THE GOLD FIELDS. TUAPEKA. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPOSNDENT.)

Otago Daily Times, Issue 212, 13 August 1862, Page 5

THE GOLD FIELDS. TUAPEKA. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPOSNDENT.)

. Tuapeka, Bth August, 1862. lJunng the past week there has been very little of any interest stirring. Steady determined industry characterises the operations of the miners, who are not to be influenced by glowing reports from Coromandel, or equally delusive information of the discovery of a new gold field in the neighbourhood of Lowe's station. Certainly the way in which the miners of Tuapeka find themselves disposed of, is somewhat amusing, and if the information as to their wandering habits were at all correct, there would be little need to complain of a dearth of news. As it is, however, they are content to remain on this field quietly plodding on, and it is only through the medium of the press, that they find themselves doing something interesting, by arriving in numbers at some newly discovered gold field. Here, we have no information of any fresh discovery^ and the miners are not leaving in search of it. At Monroe's, the miners in the gully have been holding meetings, with the view of memorializing the Government as to the damage done to their claims, by those who are groimd-?lnicing on the hills. The last meeting was held at the Victo ia Hotel, Mr. Chappie in the chair. The meeting was numerously attended, several resolutions being proposed and carried, and a committee ap^ pointed to watch over the interests of those who are digging in the gully. The following resolution proposed by Mr. M/Intyre, M.M.8., is explanatory of the cause of complaint :— " Seeing that the parties ground-sluicing the hills at Monroe's gully, by allowing their tailings to accumulate in the creek, and thereby causing the same to overflow, to the great injury of the majority of the claimholders on the flat, this meeting petition the Government, praying that the Commissioner be instructed to cause the above named parties to secure their tailings, or otherwise cease working until the Mining Board byelaws come into operation." The absence ol a few salutary regulations, compelling those who are sluicing to dam up their tailings, or else keep the ordinary water course clear, is the cause of the present difficulty. No less than twenty summonses were taken out on Wednesday, against the various parties who are sluicing, for damage done to the claims of those who are working in the Gully. It is to be regretted that they should have been driven to this step, as a very trifling expense would enable each sluicin"party to prevent their tailings choking up the bed of the creek. This, it appears, the sluieers decline to do; and, at present, both parties are standing on their dignity, and neither will give way an inch. Unless" some amicable arrangement is arrived at, there is great danger of a collision between the opposing partTes, threats having been freely indulged in, that the races will be cut through and damaged. The Reparation Meeting, which was to have been held on Wednesday last, was postponed 'on account of the inclemency of the weather. The subject would require to be very interesting that would induce anyone to venture out in a wet nhht <m the diggings. The mud is somewhat more than unkle-deep, and the creeks are sufficiently dangerous to render it more than problematical, that, if you miss your footing in crossing any of them, there is small chance of your getting out alive. Notice will be given as to the next day of meeting, when it is to be hoped the weather will be more favourable. The Hospital has not been allowed to remain Ion"----untenanted. There are already five patients under the charge of Dr. Hally, one of them, a very bad case, having come in from Waitahuna yesterday. The patient, who is a miner, has had several of his ribs and the left arm broken, besides being severely bruised. It appears that he had just finished sinking a large paddock in old ground, and was about to take off the bottom, when a portion of one of the sides fell in and nearly buried him. His mate had a narrow escape, some of the stuff having struck him on the feet and lower portions of the legs; had he been a couple of feet nearer the side of the paddock, he would most probably have shared the fate of the injured man. The frost and wet weather has rendered the ground very dangerous, and it behoves the miners who are working old ground to be extremely careful. Tmpeka, August 9, 18G2. The new Post Office at the Junction is nearly finished, and will be ready for opening in about ten days. The building is o the most substantial character, and is a great improvement on the dilapidated tent in Gabriel's, hitherto known as the Post Office. Ample accommodation has been provided for the public, so that they will not, as heretofore, require to spend half a day in obtaining their letters. The workmanship reflects considerable credit on the contractor, Mr. W. J. Buchan, who seems determined to have the building finished considerably witbin tbe contract time. A new Post Office was much wanted, not only because the population wh Vi formerly surrounded the old building had departed, and the site was anything but adapted for a central depot, but the letters were really unsafe, and to the residents on the Tuapeka the present post office is almost unapproachable, on account of the bad state of the roads. It is really disgraceful that tbe road over which I must pass the entire traffic to Gabriel's and Monroe's should remain in a dangerous and almost impassable condition. There is scarcely a mile of road to be repaired, and the cost would not exceed £400, yet day by day it is getting worse, and still the Government make no sign. I believe that when the General Government handed over the management of the' Gold Fields to the Provincial, they also placed at their disposal the revenue derived from the direct taxation of the miners. Having this uncontrolled expenditure of these monies, the Provincial Government may well be asked what has been done with some £70,000 taken from the pockets of the miners of Tuapeka alone. Are the roads in a much better state than they were this day twelvemonth? I think not. How, and'in what manner has this large sum been dealt with ? Certainly the amount expended on the Gold Fields has been trifling, and is but a tithe of the sum received from the miners through the medium of the Customs, and other means by which they have been indirectly taxed* How long is this to last ? Are the miners to seek for redress from the General Government? It remains with the Provincial Government to decide whether this shall be the conclusion or not.

Monroe's Gully continues to give employment to a large number of miners, who have little reason to complain of poor yields. At present there is a very pretty quarrel between those who are sluicing on the sWes of the hills, and the men who are working in the gully; but as the cause of dispute is to be heard by Major Croker on Tuesday next, I reserve any remarks until after the case has been heard. A large number of races have

work for some time, and their average weekly earnings have been over £20 a mL. The ground still continues to look well, and in! creased' yields are anticipated. The race cut by Graham and party, cost a little over £200, and the claim worked by them has turned out remarkably well. As an example I may mention that mon washing up, after their first three weeks' work they obtained nearly. 120 ozs. as the reward of their labor. A small share in the race alone—the claim has been worked out—was sold last week by Mr. Graham for £150. This is the same gentleman who is one of the partjr that are bringing water from the head of the Tuapeka river—one of the most gigantic undertakings that has been attempted in this district. Grant and Co.'s race cost over £500, and is giving employment to a considerable number of men. The ground they are at J present working is paying well, and will re- i munerate them handsomely for their large outlay. There are a large number of smaller races running along the sides of this gully, which, are all described as paying good wages