TASMANIA, MELBOURNE, AND OTAGO.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 47, 9 January 1862, Page 2

TASMANIA, MELBOURNE, AND OTAGO.

(From the Hobdrt Totvn Mercury, Dec. 30.) If any reader of the ' Argus' will run his eye down the shipping columns of that journal he will mark one very noticeable feature. Ws refer to the number of vessels—steamers and sailing : crafts—laid on the berth for Otago. The Victorian papers have systematically depreciated the New Zealand diggings. The most direct Interest of that colony lay-in keeping to itself the great mining population which developed its staple wealth. If Victoria, instead of being a gold country had been simply a pastoral, agricultural, and manufacturing colony—producing articles of consumption beyond its own wants, and seeking a market for tliem—we should have found the gold discoveries of Otago welcomed with the highest satisfaction. The fact would have been speedily recognised that the congregation in a neighbouring Province of a large consuming population, with ample resources at command, would benefit every productive industry. Gold mining is however the main source of the prosperity of Victoria. Gold is its chief product and export; and we can well understand the uneasiness with which any considerable exodus of diggers to the gold fields of another colony is regarded. Yet, notwithstanding the evident anxiety displayed to discountenance the idea that a gold country is being developed in the province of Otago as rich and extensive, as either of the most famous diggings of Port Phillip, the merchants of Melbourne are finding to their profit 'that a new field-has been opened for their enterprise, and as we have said, the shipping columns of the ' Argus' bear ample testimony to the fact. The time has passed by when any parallel could be drawn between Otago and Port Curtis or the Snowy Hiver. From the Kockhampton mines no escort of any amount was ever received. And the quantity' brought down from Kiandra when the ground was first opened, was only sufficient to excite vague anticipations which were never realised. The thousands of ounces that have reached Dunedin from Tuapeka and the adjacent fields, and the remarkable steadiness with which the escort returns have been sustained during a period now extending over some months, exhibit a very "different cbifditlon'ol^thhiga.. WoI adhere to all we have said about the inexpediency of any man's proceeding to Otago to try his luck as a digger, who is not armed with resources. Whatever the aggregate results, the chances of individual success are precarious. It is not yet established that the New Zealand diggings are suited to the circumstances of a poor man, who cannot afford to encounter disappointment or waitfor a deferred success. But the total yield of gold is undoubtedly great. The population on the spot is rapidly increasing. An enormous export of the precious metal is made by every out-going steamer. And the equivalent of this—or a large proportion of it—is being received back in the shape of imported goods. These goods are not being taken in as large quantities as they ought to be from Ilobart Town, which is the nearest port.to Otago. ; The Tasmania Steam Navigation Company ■ finds it to its interest to employ the City of Hobavt in the trade between Melbourne and DuneI din. Not only are we thus deprived of our accustomed facilities of transport between Tasmania and Port Phillip, but we are subjected to this inconvenience for the accommodation of a commerce in which Tasmania has no concern. How ■■ is it that the Steam Navigation Company does not find as much inducement to lay on one of its 1 steamers for the Otago trade at this port as at i Melbourne ? Is it because we are allowing the ; Melbourne merchants to rob us of a commerce that is eigitimately our own ? The wants of the great population that has suddenly accumulated on the shores of New Zealand are as urgent as they are various. They include timber; they include all kinds of agricultural produce, and many descriptions of stock.. Horses have fetched a high price at recent sales for the supply of the Otago market. Hay is certain to command a very heavy figure on the new diggings. We know what almost fabulous prices it once realised on the Victorian goldfields. We cannot expect these to be repeated, but it is certain that horse fodder will command a very remunerative price. Enlarged facilities of transport will tend greatly to develope the trade with Otago, for the successful prosecution of which our material resources and our geographical position furnish us with so many advantages. And it must be a matter of deep regret to every one interested in the prosperity of this colony, to see our own steamers taken off their berth to supplement the fleet of merchantmen employed in the commerce between Melbourne and Otago. What a satire upon all that has been urged of late with reference to our superior capabilities for supplying the Otago markets ! What a deep disappointment to all who have been indulging in the hope that Tas-. nianian enterprise would be equal to the task of availing itself of the new opening afforded to it!

If we are to compete with our neighbours in this trade it must be by employing the same menns as they. So long us'we'fail to use steam in our communication with New Zealand, we neutralise all the advantages which our geographical position gives us. The City of Hobart is helping to make Melbourne, for all practical pur- , poses, nearer to Otago than this port is, although a glance at the map will show by how many hundreds of miles nature has placed it more distant. Why should not a steam vessel be laid on at Ilobart Town for the Otago trade ? Seeing what dimensions that trade has already assumed, no reasonable doubt can surely be entertained that such a project would pay. It is probable that a large number of successful miners would return by this route. The lessened duration of the sea journey, and the opportunity afr forced them of seeing new scenes and journeying through the" pleasantest and most beautiful of the Australian colonies, would be sufficient inducement. If a vessel of the strength and size of the City of Hobart, were thought to exceed the present requirements of this traffic, the Launceston Steam Company might place one of their boats upon the station. We believe it would pay them well thus to employ the 1-lavilah. By this use of an extra steamer, which they were induced by special cir-^ cuinstunccs to purchase, no interference would be' occasioned with the present arrangements for communication between Launceston and Melbourne, and we believe both the Company.and the colony would derive a material advantage.

Miss Florence Nightingale is reported by the English papers to lie hopelessly ill.