NARRATIVE OF CURRENT EVENTS POR TRANSMISSION TO MELBOURNE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 264, 24 October 1862, Page 5

NARRATIVE OF CURRENT EVENTS POR TRANSMISSION TO MELBOURNE.

Since our last Melbourne Narrative was published on the llth October, there have been a variety of accounts received from the different gold fields, and the general tone of them is such as to warrant us iv saying that the mining prospects of the Province are decidedly looking up. In the first place tiie escort arrived, bringing 11,480 ozs. of gold, of which 6,000 odd was from the Dunstan, and the remainder from the old diggings. This makes over 12,000 czs. from the Dunstan by escort, and may be considered as making Hartley and Keilley's reward safe, for the total quantity requisite to secure them is 16,000 oz. which must be obtained in three months. Only two of three months had elapsed when the escort arrived, and there is every reason to expect that the next escort will considerably n:ore than make up the quantity. This, of course, is without counting the largo quantity that has comedown by private hand. There have been several small rushes lately in the neighbourhood of the Dunstan. Prom one of these about seven miles from the junction of the Manuherikia and the Clutha, about 200 ozs. were brought down the other day. The gol:l was rough, and but very little waterworn, and the parties to whom it belonged said that there was plenty more offering for sale, but that money was as yet scarce on the ground. A considerable number of miners are also at work with very good success on the Tcviot, and there is besides a rush to the Nevis Stream, which is some considerable distance from the Dunstan, in the direction of the Nokomai. At the Dunstan proper the people are every day becoming more and more settled, and as the season advances it is generally believed it will be found that the locality will turn out as good a diggings for summer as it is known to be for winter.

From tho Nokomai also, the accounts are decidedly better than at the date of our last. On tha 18th we were able to publish a letter from a correspondent on whom we could rely, who informed us that there were at the time that he wrote, almost 1200 persons on the field, of whom only about !200 were at work. There were about 400 ozs of gold obtained, but the prevailing opinion among the miners was that the richest ground lay in the direction of the Wakatip. and many were starting off to try the country. The prospectors were doing well, haying-got 8 lbs. weight since they began working. The great difficulty of the field was the water, and the shingly nature of the soil ; but a company was about being formed for the purpose of cutting a race to drain the ground. While some of the miners have been prospecting in the direction of the Wakstip, others have been working to the east, and have struck good prospects on the Waikaia about ten miles from the junction of the Moa with the Nokomai. Sergeant Bay ley, of the Southland Police, saw about a dozen dishes washed averaging half a pennyweight to the dish. Some parties are also supposed to be doing well at Rees' station. Pro visions are cheap.

The population continues to keep on the increase at the old diggings, and the production of gold keeps pace with the numbers of the miners. The principal event of social importance has been the trial of Fratson for the murder of AndrewWilson at the Molyneux. The trial lusted a whole ivy, and resulted in the conviction of the prisoner, who lias been sentenced to death. Considerable public dissatisfaction has been evinced at the incomplete nature of the evidence, and a memorial for a reprieve is talked of. A private expedition to the West Coast, in search of pastoral country, has started from this port by s.ea. A good look-out is to be kept for the missing steamer Comet, which it is possible may have been wrecked on that coa3t, or driven into one or other of the numerous sounds. The sales of rural land in. Otago during September realised £20,884. On the 19th the Alice Thorndyke, which sailed from hence some months ago for British Columbia, returned with seventeen of her original passengers. She brought later American news. The report given by the passengers of British Columbia was not of an encouraging character. Full particulars were given in our issue of the 20th. The Wesleyan Church having been considerably damaged by the- late high winds, the opportunity has been taken during the repairs ot enlarging the Church considerably. Some spurious notes, well'executed, and calculated to deceive the ut.wary, have been detected in circulation. They bear the issue of the "Commercial Betting Company, Sydney," but the name is smeared out very skilfully. The greater part of the pipes for the Dunedin Gas Company having arrived, the work of laying them has been commenced, and it is anticipated the city will in a few months be illuminated with gas. The weather, for the last four or five days, has been inclement. Snow has fallen at intervals, which has been succfeded by a desultory rain, accompanied by a cold south-west windi

The new company at the Princess' Theatre have drawn excellent houses. George Faweett and Miss Neville are great favorites. The Theatre :?oyal also maintains its position as a favorite place of resort. Mr. Le Roy and Madame Duret have retired from the company, which is now managed by Mr. Holt.