DUNEDIN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1014, 30 July 1862, Page 5

DUNEDIN.

The affairs of the Gas Company are progressing favourably. In a/very short period gas will be laid on in all the principal streets of Dunedin; and as contemporaneously, the roads are being metalled, arid the footpaths formed, Dunedin mud and darkness will soon become things only to be remembered by the " oldest inhabitant"—a consummation to be devoutly wished. As spring approaches, and summer follows, we may expect to have fewer complaints to lodge against " the powers that .be" in matters so familiar to new comers and old_ residents. The transmutation of rancid Cork butter into newlv-churned pats and delicately-colored rolls now forms a portion-it is to be hoped a very inconsiderable portion—of the commercial operations in Dunedin. The process is extremely simple on the part of the manufacturers, although anything but satisfactory to the traders who have been imposed upon, and the public as consumers. A quantity of bad butter, generally purchased at auction, is turned into a barrel of water and manipulated upon until the whole of the salt is thoroughly washed out. I he butter, after being slightly colored with anato, is then made into pats and rolls, and laid m baskets and palmed off upon the grocers and storekeepers as the genuine article. To complete the deception, a ' pound or two of good fresh butter is placed with the bulk, which is handed to the purchaser as a fair

sample of the whole. It need scarcely be said that such a nefarious practice has met with detection, but not until some hundred weights have been disposed of to the loss of tradesmen and detriment to their characters as fair dealers. A desideratum, which the local authorities have failed to supply, has been furnished by one of our tradesmen. We refer to an illuminated clock placed iu the front of Messrs. Hogg, Beaver, and Hislop's establishment in Princes street, by which the time is shown at all hours throughout the night, a convenience not to be too highly appreciated by those whose occupations lead them through our streets after dark. Fish of various kinds and of excellent quality and good flavor are now being hawked through Dunedin, at a price which brings it to the doors of consumers at something under threehalfpence per pound In no other part of the Australian colonies can so wholesome and nutritious a description of food be purchased at anything approaching the price. TUAPEKA GOLD FIELDS. As I anticipated, the long continuance of the frost and snow has told se 'erely on the amount of gold sent down by escor,. Notwithstanding this, the prospects of the miners are by no means diminished, nor is the future of this gold field in the slightest degree affected by the present small yield. Here it is now a matter of surprise that the amount should be so large, the weather having been so bad as almost to put a stop to every branch of mining. Tor the last few days, however, the weather has to a certain :extent cleared up, and work has been resumed with increased vigor. The conduct of the miners, and the manner in which work is undertaken and carried on, is the best barometer of the future of a gold field that can possibly be consulted. When you find men willing to spend three or four months labor upon some enterprise, the success of which is problematical, you are justified in concluding that the chances of future profits have been ascertained, and found to be satisfactory. On Tuapeka, this is especially the case. From whatever source, no matter how distant, water is being brought in, and preparations made to work both hills and gullies on a gigantic scale. From the peculiar nature of the wash dirt, and the plentiful supply of water, sluicing must become the paramount interest of this gold field. So convinced are the miners who have had any experience of sluicing, that there is an unlimited quantity of ground that will pay well for working in this manner, that there is scarcely a rivulet of water that is not taken up, and by means of races, being carried to such portions of ground as are believed in by the speculators. So enthusiastic are the persons engaged in this species of enterprise, that there appears to be no limit to their pluck and daring, in attempting the conveyance of water under the most disadvantageous circumstances. As an instance, I may mention one party (Connolly and party) are cutting a race, to convey water from a creek that flows into the Waitahuna river, while another enterprising company are bringing water from the Tuapeka. Of the difficulties which have to be surmounted in the cutting of these races, and the character of the task to be accomplished, I propose to treat at length in another letter. Meantime, I may mention, for the benefit of "Enterprise," and other officious personages, that in furnishing you with such particulars I shall deem it to be my duty to point out the advantages and disadvantages of such a system of mining; and I trust to do this in such a manner that you will not require to apologise for the remarks of your correspondent. The provisional committee, who are undertaking the present management of the Separation movement on this gold field, held a meeting last evening, when the resolutions to be submitted to. the public meeting on Saturday, were drawn up and agreed to. Letters from the secretary in Dunedin (Martin Sholl, Esq.), were read, and ordered to be acknowledged. From all I can learn, the promoters of the movement in Dunedin will receive every assistance from the residents on the gold fields. Favorable accounts are continually coming to hand as to the profits of the miners working on the :Tuapeka River. Yesterday I heard of a party of two who- had been working on one of the spurs running into the Tuapeka Flat, taking out in less than three months over 15 lbs. weight of gold. They have both returned to Victoria, with the intention of bringing over their wives and families.—Otago Daily Times, July 26.