OTAGO.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 5, Issue 249, 22 August 1861, Page 4

OTAGO.

[From the Otago Witness.]

Wc learn from one of those whose judgmeui we can rely upon, that stating the fact roughly, one-third of the diggers are making a. fortune, another third are earning good wages, and that the balance are doing no good. 7’his arises from a variety of causes, the chief one being that a number of persons have gone to the diggings without tools, shelter, or capital, to maintain themseh'CS for the necessary length of time to reaily try their fortune, so that if not successful at the outset they must retire. And even if successful, they cannot; obtain upon the field tools and accommodation. There are several good stores, and provisions can be obtained at a considerable advance in prices.; We are assured by persons of experience in such matters that it requires a. capital of about £3O pep man to start digging with a fair prospect of success. This sura will provide tools, shelter, and provisions for six weeks or two months. 2’hose who start w;ith less will, if not immediately fortunate, find themselves under the necessity of working for wages, \vhich W« understand ate at the rate of £1 per diem. 2’he searching for gold, especially in our winter, is a hard life. Provisions are high, and expen.ces of/all kinds reduce what appears very high wages, to. aji extent which leaves but little margin for profit, so that labouring for wages on a Gold field has by no means the attraction which a permanent situation at much lower rates presents. The whole charm of digging is the hope of a fortune-s----gambiing we may call it—and we should think it must be almost with a feeling of disgust that a man working for another sees his labour extremely successful. So eager are some who have gone to Tuapeka to secure the gold, that, they over-work themselves, are heedless of comfort and careless of necessary precautions to. preserve health ; many have fallen sick, and have defeated their object by their own greed. Others again are, from previous habits or weakness of constitution, "totally unfit to encounter the hardships or sustain the labours inseparable from the kind of employment; they might have succeeded at a more advanced season of the year, but ,30 eager does every one appear that one would suppose the whole of the gold would be gone in a week. 2’his, no doubt, to some extent arose from the extraordinary facility with which the gold was obtained, —the first parties having come upon the glittering dust at thrse feet below the surface ; even now, with back claims taken up, 12 feet is consldeied deep sinking, and we have not heard of any going deeper. However, whether the baste to be on the field was wise or not, we can only say that, to neglect the necessary precautions to maintain health, is the extreme of folly. Sickness to a labouring man in gold digging times, and with digging prices, is little short of ruin, both of present means and future prospects.

The news of our Gold field has not been sufficiently confirmed beyond the boundaries of the province to induce immigration to any great extent; but some 50 persons arrived from Canterbury by the Prince ,-ilbert, amongst whom was one gentleman from the other side of the water —Tasmania, we believe—who commenced his search lot; the precious metal even before arrival, and successfully abstracted from the pocket of the steward several pounds. He was detected, and has for the present te:* minuted his career in the Dunedin jail. We on a former occasion remarked, that the discovery of a paying gold field would be by no means an luimixed blessing, and we presume we may anticipate many similar additions to our population from our increased attractiveness. All persons should be particularly cautioned not to travel through the country with large suras of money.

is Honor the Superintendent having proclaimed the 2’uapeka and the adjoining country, t.o the extent of 51,000 acres, a Gold Field, we propose to direct attention to so much of the law as it is necessary for those having any business with the Gold Fields should know. In the first place it is necessary that all persons mining should take out a certificate called a “ Miner’s Right,” for which he will have to pay j£l. 2’hia is in force for one year from the date of its issue. It authorises the person taking it out to mine in any part of the field, but it is not transferable. Amongst other rights this document entitles the holder to be registered an elector of the province. It also enables him. to take a part in t)ie election of members of a Warden’s court, which will hereafter be established, and which' court settles all disputes between miners, makes rules for working the field, and has in fact, jointly with the judge of the court, the entire management of the Crpld Field, ex*

jeepting as to revenue. In the next place, no ■person has a right to reside pn the Gold field except herhas a “ Miner's Right,” or lias a Business License.” 2’uere are certain ex eeptions to this rule, such as clergymen, schoolmasters, Government officers, servants, and children. No person has a r|ght tq buy or sell anything on the gold fields without taking out a license, for which he must pay fl, which i 3 also for one year, and is not transferable. Spirits, wine, or beer, may not he sold in any quantity, either on the diggings, or- within three miles of the boundary of the field, without a special license. We draw especial attention to this point, as it differs entirely from the law elsewhere in the province, where spirits in quantities above two gallons may be sold without license. No land can he sold within the Gold Field. It may, however, be let on lease, either for nfimng purposes, or for business and agricultural purposes; the latter leases may he determined on paying compensation should, the land let be found to be auriferous. The to grant mining leas.es cannot he delegated by the; Governor, but leases for the other purpose may and have been delegated by his Excellency to the Superintendent. Of course there are penalties for breaches of the law, which \ye need not particularly mention, as any one who intends to commit a breach of the law had better read it in full. Until a Warden’s court is established, the right, to make rules for the working of the field rests in the Superintendent by delegation from the Qoyeijiior. j['hes§ rules are as nearly as possible to be those which the miners have adopted for themselves, and they will he consulted by his Honor upon any fundamental alteration before it is made. A. C. Strode, Esq., R.M., will, we understand, be appointed Commissioner. Mr. Parker is to he Assistant Zaud Receiver, Clerk to the Bench, and Receiver of Geld for escort. He is to have an assistant, Mr. AT Kay, whose special duty it«will be to protect the revenue. There is to be a permanent staff of-'ope sergeant, one corporal, and five privates on the field, part of whom will be mounted. They are not to be employed in collecting the revenue, but are merely to maintain order and protect the Treasurer’s chest. jin escort, consisting of one corporal and five privates, is also to be established, the command of which is. to be given to Mr. Junor. The escort will bring the gold to town once a week, if the yield be sufficient to warrant the expences Any person may. deposit gold in the public chest for transmission to Dunedin. The /Receiver will give a receipt for the bags, stating the weight, but contents unknown. The bag will be sealed, delivered to the commander of the escort, and be delivered in Dunedin to the person to whom it is consigned. No charge is to be made for escorting the gold to town, it being assumed that the. fee on miner’s rights, business licenses, and. the export duty of 2s Od per ounce, will for the present pay all expenses, and ultimately yield a revenue to the pro vince.