LONGWOOD.

Southland Times, Issue 1037, 12 October 1868, Page 2

LONGWOOD.

♦ - (fbom a cobbespondent.) . » Oct. 5, 1868. In this part of the Province scarcely any one seems to think of writing to a newspaper. "We are all of us glad enough to see one when it comes, but as to contributing to keep it going, and thus to let other districts know that there- are some folks up here — this is a thing seldom done. The other day we received the news that Mr Pearson had moved to place a sum of £1000 on the Estimates, for the discovery of a payable goldfield. You cannot tell how much we were delighted with this, nor how thankful the diggers are, as a body, for this move in the right direction. "Within my own knowledge, several parties have begun already to make the necessary arrangements for extensive prospecting, should the motion of Mr Pearson be sanctioned. I have been up here as long as anyone, and as regards my own success, and the opportunities I have had of noticing the success of others, I have no hesitation in asserting, that a payable goldfield does exist here, and that nothing but labor and a little encouragement on the part of the Government is needed to mate it plain that it is such. The exertions of Mr Pearson' and Mr Daniel in the Council to secure the cutting of tracks, will have done much to bring about the full success which is not far distant. If the number of men employed be taken into account, and the known returns of gold from Orepuki are reckoned, anyone who forms a mean opinion of these diggings, will find himself deceived. The arrangements as to the size of miners claims, and many other matters on the field are not what they ought to be, but agitation among ourselves will alter a good deal of this. If this field were in the neighborhood of a large Chinese population, its value would soon be discovered. In the meantime, as an inducement to use properly what we have already got, in the way of labor up here — tracks are what we want. No man will leave work that is paying him, to go out inthe bush prospecting, unless some of the difficulties in his way are first removed. With this, and the prospect of a reward, it is worth while to make a determined effort, especially as we firmly believe the thing exists for what we search. Mr Pearson not being connected with tbis district in a representative way, the diggers think the more highly of his efforts to help them. The sum proposed to be set aside for tracks, £150, is scarcely enough to do the work properly, still, it will do a good deal, and it should be considered that the digger, in asking for. tracks, is only asking to have some of the money which he has contributed, spent for his assistance towards getting, that which is for the good of the whole Province.