GABRIEL'S GULLY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26, 14 December 1861, Page 2

GABRIEL'S GULLY.

(From a Correspondent^)

Gabriel's, Dec. 10, 1861. The diggings generally still maintain their steady and progressive character. Wetherstone's, however, is the great centre of attraction, and individual cases of good luck are frequently heard and spoken of. Of course, at the same place there are numbers doing nothing ; but I attribute this to the fact that there aresa great number on the field inexperienced in raining matters —men who do not actually know whether they bottom a golden hole or not —consequently their ill-success. As an instance, two " new chums," as they are termed, a day or two since, marked off the usual quantity of ground allowed by the regulations, and commenced sinking. When on the bottom, as they supposed, they took out a bucket-full, washed it, and obtained 2^- dwts. of gold. While they were examining their prospect, grumbling at its smallness, and so on, two old Victorian miners happened to pass, took a " squint" into the dish, and of course persuaded the new arrivals the prospect was hot sufficiently large to induce them to go on working the ground ; the deluded ones accordingly gave up their claim. Before, however, they were scarcely out of sight, the two who had pretended the ground was not payable took possession of the claim, commenced taking off the bottom of the hole, and washed therefrom six ounces! Thus it is, through a great number of our mining population being inexperienced in mining, we hear of so much grumbling and discontentment. The discouraging accounts received by the Aldinga from the Lachlan have.already had the effect of abating the inclination which a good many miners showed to be off to the new land of promise. I think the miners generally will reflect seriously before they travel so far to such an uncertainty.

We had a heavy fall of rain on Monday, which met with a hearty reception from the miners at Wctherstone's, for water was beginning to get rather scarce at that place. At Gabriel's the water rose to a considerable height, rushing down the creek with great violence, carrying with it cradles, sluice boxes, and everything imaginable. No serious damage was. however, done, and the weather has again set in fine, with every appearance of continuing so for a time.