OTAGO.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 409, 24 September 1861, Page 2

OTAGO.

THE GOLD FIELDS.

(From the Otago Colonist.) OFFICIAL KEPORT.

Extracts from letter of Gold Fields Commissioner,

dated Tuapeka, 7th Sept., 1861

* * • I proceeded with that gentleman yesterday, in company with a person named George Mansbridge, to examine a valley about seven miles S.E. from this camp, reported by the latter to contain gold in remunerative quantities. On my arrival there, four pennyweights of gold, (fair sized scaly,) was shown to me by Mansbridge, which he assured me he washed from two buckets of * stuff.' Another prospect was also produced to me on the ground, yielding three penny weights of gold from three ordinary sized tin dishes of stuff. I was further informed by Mansbridge that he had prospected the valley in various parts, and in every place the yield was satisfactory. Under these circumstances, I awarded to George Mansbridge and party, as the discoverers of new gold workings, double claims, in terms of the llth Section of the Gold Fields Regulations, and apportioned such claims prior to my leaving the ground. The valley in question (which I name Mansbridge gully) is about eight miles in lengthy and at its widest point about a quarter of a mile in width. These measurements are given only at a rough guess, according to what is at present known of the ground. A creek runs through the entire length of it, which I believe to be a tributary of the Waitahuna. The average yield from this newly discovered portion' of the gold field is estimated by George Mansbridge (who is an experienced miner from Victoria) at one ounce per diem to each working man. The sinking is for the most part dry, and at an average depth of four feet.

My own conviction is, from information I have gathered, and the formation of the country, that a very extensive gold field exists in the vicinity of " Mansbridge Gully," and that the Waitahuna Flat will eventually be about the centre of that field •

We have had several arrivals full of passengers for the gold fields within tho last week. The Arabia, one of the Black Ball Liners, arrived with 340 on Saturday night, after an excellent run from Melbourne of nine days.. She is chartered, we understand for four trips; the Ocean Chief, another black ball liner, arrived on Monday with 345. The Lady Bird made the run from Melbourne with 104 I passengers in five days. She is to continue in the New Zealand trade. As an evidence of the rapid increase to our population in consequence of the diggings, we give the following list of arrivals during the week :— PASSENGERS. Sept. 6.—Burnett,.from Sydney . .32 „ 9.—Albatross, „ Auckland . 19 „ 9.—Arabia, „ Melbourne . 350 „ 9.—Maorij „ Newcastle, via Wellington .<>• . . 18 „ 9.—Pladda, „ Glasgow, with immigrants . . . 369 „ 10.—Ocean Chief, from Melbourne 345 „ 10.—Lady Bird, „ „ 104 „ 11.—Wonga Wonga, from Wellington . ::.... . . 57 „ 11.—Tyne, from Wanganui . .25 „ 12—Tommy, -..'.. . . 3 Total 1322 The increase likely will be larger week by week, as Victoria is said to be on the move, and Sydney is also stated to-be stirred by the reports from Otago. The Omeo took away 6900 ounces of goli. We have also received several letters during the week from Tuapeka, but as some parts of them are repetitions of what has appeared before, we will give such extracts as may interest our readers. ' Oiie correspondent says:— * *^ *^ " Several persons have gone over to the Waipori, where it is said some persons are now digging. Some parties are at present engaged in deep sinking, and are doing well. The depth gone down is about 25 feet. Our present population is upwards of 4000, and with the numbers shortly expected, I do not know what we are to do if some new diggings are not discovered; at the same time there is room enough for 1000 or 1500 at the Waitahuna, where they,can make from 30s. to £3 a day per man, and being so much nearer to the Tokomiriro—ten or twelve miles nearer—provisions can be had there much cheaper than here. The diggers as a community are quiet, orderly, and well behaved, crime being almost unknown. Several parties are still doing well, but I cannot give many names. Mr. Gardner's party made the other day 3£ lbs., Mr. Millar's party 2 lbs. In Munroe's gully, one party named Wilson made 38 ozs. Mr. Read and party have left; t his kindness, courtesy, and politeness deserve the greatest praise, as his time and advice were always at the disposal of any one who sought them. The Superintendent has discovered that the Molyneux River is navigable up to where the Tuapeka joins it. This will be a great saving in the expenses up here."

Another correspondent Writes-— *•> * • «i ma y. sa y that unless more rich ground is discovered soon, or some energetic measures taken by the Government1 or Company, the consequences will be fearful. The truth has no doubt been told, but not the whole truth. I could have employed fifty men within the last week or two at merely nominal wages—food and shelter." - • ' ' '

From a successful digger's note we extract the following:—- *' # * "We did very little till the last fortnight. The week before last (iaclr marl in our company had £36—last week we cleafed £43 10s., and 1 am well aware that the ground we have now is poor by the generality.!. As far as I can learn and see, there is not a foot Of ground in this gully, but men will make 20s. a day if they work ma proper manner."

House Treatment.—lf be backs or jibs, nothing is less effectual than 'cut him in the mouth, or stab him in the flank,' as round-hatted Drayads sometimes do, or even to use the whip. ' Let him walk backwards,' says Major Jenkins, ' until he sees no fun in it.' Now it is an ex* cellent thing to have Major Jenkins and similar writers teaohing horse-taming upon principles less recondite than those of Mr. Rarey, for our English practices in equitation are far from being, A3 yet, beyoqd tbe reach of reform.

History of Thousands.—Thousands of me a breathe, move, and live, pass off the stage of life, and are heard of no more. Why ? Tbey do not a particle of good in the world, and none are blessed by them; none could point to them as the instrument of their redemption; not a word they spoke could be re-called, and so tbey perished; their light went out in darkness, and they were not remembered more than the inseot of yesterday. Will you thus live and die, 0 man immortal? Live for something. Do good, and leave behind you a monument of virtue, that the storm of time can never destroy. Write your name in kindnesß, and love, and mercy on the hearts of thousands you come in contact with year by year; you will never be forgotten. No; your name, your deeds, will be as legible on the hearts you leave behind as the §tars on the brow of evening.