THE Otago Daily Times.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 88, 26 February 1862, Page 2

THE Otago Daily Times.

\ " Invcniam viam aut Jaciam." AVEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26th, 1862. -j In the .literal sense, the last thirteen years may be considered the Golden Era. There never was a more striking illustration of the hsckneyed quotation : —" Great events from little causes spring," than is afforded by the first discovery of gold in California. Captain Snttor and his friend Mr. Marshall had established a saw mill at the junction of _ the Americanos with the Sacramento River. The tail race turned out to be too narrow, the wheel was taken out and the water allowed to run off. A large quantity of earth was broken away, and one evening "Mr. Marshall rushed into Captain Suttor's room so agitated as to be unable to speak, and flung down on the table a handful of scales of pure virgin gold." From that simple circumstance of widening the channel for the saw mill sprung the discovery of gold in California. From that arose the discovery of gold in Australia. From California again the hardy miners developed the golden resources of British Columbia, and from Australia has sprung a like result in New Zealand. Four immense gold countries which have yielded up to tlie present date the precious metal to somewhere about the value of £250,000,000, all owing their origin to the simple circumstance of the widening of a saw mill channel, and the observant notice of an on-looker. . '

Still we are not to attribute to chance what we are justified in believing owes its origin to a pre-ordained purpose. The last half of the nineteenth century seems to have been destined as the era of gold production, so extensive as to find no. parallel except in the shadowy traditions of remote history. By its agency,!

portion* of the earth, from the far North to tlie far South, -have been peopled and converted into flourishing countries; nor is there any means of telling what may be the limits of further discoveries, or their effect on thi general purposes oi" mankind. The greatest authorities even differ as to whether the value of gold can he maintained, and supposing it to diminish what bearing such a resultwotild have on human affairs generally. But in the very circumstances attending the discoveries themselves, lie the best refutation to the opinions! of those who believe tliat chances have no doe-1 trine. No one ever wrote a fair history ofhir own period ; it is only after the lapse of time! that one can correctly estimate tne relative importance of events. Those who would write the histories of the gold discoveries of California, Australia, Vancouveria, and New Zealand, would now see nothing but exceptional circumstances. To eaeli would be attributed separate and widely distinctive characteristics. But suppose, after the lapse of a century, the same histories to be written, —the chapter that treats of one would probably suffice with scarcely an alteration for the four. liich alluvial products, at first divided amongst a few, yielding enormous gains to individuals. Then less ricli products, but largely increased in the aggregate owing to the greater number employed in obtaining them. Then the maximum number of seekers and the maximum yield. Then the occupation, shorn of its lottery character, reduced to a precise pursuit, yielding profits only the employment of capital and skilled appliances. And lastly, the pursuit left in the hands of a few, whilst the bulk of tlie population turned its attention to other pursuits. Such, we make bold to hazard, will seem in the future the outlined history of the great gold discoveries, whose number and extent during the last few years have dawned upon the civilized world with the startling effect of a realised Kastern fable.

But even now writing at the present time' with all the prejudices that close association with passing events naturally engenders, and which are calculated so materially.to disturb the operation of calm judgment,—even now one may see, a strange ami startling analogy between the progress of the gold discoveries at their respective seats. At first in California the bulk ofthe gold produced was from alluvial deposits, it was long before quartz mining became to be regarded as the more lasting, although less generally remunerative pursuit. Iv A''ietoria the same result has not only been observable regarding the goldfields generally, but it has been apparent at each particular one. Quartz mining worked its way into general notice slowly and at .a considerable interval after the first alluvial discoveries. And not alone this as regarding the goldfields collectively: but, taking each one separately, the circumstance, with but one or two exceptions has been observable that each has owed its discovery to alluvial mining, and that not until the alluvial deposits were to a considerable extent exhausted, was attention directed to quartz mining. AYe could instance a number of goldfields in Victoria, rushed again and again for alluvial deposits, but in which the quartz deposits since found were entirely undreamt of. It is only necessary to refer to parts of the great Ballaarat, Bendigo, and Beechworth Districts and to the Back Creek Goldfield to bear out our remarks, in British Columbia, after a lapse of three years, during which, scarcely any but alluvial deposits were thought of, quartz reefs have been discovered ol reported exceeding richness. In Otago, quartz reefs have not yet been found, and in spite of all that has been

said, we believe as little in their being immediately worked to advantage, as we are confident they will ultimately be discovered both rich and in numbers.

The first fifteen monthj in California, gold to the value only of i 1,611,700 (see Hunt's edition, Ure,) was found. Since then it has averaged about £10,000,000 per annum. The first nine months gold was discovered in Victoria the 3'ield amounted to 399,578 ounces; the average since, has been fully five times that amount. Of the yield from British Columbia, there is no authentic record, it found its way to the home market through so many different channels. Otago, during its first six months, has yielded 228,978 ozs, or something about the same average as that produced in Victoria during the corresponding period, following the first discoveiy of the precious metal. 'Ihe future can alone unravel what the average of its after ten years will prove,

If we may consider Victoria, in the similarity of its produce, its development, and its progress, the prototype of California, we may regard Otago as the prototype of British Columbia! Both rushed from the old goldfields ofthe neighboring continent. Both at first declared to possess only rich isolated patches, but no extensive deposits ofthe precious metal, yet rushed again and again after temporary cessations. Both stigmatised as possessing unendurable climates, and held up as uninhabitable and unworkable during portions of the year, yet, the one, British Columbia, giving the richest yields during the banned season—and a like result we almost venture to predict for the other. British Columbia lias lately proved itself so imniistakeably rich, and its gold deposits so extensive, that all difference of opinion as to its character as a gold country, has ceased. It is instructive, therefore, to look back to what it was to complete the analogy we would draw between it and Otago. To do this we make the following extract from the communication of an intelligent correspondent of one of the local newspapers in 1861. Alter the namesoftheriversand,weventure to say,every line of it would be applicable to Otago of to day, and we desire nothing better than that in three years' time the Otago gold-fields shall jhave earned an equal reputation with that ofthose British Columbia now enjoys,

MaOKITUDK OL' THE GoLDMELDS 01' BltlTISIt COLUMWA. —" That the auriferous deposits of this region are spread over a considerable scope of country, is apparent from tho fact, that paying diggings have already been found on the Fraser River, extending from Port Hope almost to Fort Alexander, a continuous distance of nearly '100 miles. Among■_tho tributaries of this stream, Thompson and Bridge Rivers are known to be auriferous—the latter sufficiently so to have already richly rewarded those who have labored upon it as high up as thirty-live or forty miles, while the former has been ascertained to have many bars that will pay. On two of its confluents good diggings are reported to have been discovered. How many more of these tributary streams abound in gold remains to bo seen. Nor is the extent of this goldfield likely to bo limited to theso rivers. Coarse gold was fouud a few weeks ago by packers while exploring a mule route around Lake Seto n.

if or 100~miles above the Pavilion, the banks of tho Fraser River have been proved to pay even belter than below. ltwill thus be seen that the goldfields of British Columbia ascertained to be paying, to say nothing of rumored discoveries beyond, are tolerably extensive. They do not, it is true, rival those of. California or Australia iv magnitude, but that they cover a large scope of country and will give employment to a large population is settled beyond controversy or fiction. I might say much in explanation of tho numerous failures that attended the first adventurers in these mines; how the iniuers came too soon aud in too great numbers ; how the river kept up, and of the many disadvantages under which they laboured, all might be eidargeil upon, were it not too well known. In regard to this section, however, I may say that those.mmei-3 who worked here last winter and spring I uniformly made large wages, and that those whoj came since have been enabled to remain paying the enormous sums they did for provisions, proves that they must have had good paying claims most ofthe, time.

The cost of living here, with other necessary ex-i pcuditure, could not have been less than four dollars a day to the man, yet I lind all have been able to defray their current expens-A, whilst many have accumulated liirue sums, sufficiently largo in a majority of cases with those who have been here any length of time, to lay in a winter's stock of provisions, even at the present high prices. That better average wages can be made here at present than in any part of Cdiforuia, there can be no doubt. This can be done oven with the present want of ditches and indifferent appliances for taking out the gold. These diggings, owing to the fineness of the dust, and the difficulty of saving it require to be worked with sluices—a in vie which has been introduced to but a limited extent as yet, owing to the want of lumber as well as of wheals or ditches for supplying water. When sluices shall have been generally 7 brought into use, more than tv,iee the amount "now realised can be taken out to hand. That these mines will bo found not only rich and extensive, but also listing, I am fully satisfied. Apart from their vast extent of surface, the diggings, at one time thought to be shallow, are now known to rundown to a good depth. It lias lately been ascertained that not only the bars along the river, but mnnv of the lower benches or table lands contain sutHe ent gold to pay, wnerc water can be _ brought u'joii them, which in most cases can be easily dune. These benches are not only numerous, but often of great extent, and could employ a large number of men for many years to come. Little or no search has been made as yet for drift diggings or quartz reefs, though there "are abundant indications tliat both of °a paying character exist. Fine ledges of quartz iii fact, present themselves almost everywhere, though no thorough examination has been made of tlieir quality. The banks of Bridge River consist of alternate strata of slate and quartz rock, the most favorable possible geological formation for gold. I would venture then after seeing considerable'of the mines in this quarter, to express the confident opinion that they will prove sufficiently extensive, productive, and lasting to warrant a large immigration to this country during the ensuing season, and that British Columbia is destined to become another great gold producing region, ranking next to California and Australia, in the amour.* she wili hereafter annually yield of this precious commodity."

The absolute necessity of an alteration in the system of licensing boats to ply for hire in the Bay has received a melancholy illustration in the fete of the unfortunate man Hull, upon whose body the inquest was held yesterday. From the evidence taken before the coroner it appeared that, into a boat which would safely accommodate six persons only, nine were crowded,; together with a large number of swags and three boxes, one of which contained tools and was very heavy. The day was boisterous, and the boat being loaded, within lour or five inches of the water's edge, began to ship water directly she got out of the lee of the steamer ; the passengers became uneasy ; the boat had to be baled ; the heaviest ,box. was thrown overboard to save her from sinking, some of the passengers jumped out to swim ashore ; the boat was overturned, and the mischief done. No one seemed to attach any particular blame to the boatman ; he was only acting on the usual plan of getting as many sixpences as possible by each trip. Indeed, the man owned to having, on a previous occasion, carried as many as fourteen passengers in the same boat. The fact is, the evil lies in the licensing system. So long as there is no limitation to the number of passengers that each boat may carry, so long will the public be exposed to similar dangers, for the cupidity of the boatmen will be continually ea ding them to exceed the number that they can carry with perfect safety. But merely limiting . the number of passengers that each boat may carry will not be sufficient to secure the safety and comfort of passengers. Something more is needed. It will be necessary to license the boatmen as well as tlie boats, and to require each licensed waterman to have legibly painted on his boat, the boat's name, his own name, and the number of passengers that the boat is licensed to carry. This is going a little further than the recommendation of the jury, but it is what has been found necessary elsewhere, and we do not see how it can safely be dispensed with here.

It is only by a regular system of licensing and by the enforcement of penalties for breaches of the regulations that efficient men and safe boats can be secured. In the unfortunate case wliich has suggested these remarks it appears that the engineer of the " Samson " insisted ou the boatman taking all the remaining passengers, and when some of the passengers objected to getting into an overcrowded boat, told them that if they did not 'jump in they would be taken back to Port I'Chalmers; but if there had been a penalty on boatmen carrying more than their number all the bluster of the engineer 'of the " Samson " | would have been in vain, and this melancholy accident would have been avoided.

AA'hile dealing with boats it might at the same time be advisable to license the small steamers, in which the crowding is at times quite as great as in the small boats, and the number of lives endangered far more considerable.

AYe sincerely trust that the authorities will, without delay, take steps to place the licensing of boats and watermen on a proper footing before another and possibly more serious catastrophe occurs.

The mail from Slelbourne, per the " Aidinga." contained 2314 letters and SG4 newspapers.

AYe have been informed that the boat that was capsized yesterday was bringing passengers ashore from the "Sampson" and not from the " Lady Barkley" as stated in our columns.

It has been hinted to us that some ofthe lenient sentences lately passed by the Judge were, based on tlie same principle as that which guided tbe Irish jury in their verdict of "guilty," but recommend to mercy as the evidence is not very clear. In other words that the sentences were proportioned to his own idea of the conclusiveness of the evidence. AYe observe a very different, and what we consider a much1 more just, practice adopted by the Chief Justice of "Victoria: A case of stealing was brought before him wliich he considered rested on such'slender testimony, that he told the jury there was scarcely a ease to go to them. Nevertheless the sapient body decided that the prisoner was guilty. The Chief Justice at once passed a sentence of three years, but said that, as the jury had found the prisoner guilty, although he did not agree in that verdict, he was bound to pass sentence ; but he should recommend the Government to remit it at once.

I'i.k mo-Pneumonia.—By proclamation published in a Gazette extraordinary, of Feb. 7, the importation of cattle into Tasmania from Victoria is prohibited; except in the case of cattle shipped from Port Albert, and these may only be landed at tho Ports of Hobart Town, Baunceston, and Port Arthur, and then only for immediate slaughter.

A special general meeting of the shareholders of the Dunedm Building and Land Society was held on Monday, 2-fth inst., for the purpose of considering the state ofthe books of the society, and electing a secretary. Sir Bean iv the chair. 'Phe interim secretary, Sir A. C. Begg, stated that when the books were put into his bauds they were in a most confused and unsatisfactory state, and that he had consequently resigned, and recommended the society to get them put into the hands of an accountant, for adjustment and examination. After some remarks from Sir J. Simpson, the original secretary, in explanation, which, however, proved unsatisfactory, it was unanimously resolved to got the books reported npon by a competent accountant, and tbat his report be laid before a general meeting to be held on Monday, 10th March next. Sir AA r. Dalrymple was then elected to fill the office of Secretary to the society.

MaKIXG lIi.IISBLF GuNBItAT.I,T USEI-UL. All who have heard the ditty of Terry O'Rum must remember the astonishment excited in their minds by the long list of the different avocations of the Mayor of Derry, who besides I being " the mayor of the town and a man of renown was a bold shoemaker a butcher and]

jbaker, a tailor besides, and undertaker to all thej live people in Deny." But the Mayor of Derry,: ;brilliant genius'fhough he undoubtedly w.ts, can! ! hardly compare with an individual in the city of I IBostiin, America, who not only eonbines in hisj jown person incongruous offices, but actually advertises himself In his multifarious capacity. Wo clip bis advertisement from a Boston paper. ■' W. i\ A. Kelly, Constable, No. 9 Nilcs' Block, City Hall Avenue, Boston, Kosidenee, No. 1. > Tyler Place. '\V. b\ A. Iv. having bean duly appointed a Constable of the City of Boston, and given bonds, according to law,is authorised to serve ; Writs, eject Tenants, collect Rents and Bills, and 1 execute all the duties appertaining to the said \ oiiice. Being a Justice ofthe Peace, he will take Depositions, acknowledge Deeds, Mortgages, &c , [in a liberal and faithful manner. Oiliee hours, , 9 a.m. to .4 p.m. At I louse,! to 9 r.n. Patronage respectfully solicited."

The first of the weekly meetings of the Young Men's Christian Association is to be held this evening. The hour of meeting has been changed from seven to eight o'clock.

We bear that tbe unfortunate " Eleanor," | which was recently destroyed by fire on her passago from London to this port, had on board some' 1400 volumes, intended to form tbe nucleus ofthe Library in connection with the Athenieum. This is particularly unfortunate, as the arrival of the books might have incited the Committee to some exertion.

We understand that Mr. Abbot's design for a now Episcopal Church, to be built of stone, has been accepted, and that tenders for the erection of the building will be immediately called for. A meeting of the Musical Association was held yesterday evening, wi-en the following officebearers were elected for the ensuing year. A. Carrick, Esq., Vice-President ofthe Society, Mr. Blair, Treasurer, Mr. Parkinson, Secretary, and Messrs. Brown, Boudry, Beeby, Hay, Probart, & Lusk, members of Committee. The office of Conductor was left vacant, and it was resolved to request his Honor the Superintendent to become President ofthe Association.