OTAGO.

Press, Volume VIII, Issue 841, 11 July 1865, Page 3

OTAGO.

Cenws. —The following table of in the various provincial electoral districts, compiled from the census returns, is published in the Otago Government " Gazette " for general information: —Dunedin City, males, 8435, females, 6829: total, 15,264. Shipping in harbor, males, 492, females, 34: total, 526. Port Chalmers Town, males, 514, femalee, 425: total, 939. Oamaru Town, males, 398, females, 331: total, 729. North Harbor, males, 875, females, 652 : total, 1534. Peninsula, males, 761, females, 508: total, 1269. "Wakari,. males, 572, females, 542: total, 1114. Green Island and Caversham, males, 815, females, 734: total, 1549. Taieri, males, 2081, females, 1174: total, 3255. "Waihola, males, 201, females, 170: total, 371. Tokomairiro, males, 1,160, females, 652 : total, 1,812. Matau, Kaitangata, and Inch Clutha, males, 403, females, 253, total, 1>56. Clutha, males, 1,205, females, 686: total, 1,891. Lindis, males, 312, femalee, 50: total, 362. Manuherikia, males, 1,271, females, 130: total, 1,391. Wakatip, males, 1,873, females, 254: total, 2,132. Oamaru County, males, 973, females, 497: total, 1,471. Waikouati, males, 1,654, females, 683: total, 2,337. Lawrence, males, 2,720, females, 778 : total, 3,498. Clyde, males, 3,519, females, 595: total, 4,114. Queenstown, males, 2,452, females, 353: total, 2,305. Gross totals—males, 32,692, females, 16,327: total, 49,019. UPPEB WAITAKI. "We learn from the " Oamaru Times" of July 6, that a petition is in course of signature, for presentation at the next sittings of the Provincial Council, respecting the desirability of placing a punt at Low and Brace's Perry, Upper Waitaki. The document states that,' " owing to the increase of traffic" there, the existing means of communication between the two provinces is wholly inadequate to the wants of the district. It also proceeds to state that, at this ferry, " several valuable lives hare been lost, and that at present there is only a small boat; so that horses, cattle, and sheep have to swim over this rapid and dangerous river, frequently causing great loss and inconvenience to the public."' The petitioners consider that a punt capable of carrying twenty tons would be suit able, and it is estimated that a sum of £500 would be required for its construction. The petition, we may add, is receiving the signatures of many influential settlers, runholders, and others, in the Waitaki and Hakateramea district, and those more near at hand are likewise most willing to put down their names. Testimonial. — The " Otago Daily Times" of July says:—"We have, been informed that a purse of twenty sovereigns, accompanied by a very nattering testimonial, has been received by the Commissioner of Police, from

the agents of the Commercial Bank, and the Bank ot New South Wales, at Waipori, with a request that they i may be allowed to be accepted by mounted constable John Dunn, stationed at Waipori, for his gallant conduct in entering the Commercial Bank on a recent occason, when an alarm was given that there was a burglar or burglars within, and in effecting the capture of the burglar. The testimonial is signed also by gentlemen, we believe, not connected with the banks, expressing great satisfaction with the general conduct of Dunn during his residence in the neighborhood. Gtold Fields. —From tho " Wakatip Mail," of July 1, we learn that the most prominent feature of the week is the striking of the Scandinavian Reef, Skippers, in Miller, Pinkertou, Spooner and Company's claim at twenty-three feet. It 'is situated between Jones's (Scandinavian) claim, and the fifteen acres of ground applied for upon lease. The reef struck is said to be nine feet thick, and the stone enormously rich — equal to anything ever seen in the most palmy days of Tarnagulla or Bendigo. Whether it will continue to maintain this high character cannot of course yet be known. Great excitement has ensued, and we are informed that £400 was refused next day for a one-sixteenth share, and also that an offer of £1000 has been rejected for an eighth share. Under such circumstances as these the granting of the fifteenacre lease would evidently bo most injurious to the district, and the strong opposition that has been raised against it has increased largely. Several other claims have been taken up and as other reefs are known to exist m the loealiy they will doubtless now receive atfceni tion. ' At the Arrow several leaders containing sold have been struck while sinking the shaft of t\\e Arrow Quarts Mining Company. The leaders all run in the right direction. The road to Skippers is impassable, except at a great risk, to either man or beast, and accidents have occurred in consequence. Machinery for crushing is to hand, but it is almost impossible to transport it to the reefs. The machinery is owned by the two men wo mentioned some months ago as having obtained some two or three thousand pounds worth of gold out of a tunnel near Pleasant Creek Terrace, near Maori Point, and who proposed investing it in quartz reefing. Writing from Maori Point, the correspondent to the same paper says :— Since my last I have visited the reefs. Things there are going a-head. The prospectors are still getting out good stone, and seem well satisfied with the bright prospect before them. I inspected their shaft and saw several large blocks of stone, in which gold was plainly visible all over them, leaving no doubt as to the paying qualities of the reef. Miller, Stevens and Co. have also struck some very rich stone this week, but I do not know whether it is the main reef or a leader. They are in high spirits; in fact, the reefers generally are in good spirits at their bright prospects, and a season of fine weather will, I feel confident, prove the richness of this district in reefs. The sluicing claims at Skippers are also going ahead since the break in the weather. There is plenty of water now for all parties, and all are making the best use of so favorable an opportunity. The Alymer Race Company did not wash up last week, but intend doing so this week, and expect good results. Fergusson and Company are steadily working through the Gorge; they have great difficulty in going ahead, being obstructed by large rocks, but by the steady perseverance they have displayed throughout are overcoming all obstacles, and their claim is giving them a steady remuneration; Patsy Burke and party have again set in to their sluicing work. This party's untiring energy deserves to be well rewarded — they having met with but poor success for some time past. The other parties on the creek are doing very well and seem satisfied. Land Resolutions.—The following items appear in the " Otago Daily Times" of July 7:—A petition has been drawn up, and is in course of signature at Tokomairiro, for presentation to the House of Representatives, condemnatory of the Land Regulations passed at the last Session of the Provincial Council. The petitioners urge upon the consideration of the House that they were passed without mature consideration, and are of a crude and unsatisfactory character. They, therefore, pray that the House will neither pass any Bill founded upon those resolutioas, or on the subject of them, until further considered by the Council, nor without giving an opportunity to the inhabitants of the province of expressing their views on the matter. COTJBT-HOUSE Buildings.—An addition is at present being made to the Court-house buildings, which will supply the much, felt want of a decent jury room, and will also give additional accommodation to the department of the Deeds; but there will still be only one room for the use of the two judges, no room for retiring witnesses, and very insufficientaccommodation for the department of the Registrar of the Court, unless the apartment at present used by the Registrar of Deeds is to be appropriated to one of these purposes. The addition is, of course, being made at the northerly or Gaol end. It mil comprise a juryroom, 14ft. 9in. by 13ft. and 10ft. high; the two offices for the Registrar of Deeds—the public one, 15ft. by 14ft., and that for the clerks, 15ft. hy lift. 9in. The jury-room will be only approachable through the offices now used by the clerks to the Registrar j but the Registry of Deeds will have an independent outer doorway. The contractor for the work is Mr. 2L Fenwick. Nominations. — We unfteratafcid that Mr. Strode, Jfr. If. JT $£§B«r and Mr. Prendergast ha«a by the Governor to se£|% lative Council, or, aa ifc'ja commdnly known, the Upper House. -i w--"'' .