OTAGO.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XVII, Issue 76, 22 September 1858, Page 3

OTAGO.

We have papers to the 4th instant. A number of the recently arrived immigrants had held a meeting for the purpose of memorializing the Government against a redaction of the wages of those employed on the public works from seven to five shillings per day. The following resolution vr&a passed unanimously : —

That, in the unanimous and impartial opinion of this meeting, the Government in reducing the wages of working men from 7s. to ss. per day, forfeits all .claim? pf compensation for passage money from all such as have been induced, through the misrepresentations of the Provincial Government Emigration Agent, to leave their homea and occupations to emit, grate to Otago ; that the wages of ss. per day are miserably inadequate to procure even the bare necessaries of animal subsistence ; that 7s. per day is the lowest possible wages they can accept from Government ; and that a committee be appointed to wait upon his honour the Deputy-Superintendent to reason the matter.

The seams of coal recently discovered near the mouth of the Clutha river, had been visited by the chief surveyor, who had reported favourably thereon. The Otago settlers were congratuling themselves on the speedy prospect of obtaining regular steam communication ; and the Colonist, in the following apt remarks endeavours to "improve the occasion."

" What we now desire to do is earnestly to urge upon our Government the importance of bestirring itself in the matter. Steam communication cannot be carried on without coals, and these we believe Otago could supply j and had the Government taken the proper steps to ascertain the fact, as we have repeatedly called upon them to do, the White Swan would at this moment be supplied with them. An announcement in the Witness, emanating, we presume, from the ' member of the Government who renders occasional assistance' to that journal, is to the effect that a few tons will be got up from Coal Point iv readiness for the steamer on her next trip. We hope something more than this will be done.

There ought to be a sufficient quantity to coal her on her subsequent arrival should (he experimeut prove favourable, and we are quite sure the Government wonld incur no censure for wasteful expenditure even should it prove a failure. It is out of the question to talk of want of funds. If the Government were prepared to give an additional £250 per annum salary, they can afford to risk a few hundreds in the attempt to develop the coal fields of the province. The route of the steamers has yet to be decided, and a stoppage at Otago of only a few hours is talked of; but the opportunity of coaling here would have a great influence in the decision of this matter — a fact which Nelson has not lost sight of; and she will, we believe, put a quantity of coal on board the steamer on her upward trip, although a very high authority (Mr. Wrey, the principal proprietor of the Dun Mountain Copper Mine at Nelson), has givvn a very decided opinion as to the inferiority of the coal in that province. "The discovery of a workable coal field, among many other advantages, would be the first step towards establishing a coasting steamer. We were somewhat astonished to hear at the nomination the other day, that this province is too young yet for steam. Such a sentiment, coming from the quarter it did, is not very encouraging. So far from being too young for steam, we hold that the place was ripe for it long ago, and that if our provincial legislators, as a body, had been actuated less by the narrow-minded feelings and petty jealousies of political rivalry ; if they had studied more the interests of the place, and less the supposed interests of this or that political party ; in short, if the public good had predominated over personal interest, we should have had inter-provincial steam communication long ago."

These remarks appear to have had some effect, for we find, in a later number of the same journal the following paragraph : —

" Our Coal Fields. — We understand that Mr. G. Grey has been despatched to the spot recommended by the Chief Surveyor, about a mile from the Clutha, with directions to excavate and convey to the coast a quantity of the coal found there. He has taken three months' provision for himself and his assistants, and is, we believe, authorized to prosecute the attempt to the extent of an outlay of 36500, under the superintendence of Mr. Thomson. We sincerely hope we shall see some practical result from this effort ere the steamer's arrival next month.

We subjoin one or two extracts from the papers ; — Coroner's Inquest. — On Monday, the 2nd instant, an inquest was held at the Hospital, by Dr. Hulme, coroner, on the body of James Booker, who died while on his way from Waitaki to Dunedin. Deceased, a mason by trade, came from Nelson with sheep about eighteen months ago, and has been employed on Mr. Borton's station at Waitaki for nearly eleven months. On Tuesday, the 27th ultimo, the deceased, in comp&ny with Mr. Marshall, started from Waitaki for Dunedin, with the intention of proceeding by the first opportunity to Nelson, where he had some relatives. The jury, after consideration, gave the following verdict: — 'That James Booker's death was occasioned by over-fatigue, scarcity of provisions, and clothing, and by exposure to the inclement weather.' — Witness, August 7.

Invercargill. — We learn, with much satisfaction, that the progress made at Invercargill and the south generally has been very rapid of late, and that there is every prospect of that progress being accelerated. The justice and wisdom of establishing a Branch Land Office at Invercargill has been manifested by the results. The land revenue has not been inconsiderable; the prices realized for town lands have been much increased ; and we learn that upwards of 15,000 acres of rural land have been applied for during the current month. One application alone is for 12,000 acres, not for speculation, but for actual occupation, A considerable number of capitalists are said to be turning their attention to that portion of this province ; and we have no doubt that, were a good road made the whole way from Invercargill to Dunedin, the land sales consequent upon that act would more than pay the expense. The Government should commence the necessary work at both ends ; and when the fridge over the Mataura, and the fly-bridge on the Molyneux, are constructed, which should not be at any great distance of time, Otago will be the most compact as well as the most extensive province in New Zealand. — Id., August 21,

T.he Presbytery of Otago met, according to appointment on Thursday, the 19th instant, at the Taieri Ferry, for the ordination of the Rev. J. M'Nicol, and hia induction to the pastoral charge of the Waihola district. The sermon was preached by the Rev. T. Burns, who also solemnly addressed the minister and people on their relative duties. The Presbytery and a large number of the settlers afterwards sat down to an excellent dinner, provided by Mr. James Harrold, at the Ferry House, at the instance of the congregation, when suitable addresses were delivered by the Deputy Superintendent, the Rev, Messrs. Burns, Bannerman, Will, Johnstone, and M'Nicol, &c— Colonist, August 27.