OTAGO.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 20, 23 December 1863, Page 3

OTAGO.

[PBO3C QOR <>irw CORRESPONDENT.] * - TbotfEDltfi 21st December. Very little of interest has occurred since I -wrote last. The English mail has not arrived, and is now anriously looked for. The rising of the Nile is said to be the cause of the detention. Important news is just in from the West Taieri.. Pour minors have applied to Mr Warden Williamson for a prospecting claim „< upon a site about twenty wiles from the Hindon township. The following is the statement mado by the prospectors, and upon which the claim, 200 by 100 feet, was tfrantpd :— T For a distance of half a mile along a new <% gully the prospectors sank twelve holes, from six of which the wash-dirt yielded from one to four grains to che dish, the remainder averaging from five grains to one pennyweight. The wash-dirt, which consists of blue mullock gravel, from six to twelve inches in depth, is found after sinking one foot through limestone, the bottom being a blue reef, and the gold, which is fine at the top of the gravel is tolerably ,' coarse at the bottom. The gully, which is three miles long, takes its source from a made hill, known as the Red Hi)), and the prospectors are of opinion that the other gullies in the neighborhood are auriferous, as gold, more or less, was found in every holo sunk by the part}'. Two ounces of gold wns obtained in two or three hours by the prospectors from twelve buckets of wash- dirt, and upon ihis the application for an extended claim was founded. The position of the new gully is thus described. It is situated on Captain Hamilton's run, »bout three miles from the home station, the same distunce from the crossing place of the Dunstan and Hogbnrn roads. There is abundance of scrub on the ground which would answer for firewood." Th»re never were iueh preparations for keeping Christmas and the New Year as are proceeding with just now in Dunedin. I shall faithfully chronicle all that has been done as they follow in due order. The R"sider.t Magistrate has closed his court for ten days, excepting for police cases, so that debtors mny not be annoyed by creditors at such a festive period. Mr. S.Jones, of the Provincial, gives prizes for all sorts of athletic games and .amusements; thrse come off on Boxing Day, and will probably be carried on through the greater part of the succeeding week. The Caledonian Games follow, and the Grand Cricket Matches succeed. There is to be a Pantomime and a succession of novelties at our theatre. In fine. «ye intend making a jovial lime of it for a good month.