OTAGO.

Press, Volume II, Issue 49, 19 April 1862, Page 3

OTAGO.

THE GOLD FIELDS. Arrival of the Escjiit. —The escort which arrived in Dunedin yesterday (April 10) brought down 5,142 oz. 10 dwts , of which quantity — ClJ3l> oz. wore from Tuapcka, IUIM oz. 10 dwts. from Waitahuna. 4SG oz. from Waipori The Lad weather prevailing on the goldfields has intoiieicd to a large extent with the operations of the miii'Ts. and consequently the yield for the week is very small. It is no wonder that men get disheartened and leave ground that would pay, when, after repeated eflorts to bottom, and they have succeeded in getting the water out, they are swamped by the first passing shower, which will follow on tho heels of that preceding Steady rain, driving showers, and a disagreeable " Scotch mist," that will render tho ground sloppy and unworkable, has been the prevailing weather during the past week. As a matter of course, business has been almost suspended, and few venture out of doors unless compelled. Mud on the gold-fields has tho same characteristics as Dunedin, and the same disagreeable tendency to trip one up, and destroy that dignity which most men like to assume, even if they they have it not. lam told, however, that this kind of weather is no means to be taken us a fair sample— certainly it is a wet one—of that usually prevailing iv Otago. I hope this is the case, for it is of tbe utmost importance to the miner, especially in wet ground, that he should be enabled to pursue bis operations uninterruptedly. There has been more than the usual quantity of rushing about lately ; but tho rushes have been principally to spots in the immediate neighborhood of old workings. Some good ground Mas opened up last week, on one of the spurs running from a ran go between the Junction aud Wctherstonc's. The sinking is from 40 to 00 feet deep, and from what I can learn, one or two parties are doing very well. On Wethersstone's flat there is a large number of persons working, many of whom are doing well, although it is seldom they get beyond what is known as the "false bottom." If the Government would cut a storm water-channel, so as to carry off tbe superabundant water, this flat would give employment to hundreds. As it is, the ground is being worked in the most desultory manner, —here a party paddocking—there a couple of men sinking a bole which they hope, if not swamped out, to be able to bottom ; but there is neitlier method or system in their efforts. There are no engineering difficulties to he surmounted in the accomplishment of ibis really necessary work (that of cutting a stonnwate channel); and I trust the Government will sec the propriety of at once undertaking it. The cost would be small, and the benefit to the miner almost incalculable, as it would enable him to reach, without difficulty, the real bottom, from which it is n/iticipated good results will be obtained. The drift now being washed is yielding a considerable quuntity of gold; and most of the working classes are making wages.— Otayo Daily Times.