OTAGO.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 407, 17 September 1861, Page 4

OTAGO.

(From the Lyttelton Times.) The following letters received from diggers at Tuepeka, have been forwarded to us to be published for the benefit of the public. Tuapeka Gold-Fields, August 14, 1861. Dear friend, —-I now write you a few lines about the Tuepeka gold-fields, so that you will be able to inform your friends of the truth about the diggings. I was a week in getting here from Dunedin. The roads are in a awful state, it takes 20 bullocks to pull one dray with a 12 cwt. load.

The diggings lie in a gulley between t^o ranges of hills, and a small creek runs through, where the diggers have their tents pitched close alongside. The gulley is very narrow in some places, and riot over 200 yards in the widest; all the best claims are taken up. Any man however who can stand up to his knees all day in water can get 255. per day and his grub. The average findings on these diggings is about £2 a man per day; butthereare plenty notmaking more than their grub, and there are some working for 10s. per day and their grub. There are a few lucky ones making about £40 per day, but that is only one party consisting of six. My advice is for people to stay where they are for two months, this gulley will then be worked out, and Mr. Reid says that when it is he will show them another. 1 would also advise parties of six to form themselves at home, and provide themselves with a California pump, sluice, picks, shovels, tent, blankets, &c, and whatever they need in the way of provisions can be obtained in Dunedin. I have had a cold ever since I came here; at present I would not go and dig for any man under £3 per day. It ia killing work, and every man deserves to do well.

I remain, yours affectionately. F. B. T.

Dunedin, August 14,1861

My dear Sir,—Surprise, I expect, will be stamped on your countenance when you see my letter headed Dunedin, but such is the case, and here I am. The day we wrote to you we all started for the diggings and have been out ever since on the snowy ranges, lost our way, got short of food, and had to find our way back as best we could, nearly famished. I never went through so much fatigue and hardship in my life. I thought we were done for. Three days and as many nights we were forced to clear away the snow, which was three or four feet deep, and lie down with our blankets thrown over us. There was not a whole biscuit amongst us for the last two days we were out. Every man in the party (and there were 35 altogether) was completely knocked up, and are either in town here or at the accommodation house bringing themselves round again. My shoulders are cut to the bone carrying my swag and all my teeth are loose with the intense frost, but my spirits are not a bit broken. I feel quite sanguine, and intend going to work here at once for some time till the roads become practicable. The weather is very severe at the diggings at present, and as I have no pump or tent, it will be just as well'to wait for two or three weeks till the weather gets fine. * * * The news from the gold-fields is very good, but the weather severe. I will write to you every mail if you write to me, when you do so, direct your letters to the Postoffice, to be left till called for. By the next mail I will write you more fully but I am now in a great hurry, as I am going out to see after some work. Believe me ever yours, very sincerely,

N. J.