the gold was (he produce of lour week's work. The Government should have sent up a gold receiver before this time. I have no doubt but that there is over .'50,000 ouscv.s on the field A gold escort from Invercargill arrived here on Saturday, and also gold buyers with it. but as the diggers arc anxious Io hue their gold forwarded to the treasury at Dunedin, I <\o not think they will be able to purchase much. One buyer f-om the Bank of New Zealand (Invercargill) is here, but I think be will not be able to get one to two thousand ounces. The diggers arc crying vengeance against the Otago government for the way tney have oecn treated. I can assure you that lives would have been lost but for the way in which we have acted. One or two parties have gone to the West Coast. You would bo astonished to sec the amount of gold that is getting here. I hope the Commissioner will let meoirat once. Fortunes are making here fast, everything is very dear, and it will take our blessed pay to even support us here. So I do not see the good of a man giving the best of bis days to a government that docs not appreciate his services. About 3000 miners on the field at present. (Signed) 11. TV. Beackf.n. The special correspondent of the Daily Times in his despatch which arrived here last night writes : — The time at my disposal (less than an hour) will not permit me to enter into any lengthened details. From Fox's the news continues of :i most exciting character. A new place called Bluestono Creek, eight miles from the Shotover liiver has been opened, and is silted in richness of yields, and in the regularity of its auriferous deposits, to excel anything yet opened in the Province. The lowest returns 3 - et mentioned from it are given at one pound weight per day. A party of four arrived here this morning from the Arrow liiver. They net 1 10 lbs weight for two months work. Many names arc given of parties making from five to ten pounds weight week. When it is taken into consideration, that none of these parties number more than'four, and generally three, these returnsjdisclose | so cxtraordinarva state ofsucccssand prosperity, that they may well cause astonishment and excitement. The Dunstan is almost deserted, and our business men arc all on the wing and moving forward. The correspondent of the Daily Colonist .sends down a most cxtiaordiny state-' me nt which was published in its issue of Saturday, The news was so astounding,

that many persons doubted its truthfulness.. The letter of Sergeant-Major Bracken and that of the corres-poneent of the Daily Times now confirms the intelligence. The estimated population, (the writer dating his letter from the Dunstan Township), goes on to stat?, is .5000, and the success of majority is^ confirmed by every one you ask. A friend o* rr : nc who returned on Friday evening, inforr ed mo that there cannot be less than from GO,01)0 to 40,000 ounces waiting escort, probably a much larger quan'uiLy! He washed out of a claim some eighty feet on the face of a precipice, (up which he had to scramble on his hands and knees) 8 dwts.; and one party washed out of a claim Bxlo, one hundred and seventy-' wo ounces ! !

He called on some parties to take tea, and wanting some sugar, clutched a bag at hand ; but judge his astonishment, he could not lift it — it was f.dl of gold ! One instance only out of scores thai might be mentioned. But I know you are averse to highly colored reports, and therefore give you simple facts. From information, I am bound to confess we cannot compete with Invercargill in prices. They can c. rt at L6O per nto the Lake, and then pack 15 miles, and ferry at same rat:?, 405., and wo canot do it under LICO per ton, via Oamaru, and then ferry r:Tos &c, L 2 per ton, and then pack some 15 lrlles, at 9d per lb.

As I mentioned before, my humble impression is (however much my sympathies may be with Otago) Invercargill will carry the day, by long chalks.

I start on Tuesday, and you may look out for L,omc personal observations ; my former remarks have been more than realized as regards the Dunstan Goldfields.

He c is enough and to spare of the astoundin ■; — really astounding— because there can be no doubl about the truthfulness of the statements herein contained. Although the Molyneux h-s fallen several feet and many of the registered claims can be worked, the Dunst. n is reported as beingnearly deserted. Tne diggers, if I may be allowed to make a rather inelegant simile, are in the precise fix of a donkey be .ween two bundles of hay, "How happy could I be with either," is the feeling of many an employe down here, anxious but unable to get off. "I'm not going to stand this," says one, "I slope for the lakes on Monday," which is echoed and re-echoed by many scoies. But I must cut my letter short.

No steamer has yet arrived with the English mail which is causing great inconvenience, but we obtained (singularly enough) the whole of the English news on Wednesday moriining last, via Hobort Town, brought here by the Emma Prescott, that vessel having left Ilobart Town on the (15th inst., and making a remarkably rapid passage to oui- port.

The news from America is important, and shews (hat the tide;of victory is still with the Confederates. The intelligence by the proceeding mail of the successes by the Federals is not confirmed, and appears to be somewhat unreliable. The Federal army, under M'Clcllan, have advanced upon Charleston, and the Confederates have recrossed the Potoip.ae in safety. One of the most important items of intelligence is the issue of a Proclamation by Lincoln, of the emancipation of the slaves, which has produced general condemnation throughout Europe.

I send you copious extracts of the latest dates, which I doubt not will be perused with the greatest interest by your readers. The ship Tladda, 1 00 days from Glasgow, has arrived here with over three hundred passengers, including about 170 assisted female immigrants. These last come afc a very opportune period ; females as domestic servants being in great request. The Presbytery commenced its half-yearly meeting on Wednesday last in the First Church (Dr Burns's). There were present— Rev. D. M. Stewart, Moderator; Dr Burns, Messrs Will, Bannerman, Johnstone, Dodd, M'Nicol, Stobo, and Uric, ministers ; and Messrs A. Todd and M/Alaster, elders.

The present Provincial Council may be said to have virtually ceased to^exist on Tuesday, 23rd.

The House having gone into Committee of Supply, the blank in the estimates was filled in with the amount, 1,405,058 19s. 10d. The appropriation Bill was then put through all its stages and passed. Tnc Otngo Loan Bill, the Dog- Nuisance Bill and the Turnpikes Bill were read a third time and passed. At a quarter to two, His Honor the Superintendent entered the House and was received by the members standing. I give you the most important items of his address as read by him to the members. £> 'Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen': — " I have to thank you for your con tinned exertions during the present, session to meet the requirements of the limes by a suitable legislation. "In addition to tin' Bills which I have already assented to, on behalf of the Governor, 1 now assent to (he foUowinir : — " Impounding Bill 1862. "Licensed Hawkers' Bill IS(v2. "Oiimnru Town Board Bill ISG2. " DitMertin Building Bill 18G2. "Turnpikes Bill 18(32. " Dog Nuisance Bill 1802. "Apropriatinn Bill ISB2-3.' '•'The following Hills which have been passed by you have necessarily been reserved for the signification of tho Govcrnnr's pleasure thereon : — "Tiie Otngo Loan Bill 1802. " Tho Miners' Provincial Representation B ill IS«2. " Tho Otago Representation bill 18G2. "The Port of Otago Marine Board bill 1862. "The Panama Mail Subsidy bill 18G2. " The Uni:ni roved Land bill. '•'lt is with much regret I arrived at the conclusion that, owing to circumstancss which could not have been anticipated, it would be undesirable ut so late a season, and at so considerable a sacrifice as was necessary, to despatch the projected West Coast Expedition. '•' I trust your Resolutions on the Land Question may have the effect, which I most earnestly desire, of securing the country for those who are willing to make it their home, and who invest their cap ital, be it small or large, for the purpose of cultivating the land they occupy. The question of the disposal of tho Waste Lands is one of preeminent difficulty ; and it would be unreasonable io suppose, because from our rapid rise as a Province and our restricted power of sale, we have been the first amongst our neighbors to encounter these difficulties, that, therefore, our system is faulty in its construction. "As I have no doubt that His Excellency will be advised to accede t] our mutual request that the Provincial Council be dissolved, it only remains for me to thank you for the valuable assistance you have given me during a time of considerable difficulty."