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Otago Daily Times, Issue 56, 20 January 1862, Page 2

THE GOLD FIELDS. (From our own Correspondent.) Waitahuna, January 17, 1862. The diggings at Waitahmia arc at present confined to a regularly formed gully of about two mjles in length. It varies but little in breadth, being- for the entire distance over SOU yards wide. Numerous small gullies fall into it, and many of them have been found to be highly auriferous. The character of the diggings is about the sameas that of Gabriel's and YVetherston's, the sinking being through a similar strata, only distinguished by the presence of much larger quantities of quartz gravel. As at'Tuapeka, hill sinking has been commenced and ex crllent prospects obtained. These hills are of a very peculiar character, and the leads of gold which lie under them puzzle the most experienced miner. Sometimes the lead will run right across the centre of the range, then follow the next one down its side, again cross the bottom, and running up the opposite side describes the form of a horse shop. The gullies of Waituhuna have one distinguishing feature which cannot fail to strike the eye or the mostjeasual observer. On the one side the ranges shoot upward abruptly and suddenly, exposing masses of mosscovered sandstone ; on the other they rise gently and in a series of small hills, all formed of albinum ; and it is from these that some of the heaviest finds of gold have been dug up. A considerable quantity of gold is being obtained, but a great deal of valuably time is lost in shepherding, and running oif on hearing the exciting cry of "rush, oh!" I have no doubt but that quartz mining will engage the attention of many of the miners. I examined to-day a largo boulder of quartz impregnated with gold. It was found in one of the deep shafts on the hill; the stone is waterworn, and the specs of gold, though very fine, are well into the solid quartz. I am informed by Capt. Baldwin, that an application has been made to him to grant a prospecting claim on a newly-discovered quart i reef The locality is at present a secret, hut as iie intends visiting it to-morrow, I will be enabled in my next to give you some particulars. If auriferous quartz reefs can "be found, and I see no reason why they should not, there will be no bounds to the bright future of Otago. There will undoubtedly be some difficulty in discovering them, owing to the fact that the tops of the highest hills arc covered with several feet of alluvium, and clothed with a rich thick grass through which the quartz does not show. I believe it is to this circumstance we are indebted for the opinion expressed by many that there are no quartz-reefi in Otago. When, however, the sides of the hills are better worked, quartz reefs will be exposed which, I trust will prove auriferous. The principal gully in YVaitahuna reminds me forcibly of Long Gullyj Bendigo, and like it, runs into a large flat several thousand acres in extent. The flat could support a population of thousands, and is undoubtedly auriferous. Several races have been cut, and small parties are at work on the banks of the river, which runs through it.

An attempt is being made to turn the bed of the river, for the purpose of washing the debris of its bed, but whether it will pay the spirited prospectors is, I fear, doubtful. As yet, no proper lead has been found; indeed, until the flat is rushed, not by a few isolated parties, but by several thousand persons, there will be little chance of its being hit upon. On the banks of the river I noticed a valuable bed of lignite. The vein appears to be about 2 feet in thickness, lying immediately above the auriferous drift, and ccovered by about 18 inches of clay, which, in a country almost devoid ofclay for boilding purposes, will be most .valuable for making bricks. It is to be hoped that steps will be taken to have the seam opened before the winter sets in, as without a supply of fuel I am afraid the diggings will then be almost deserted There are numerous gullies in the neighborhood of the flat which are being" prospected, and some of the gold that I have seen from them is roug-h and nuggctty. One feature favorable to the discovery of gold in quartz was demonstrated by the appearance of some of this gold. Many of the small nuggetts had pieces of quartz attached which still retained its angles, clearly showing that it had not been rolled far from its parent source. As will be seen from the report annexed, Mr. Hardy met and addressed a large number of miners. He was well received, and the meeting, after giving him a patient hearing-, broke up with three cheers for his condescension in coming amongst them. If his government can carry out all he suggested, Otago will be a happy colony, an 1 large numbers of our Victorian emigrants will remain permanently amongst us.

PUBLIC MEETING AT WAITAHUNA. On Friday last an open air meeting was held at the Dart Inn, Dr Samuel in the chair. The Chairman stated that as Mr Hardy was in the neighborhood, it had been thought advisable to invite him to a public meeting for the purpose of drawing his attention to the wants and necessities of the district. Mr Hardy had courteously acceded to tlieir request, and would lay before them his views upon their present condition. Mr Hardy, who was well received, commenced by saying that as numerous complaints had been made as to the neglect under which the goldfields were suffering, he had determined to make himself personally acquainted with their condition. That while doing so he had received a memorial respectably signed, praying to attend the present meeting, and he was there in obedience to the request. He would lay before them his individual views as to their requirements, and would do all lie could to have them carried into effect. His Government were desirous of giving every encouragement to those who came to the colony, not only to dig for gold, but also to remain and cultivate the soil. As regards mining he would tell them that in a- short time they would lie enabled to elect a Board of their own to manage mining matters, but that in the meantime he would recommend extended claims wherever the ground was too deep to paddock, and also give increased claims to prospectors. For sluicing or the working of river beds where the stream had to be turned, he would suggest 48 feet per man. Already three applications had been made tor a portion of the Waipori, and the partiesconsisted of from 40 to 60 men. The discoverers of a quartz reef would be entitled to 200 yards along the line of reef by a breadth of 150 feet. Where machinery had to be erected he proposed that for every horse power an additional area equal to six men's claim should be granted. Land would also lie laid out into townsliips and sold. That as the Government had the power to grant leases for seven years of portions of ground not exceeding ten acres, he would at once see that this should ba done. He would like to see the Victoria miner bring over his wife and family, and settle down on such a piece of land, and it would not be his fault if, after having them once in the colony, he allowed them to go away for lack of it. The rent charged would not be much, say 5s per acre per annum. He would like to see grazing licenses issue!, which would enable a man who wanted to supply the diggers with milk and butter, to have a chance of doing so. The condition of the roads had received his attention, and everything that could be done to remedy their present frightful state would not be neglected. The Government, lie believed, were prepared to subsidize an hospital if erected, but he was of opinion that those who were well to do should put their hands into their pockets on behalf of their suffering brethren. In reply to various questions from Dr Burrows, Mr Harris, and others,

Mr Hardy stated that a daily mail would be established as soon as possible, and the post-office accommodation would be increased. The General Government had the control of the post-office, ami therefore the Provincial Government could not appoint any fresh hands. This, he believed, would be remedied. Several questions in reference to prospecting having besn asked and answered satisfactorily, The Chairman, in a few remarks, thanked Mr Hardy for his attention, and the meeting separated after giving him three hearty cheers.

A Candid Discoverer.—The Medical Times and Gazelle, in commenting on Sir L. Bulwcr's " Strange Story." relates the following anecdote : —" Nearly ten years ago, a most distinguished surgeon, of great endowments in mechanical and ■physical science, called on the writer io show him (besides some curious inventions which are now in use), a machine lie had invented for measuring the force of the electric currents excited by muscular action. There were two cylinders to be grasped, wires, &c, needle, galvanometer, as usual. On grasping either cylinder, the needle was deflected, and so on. ' lam on .my way,' said our friend, to show it to Faraday.' -Ie departed. Soon, however he returned, with a kind of honest satisfaction beaming in his face—' I have shown it to Faraday, and he has convinced me that the electric currents are due, not to the muscular action, but to the friction of the hands against the cylinders. So I shall go home, and say no more about my muscular electrometer.' May all inventors have as good a conscience."

A fiend in human form suggests that in these days of patent candles and much writing, it would be well if some, authors, instead of consuming the midnight oil were'to burn the midnight £ composition.' ' . ....