THE GOLD-FIELDS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 89, 27 February 1862, Page 2

THE GOLD-FIELDS.

(From our own Correspondent.) Waitnhuiin, Feb. 25, 1862.

At present this gold-field, like that of Tunpekn, is suffering- from the wandering liabits of its miners. " Generally," said a storekeeper to whom I- referred for information, " we have a new rush every Monday morning, and two or three days of the week are spent in watching the success of the prospectors. If no discovery ofimportance is made they come back, and fur the rest of the week work steadily away at the old ground, but at the first rumour of a new rush, are again oft. I only wish they would settle down somewhere." It is to'be hoped, for the sake of the miners themselves, that they will settle down somewhere, for, until they do so, nothing like systematic mining can be carried on. The new rush mentioned by me in my last letter still continues, although the departures are about as numerous as the arrivals. A good deal of gold is, however, being got, and as there are numerous gullies in the. immediate neighborhood which present the same Indications !is that now worked, I trust they will be opened up. There is plenty of firewood handy, and of course an unlimited supply of water. The Deep Sinking Association had a meeting on Monday last, Dr. Samuels in the chair. Various resolutions were arrived at, having reference chiefly to the necessity of prosecuting their, labours with more energy, and enforcing something like discipline on the parties who were being assisted. One of those parties had been to a new rush, and, notwithstanding his absence, demanded payment for his services. This was resisted by the Committee, and an understanding arrived at that for the future, those assisted should work continuously, or otherwise run the risk of losing all support. There was also on the same evening a meeting of the Committee, who undertook to explore the bed of lignite on the flat. The Secretary stated that he understood the Government had accepted tenders for the raising of several hundred tons of the lignite, and that in consequence the labors of the Committee might be said to be at an end. The Government had offered to furnish them with sufficient money to enable them to employ men for a fortnight, but as this would only benefit the tenderers, the money had not been axponded. Mr Jones suggested the propriety of Its^acg the amount placed to the credit of the Deep Sinking Association, especially as they were in want of .funds, and that, despite all the promises of the Government, not a sixpence had been received by the Committee. Captain Baldwin approved of the suggestion that the money should be devoted to this purpose, and after some desultory conversation, a formal motion to this effect was proposed and carried. The Committee complain, and very justly, that while the storekeepers and others have subscribed liberally, yet the promised subsidy has been withheld —why, no one knows. What are the Government about is a question more frepuently asked than answered. Week after week is slipping away, and numbers of miners are returning to Victoria, either afraid of the winter of New Zealand, or else disgusted by the delay in framing more liberal regulations for the working of old ground. Everything depends on the present action of the Government. If we are to retain bur population during the winter, then roads must be made at once, fuel provided in sufficient quantity, and at a low rate, and claims of sufficient size to justify the erection of machinery,* given to all who desire to

I have them. Unless this is done, this goldfield will! be altaost entirely deserted during the winter months.! A large rush lias ta^'en p'.aeo to a. spot near the head! of the W.-utahuiia Rivor. There aru the usual niuu-j bur of reports, as to tha fabulous richness of the: ground, and the extraordinary success of the pros-! pic-tors. Certain it is, that the rush is attracting a large number of miners, for on my leaving Waitahuna this morning, I passed various parties all bound for the locality indicate!. lam informed that the (i!aoe is dif-tnnt about six miles fr.im the present workings, and that the country looks highly auriferous. When I have more decided iuformation'a.s to its permanency, I will visit the scene and report. There are the usual number of complaints from storekeepers as to the dnllnes of trade, indeed, like i.he mythical John i Bull of the press, they are always grumbling, and are never happy unless they are doing so. The amount, ufgo!d per escort, is expected to be about the average. .

[*Our correspondent evidently has not seen the amended regulations published in our Tuesday's issue.—Ed. Z>. '/'.]