(To the Editor of the Daily Times.)

Otago Daily Times, Issue 215, 28 August 1862, Page 5

(To the Editor of the Daily Times.)

Sik,—l cannot help but admire the straightforward and impartial manner in which you Kpeak of tiie Dun.stan_ diggings, nnd I think the public cenerally, and ■ miuew in particular, will agree with me that it w about the only insfance of the press, on th«.discorery of new field*, not having exugWted the reports from them (Coivmaiidel for insUncei, and I ■have spent some years on the mines of Victoria and near twelve months on the Rocky ttiv«v, New Kngkuid, Nev boiith Wales. Miners generally act first and think afterwards— the Blue .Mountain and Tom Perkins to wit, both cf which myself and mate were at. But I thought this time it would be better for one to go and see if the flats were going to prove payable, as my thoughts were somewhat like your leader of Monday, 25th inst.

Now, Sir I see no reason that these Hate should not prove payable."as there has been gold found both in the ruapeka and Waitnlmna River, the latter of which ha* proved payable, and the flats and gullies pay at both thr.se places. There are some .who seem to doubt the statement of Messrs. Hartley and Itcilly iseejiort-ason-at present to do so; for if they ouly got six grains to a dish, and allow there is two to a bucket, and forty buckets to a load, which would give tmt t\ UnCe i°>? ie !ofi'}' a»IJ w^re dirt is ready to inn through the cradle, with plenty of water handy, they would run at least six loads a day-through, which.would gtve six ounces, and dropping upon patches or crevices would bring it up nearly to twelve ounces per day Business men, to my mind, up lieie, seem to look down in the mouth at thrir luck ; but they have no occasion, as, from what I can learn the road for many will wt be this way. Mr. J. -Reid. i.- 1 ?i e> "ff 'opme"y the owner of the statiou on which Hie gold has been found, and that gentleman could go there m four days from this, a good road for this country, and I know that he hail some cattle brought down either from that station, or thereabouts, last March or April by Messw. Thompson and Miller, and Mr. J. Thompson to!d me he should start on that road on the 25th inst., and my mate, as well as a great many more, are going his track. Should it turn out as expected, this, no doubt, will be the mam road, as stores could be got at Tuapeka or here I and conveyed by drays or sledges close to the spot. Again, gold has been found all round this districtCanada Bush, Jtoxborough, and Mr. Adams's private property, the two latter places payable; and myself and mates got the colour of gold in two feet sinking on Lovell s Hat, betwixt this and the Clutha, but had no time to try further, as we only camped one night there. _ I ehall not at all be surprised at seeing a report m your journal of good payable ground being again found in the district.

Now, Sir I am neither butcher, baker, storekeeper, publican, nor landowner, so have nothing to eainbyithis statement; but I should like, for the thousands who are sure to come, to know the best I am, &.C., m t ♦•■«/., -A- Miner. Tokomainro, 26th August, 1862.