OTAGO.

Colonist, Volume II, Issue 107, 29 October 1858, Page 2

OTAGO.

We have Otago papers to' the 16th instant. A public dinner had been given to Mr. Adam, the Immigration Agent,' who had completed his mission to England and recently, returned per Jura. The scab laws have proved very effectual. In 1857, there were 24,800 diseased sheep\ out of 101,000; in' 1858 there are only 2560 but of 130,000, ... AA ' The* Witriesa publishes.some acppuntl;of the Molyneux coal,' contained in the following communication, which had just been received by Mr. Thomson, the Chief Surveyor:— .' "~ - " Coal Point, October 4. " Sir,—l received your note per Ann Jane. I send 8 or 10 tons with her. ", ~", "I have got the road, finished, and t the coal opened out; it improves as we get'into it.\' I.will be able to deliver about four tons per day.. 1 • _ "Dimensions of seam—top coal, Vm& 6in.; band, Ift. 6in.; bottom coal (good), 4ft.': total, 19 feet. .' ,- ,'...- ------" The first coal will not be so good as. I will get in about a week. I will write per next post. "I remain, sir, Sic.,. : -.. "&A£& r"

yThe schooner Ann Jane brought up 16 tons of .-tsoal, which is to bs equally divided-between the Whjte Swan, the Queen, and the Lbrd Worsley, ' for the purpose of testing its quality. v The Provincial Council meet in' Dunedin on the 3rd November. -The Witness, noticing the arrival of the Jura ■with 275 . passengers looking for employment, draws their .attention .to the fact that the current rate ..of wages paid on Government works is ss. per day, but that a higher price is paid by private 'employers. It is added that no further reduction is contemplated ; but that the Government intend to commence the main line of road from Dunedin 'to Invercargill, at the further as well as the nearer end, locating also a number of laborers upon various parts of the line. It is proposed also to aid in the distribution of labor by conveying persons -who have made permanent engagements with private parties to their destination in the same * vessels which take the road parties, free of cost. The Indian Relief Fund subscription list has been-closed, and the balance, £356 17s. 5d., remitted to England.