THE TUAPEKA GOLD FIELDS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XVI, Issue 907, 20 July 1861, Page 5

THE TUAPEKA GOLD FIELDS.

ARRIVAL OP THR SUPERINTENDENT AND GOLD ESCORT. *

-, lhe paddle-steamer Prince Albert arrived ast evening; at a -quarter past five, havino. left Dune.in at halt-past eight the previous evemng. The 1.C.R.M.8.1 Airedale lef .Dunedm at minutes past three on Ihursdayand arrived in harbour about half an hour after the Prince Albert. • By the former we,have files of the Otago paper, and e X tr act the following from. the^em^of Otago < Colonist 'of the 17th inst. :-- fhHT o Hoii ort / !, le 1 ? uPf>'intendent arrived from the Tuapeka Gold Fields last Friday afternoon, about four o'clock, having left on the previous day at noon. v 8 uu me The first gold escort in this province came in the same day, and brought 500 oz., which was at once plaped in the Bank; upwards of 100 oz. came down privately by persons ac company ing. the escort. Later in the day several other parties arrived from the dW m o. s —some of whom had been tolerably successful, whilst others had returned for proper tools, and provisions, of which there is only a moderate supply. A few returned on Saturday, but from their statements it appeared evident that they had been ill-provided with tue implements used,to obtain gold in anything- like payable quantities; some were inexperienced, and others had not really ff iven the diggings .a fair trial. 6

The weather had been very fine at the diffgings; and out of the thousand persons now congregated together, between seven and eight hundred were actually at work. Mr. Miller's party of seven had obtained in one day 38 ounces and a few dwfcs.; and in nine days the total amount obtained by the same party was 127 ounces. ■ ~. Mr. Peter Lindsay and party, consisting of three, deposited 49 ozs. 5 dwts. in the Oriental Bank on Friday—the produce of three days work. J

Mr. Read's party sent in 168^ ounces. The diggings are forthwith to be declared a" Gold Field" according to the Act. The price of meat on the diggings is 8d per Ib.; of flonr £7 10s. the lOOlbs., or £150 per ton.

A large meeting had been held on the diggings, at which the Superintendent was present. There was some discussion respecting the road from Tokomaifiro to the diggings, which, with a little improvement, it was ascertained could be made a very good one. The licensing question also came on for discussion, the opinion of the diggers being unanimously expressed against the establishment of licensed houses—not a dissenting voice was heard. The best possible order was being preserved by the diggers. The rules lately brought into operation amongst them were working beneficially. ; '

A long and interesting description of the gold field, which we shall publish at length in pur next issue, is given by Mr. T. B. Gillies, M.P.C., M.H.R., who states that on the 10th July there were about 1000 men at work, most of whom were earning from one to two ounces, each a day. Of course there were many who, not being fitted for the work, were doing no good. Provisions were very high. Flour, £150 per ton. Mr. Gillies states that he is satisfied that gold in similar quantities is spread oyer a large extent of country. The crews of vessels arriving at Dunedin were all leaving for the diggings, among those-left deserted was the Mountain Maid. The latest accounts from passengers by the steamers corroborate these statements and describe the excitement as still continuing with intensity.