LATEST FROM. THE OTAGO GOLD FIELDS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XVI, Issue 929, 5 October 1861, Page 5

LATEST FROM. THE OTAGO GOLD FIELDS.

By the Lady Bird we have a copy of the ' "Witness' of the 28th ult. From private sources we learn that large numbers of the Australians are returning, some without even going to the diggings. The Eesult had arrived with 800 passengers, and one or two ships had left with about half that number each on board. The movements of the Australians appear to be made without the slightest calculation, and must not be taken as any real index of the progress of the diggings. We extract the following letter from the ' Witness:— Camp, Tuapeka, September 20,1861. Sir, —Thinking it desirable that your Honor should be made acquainted with the gold mining operations in the neighbourhood of the present proclaimed gold field, 1 have the honor to inform you that I visited yesterday a gully about two miles north-east of the bridge across the Waitahuna River, which I understood had, for some short time past, been occupied by a few miners. I fburid settled there, from the best information I could procure, a population of about 500 persons, for the most part doing well, and perfectly persuaded that a remunerative gold field exists in that locality. The almost invariable reply I received to inquiries I made of several working parties as to their yield, was, that' they were doing well, and could not complain,' The gully in question is about two miles long, and there appears to be no doubt of the auriferous nature of several of the gullies in the same neighbourhood, I ascertained while there, that on the 17th instant, a party of five men made 5 ounces of gold, and on the following day the same party secured three ounces. I also learnt that a party who had been at work in the gully referred to, for six weeks, had averaged one ounce per diem to each man. From all I saw there, lam persuaded that 5000 persons, properly equipped, would make handsome wages and somethingmore; but at the same tune I do not venture to assert that, as far as it is yet known, it can in any way be compared in richness to ' Gabriel's Gully.' One great drawback exists—the want of firewood, but that of course will not be so severely felt during the coming summer months. Coal of fair quality has however been found in the vicinity, and which I understand can be worked with ease. Under these circumstances I deem it very desirable that an extension of the existing gold field should be proclaimed, so as, at least, to include the Waitahuna country, as I need not remind your^Ho^norithat at present I have no control over that part, and consequently a considerable mining population are' shut out from that proper protection which is due to every: holder of a miner's right.' Your Honor will be glad to learn that Mansbridge Gully (referred to in my report of the 7th instant) is affording occupation to several miners, who are making good wages, Yours, &c, A. Chetham Strode, Commissioner. His Honor the Superintendent of Otago. His Honor the Superintendent has just received information from a Justice of the Peace residing in the northern part of this province of the discovery of a new gold field. His Honor's informant says:—• " A rich gold deposit has been struck in the upper part of one of the north-east feeders of the Taieri Lake. The gold is of a finer description than any I have yet seen. It is not much water-worn, and I should describe it as half-pea nuggetty. "The discoverer, Mr. Legatt, who is about to return to work his claim, informs me that he thinks the field will pay three ounces a day. "As soon as the discovery is made known there will be a rusli to the field. " Having the conviction that the new gold field will be a permanent and paying one, I have considered it my duty to give you timely notice of what will positively take place." Employment.—We understand it is the intention of the Local Government, seeing that a number of persons have arrived without the means of support sufficient to carry them on to the diggings, to offer shelter and employment on the roads at a certain rate of wages, so that such persons may have the opportunity of earning sufficient for their support whilst waiting for the opportunity of returning to Australia, or obtaining more profitable employment.