OTAGO. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIX, Issue 1917, 8 September 1863, Page 3

OTAGO. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

t Dunedin, September 1. The 'Corio' sails to-morrow with * number of volunteers for your militia under the terms of the Governor's proclamation concerning the occupation of the Waik*to. I believe that the recruiting agents have been tolerably successful and that » fair number of men will be raised here. I fancy however that the revival of tbe mining prospects, which has fairly commenced will interfere with the future enlistment. We have intelligence from Melbourne that the recruiting for the Auckland Militia is progressing very vigorously there and that the office is literally besieged with applicant?. Similar accounts are received from Sydney, so that it would seem there is a probability of a large force being raised. The chief items of local interest are in connection with the proceedings of our Provincial Council. First, it has been ascertained that the financial administration of the roads department has been most carelessly and irregulnrly conducted. Recent revelations show that as large a sum as £40,000 has been unaccounted for, and that the provincial ledger has not been posted np since April last. In the next place the public have been scandalised by the refusal of the manager of the Union Bank to honour the drafts of the Government, and the consequent removal of the Government banking account to the Bauk of New .Zealand. The facts appear to be that when the present Superintendent took office, the Government overdraft at the Union Bank amounted to £40,700, and that between that date and the 25th August it had risen to £140,000, the whole of which sum was unauthorised expenditure, and a great portion of it contracted on the sole responsibility of the Superintendent, who was left for some time without an Executive. The Bank Manager became anxious that the large sum should be covered by the Government in some way or other, and he agreed to receive debentures for the amount. Owing, however, to the fact that tho Superintendent is compelled by law to sign eveiy coupon, and that his time was interfered with by the meeting of Council, he failed to fulfil the arrangement made with the Bank by the time specified. A series of interviews took place which do not appear to have been of a very pleasant character, and the affair culminated in the Bank Manager declining to honor any further drafts, except on the condition that the Provincial slime of the customs' revenue was secured to the Bank. This the Superintendent at once refused to agree to. The result was that application was made to the Bank of New Zealand, and that bank agreed to make the necessary advances to the Government. The matter re^ts at present as follows :— The Government owe the Union Bank some £145,000, payment of which m demanded by the iiank. The Government think to be able to compel the bank to take the debentures, according to the arrangements at first proposed ; but I am ciedibly infoimed that the bank will insist on cash. The question is, can the Bank of New Zealand readily fork out £140,000 for the Otago Government ? If not, I suppose the matter will be carried into the f npreme Court. Altogether it appears to be a pretty kettle of fish, and neither side come out of the affair very creditably. The Superintendent has not treated the Bank Manager very fairly, and the Manager has acted with great want of tact. That interminable subject, tbe Land Regulations, is again absorbing the attention of the Council. A series^ of resolutions are at present going through committee, and fiom all appcaiances the result will be to affhm, the existing regulation* with the addition of making the condition of improvement a valid one, or failing that, to impose a tax on unimproved lands. After a long debate, the house carried a resolution fixing the upset price of rural land at £1 per acre, and at present tho discussion is confined to the question of taxing unimproved lands. It is improbable, howe\'er, that the General Assembly will sanction taxation of so exceptional a character. Next to the Land Question, the thorough reform of the system of road construction occupies the mind of the public. To Auckland reader* » statement ef th» expenditure on tho main roads of Otago would appear something astounding. There are certain lines of road which have cost olieady something over £4,000 per mile, and they are in as bad a condition as ever. A select committee is sitting to decide on the best system to be adopted, and I expect the decision will be in favor of a cheap kind of railway. It is astonishing how great a change has taken place in the general condition of affairs here within the lust foitnight. The news from the various gold fields is of a moht cheering; the weather is improving ; the mineis are ail getting to work again, and a. general feeling of confidence exists. Numerous new discoveries of auriferous countiy have lately been made, and everything points to a vety brilliant season. lam happy to state that the reported snowing up of 500 miners at Campbells Gully, turns "out to have been exaggerated; although the position of the men was at one time one of considerable danger, and their privations weie very great; their sufferings were timely allayed by relief parties. There has however been a most deplorable loss of life during the recent severe weather. Bodies of men are constantly being found on the ranges, evidently those of miners who had perished from cold and exposure. Tho new diggings at the Hogburn, now known officially as the Mount Ida Gold Field, continue to give profitable employment to a large population, and there is no doubt this field will turn out a large quantity of gold during the summer. From all quaitw* good accounts are received, and there is « sure sign of the state of feeling on the gold fields in the large business that has been tiansacted in Dunedin in the last few days.Our meichaiits are generally in very good spirits, a'ld look forward to a pros|>erous season. There are alieady signs of another rush from Melbourne, several ships, some of them with a large number of pawengm having lately*arrived. We have also received the first instalment of the anticipated large immigration from England, no less than three large ships from home having arrived to-day, bringing a great number of passengers. The ships aie the City of Dunedin, from Glasgow, 87 days out; and the Crimea and Dudbrook, from London. Miss Bye's letter to the Times has occasioned a good deal of unfavourable comment here. No one denies that the arrangements were bad, but Miss Rye has fallen into that eommoin fault of exaggerating the evils to which the female immigrants were exposed. Tho picture conveyed by Miss Rye's letter will operate very unfavorably aguinst Otago, and it is a pity she should have taken such very extreme views. I understand the military barracks which are delightfully situated on an eminence near the city, and which consist of excellent buildings well fitted with conveniences are to be devoted to the reception of immigrants. The election of a member of the General Assembly for Dunedin and suburbs north, took place on Thursday. Mr. Thoi. Dick who resigned in order to afford the newly qualified electors an opportunity of voting, will probably stand Again and be returned. I have nothing of interest in local topics to report. A workman engaged in constructing a roof, was killed by a falling beam, on Saturday, and five others had a narrow escape. The Christy Minstrels are drawing large houses at the Princess Theatre; their engagement terminate! in a fortnight, and they then make o, tour through the northern provinces ; to tho Auckland folks will have an opportunity of hearing them. I can't resist giving your readers a hint which I hope will.prpve q profitable one. A few day« ago the firo bell rang out an alarm, and although it was at midday and during work hours, within ten minutes of the first sound of the bell 10 volunteer firemen mustered m uniform at the engine-house. The alarm proved a false one, but it showed what a- atate of efficiency our volunteer brigade has reached. I noticed a very different account in connection with the recent fire in Auckland. -

A Fortnightly Enc&tsh Mail.— The Argut, o£ the 17th ultimo, Buys:— *; Wo understand that » communibation! from the Imperial Government was received by the.lwt mail, intimating 'that ib now re»ts eutirely with the colonie^j ».«.,. with Victoria, to deride" whether' or not w» shall h*vt a fortnightly mail." .- c - - -