THE LAKE DIGGINGS.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 25, 3 February 1863, Page 2

THE LAKE DIGGINGS.

(PEOJI OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) 27 th January. Since my last letter we have had two notable visitors to these parts, the gentlemen (ladies are "out of the question) being none other than the Superintendent of Otago and the indefatigable Commissioner of Police, St. John JBranigan. The last mentioned arrived at Rees' station on the 15th instant, and at once proceeded to have a look at the new rush at the head of the Lake. Shortly after he was off to the foot of the Lake, taking with him the escort and 13,000 oz. of gold. On the way down the party landed in a small j bay and there passed the night. The Superintendent made his appearance on the 17th. He had come from the Dunstan and Arrow diggings, and his occupation for three or four days was causing surveys to be made, and laying out a new township between Rees' and the Arrow. These labours for the benefit of the future Kingstown over, his Honor started for Dunedin on the 24th, leaving a solitary trooper behind to point out .the boundaries of the new town to speculators, or to bona fide settlers, who may fancy .the locality. A few days ago I saw some splendid-speci-mens of the '-yellow dross" brought from a new rush at Skipper's Gully. My eyes also feasted on a prospect of 4-dwts. 18 grs. got by VOUn<T SHrlitur From a plnr>o within five miles of Eees' Station ; and again I was shown a beautiful " prospect," iv a number of small nuggets which had been picked up through the water from the crevices of the rock. This was at the Nine-Mile Hush, and the fortunate party intend turning the river, so that the bed may hi worked to advantage, and, there is little doubt, with profit. Generally speaking, the diggers are deirtg well, and few have any cause to complain. By way of a change, I suppose, several diggers from Dunedin attempted recently to reach here by way of the Devil's Staircase. A look, however, at the -formidable looking place was quite sufficient to send the party to the foot of the Lake, and there make use of the boat. One adventurous indiviiluwl tried to make the Staircase from Rees's, and the result was the loss of his horse, which got killed about 100 yards from that very aw kward spot- — his Satanic Majesty's Elbow, Another fatal accident of -a more melancholy nature happened to a man on the road from Rees' to the Arrow. From what I ca-« learn, it seems that he was proceeding with the leading rope round his arm, when the horse suddenly slipped, and falling over a perpendicular precipice of 500 feet, dragged the unfortunate miner with it. It is needless to say he was killed on the spot. The poor fellow's mates came down in a few days afterwards to recover the body, If possible, ajid give it decent burial. On the 19th, a horse was lost "by drowning while crossing the Lake fr"om this end to Rees'. This, though, is looked on as a matter of little moment here, horse-flesh at present being very cheap. Your naturalists will be sorry to hear that the question whether the Moa exists or not is still undecided. The strange bird has not again been seen, though several parties have been in eager quest of it. Is there any prospect of our soon having the escort ? A gentleman from your town, Mr Sands, has been looking iv upon us, and when about to return a number of diggers were anxious that he would take down parcels of gold for them. One man offered as much as two pounds weight, but Mr Sands wisely declined the responsibility. Provisions, I am happy to state, are very cheap just now ; Hour can be had in. plenty at £25 per ton, bacon and ham from Is 8d to 2s per pound, and everything else is proportionately low. I fancy that in this respect you are not much better off in the capital itself. Our boat freights are exhibiting strange discrepancies. Nearly the whole charge £15 per ton, but Mr Rees is content with only £ 12 10s, and Whiteman has carried freight for five trips for £15. I regret that my letter must be brought to a close with the statement that robberies are frequent, too much so to be pleasant. The Victorian trick of "planting" horses is extensively practised, and iv the meantime we have little or no check on the dishonest. More police we must have, and that soon. Won't you give the Government a "punch" on the subject, just to oblige your correspondent.