MARLBOROUGH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 782, 20 June 1864, Page 5

MARLBOROUGH.

We make the following extracts from the papers to hand:—

THE DIGGINGS.

The " Press" of the Bth contains a letter from its special correspondent, written on the 7th, and giving an account of a tour up the Wakamarina, along the Deep Greek, and into the forest to the spot where successful deep sinking had been reported. The latter, it appears is a delusion. The writer says:— From Wilson's I went on to the Deep Creek, where I found several stores already put up and others with the canvas and goods on the ground. The storekeepers were doing a business in selling provisions to the diggers, many of whom had come a distance of seme miles down the Wakamarina and the Creek. They must have known that the escort was expected to be there, and had their gold with them. Several parcels from ten to twenty ounces were sold to the agent of the Bauk of New Zealand. In every case I enquired where they were working, and was tola", in the neighborhood of the stores. Tt was here that the police, Mr Murdock, and myself heard of the deep sinking, with seventytwo ounces off the bottom of one of the holes—and knowing the importance of it if it should prove a fact, I endeavored to elicit from our informants, the foundation they had for making such a statement, but in no case could I get any reliable information as coming from direct source. I then applied to the miners, who were still more in the dark. I then determined to ascertain for myself, and finding a man who knew the locality, I persuaded him to accompany me through the bush. After cutting pur way for some distance, we saw smoke about a mile and a half from where we then were, and made for the spot, which, on our reaching, proved to be the point we were looking for. As I expected, there were about a dozen men round a paddock, which had been worked, and from which hardly the color had been obtained, they were collecting their tools, before leaving the. place. From what I learned, one of the party had been sent to the store to purchase a bucket and rope, the color having been seen in the dish. We returned to the creek, and thus ends the deep sinking, which has caused so much sensation; thus the desire of storekeepers to attract miners to the locality, where they have settled down, to do business.

The same writer speaks in high terms of the auriferous character of the cpuntry, and the results generally obtained, and recommends further prospecting. The Wakamarina, from its junction at the Deep Creek, is worked nearly to its rise at the Arm-chair, many claims yielding large returns, the truth of which the miners themselves are quite aware. Many tales were told me of how 50, 60, and even 100 ounces we're got out in a day; but knowing how incredulous most miners are of newspaper accounts, I shall only state that I never found men on the Molyneux, Shotover, and Arrow rivers, in Otagp, so generally successful. In some of the chamois bags I saw pieces weighing from one to five ounces. Knowing the men on other goldfields, I had information which I can rely upon

There are hundreds who cannot get room to work, and are not provided with the means to enable them to prospect. One party I saw leave for the Pine Ranges, swagging flour and other provisions to last them for a month. A report has reached the Forks from the Wairau side, that the Pine Valley is a likely place. Others have gone on towards Blenheim, and are trying the Awatere, Taylor's river, and the creeks under the Ned.

Before concluding my letter I have to report, that the Wakamarina, Deep Creek, and other tributaries, will afford work for the winter to those who hare claims.

There are other localities, hitherto unknown, which, should the new arrivals brave the inhospitable character of the bush, might prove equally as auriferous— and I say it without hesitation —that I would recommend them to those who have it in their power to expend a few pounds in prospecting, and that they would be amply rewarded for their outlay of money and the time employed in discovering other runs of gold than those of the Wakamarina and Deep Creek.

The gold on these diggings has been carried down from a distance,for it is only found in quantity in the beds, or under the banks, close by the stream. And as these are followed up to their source, much additional light will be thrown on the manner in which the particles of alluvial gold are detached and carried away from the matrix, the changes having apparently taken place near the surface, whereas in most other districts the deposits and leads of equal richness have been buried to a much greater depth. The progress of discovery amongst these ranges must needs be slow for some time yet, but against the summer there will be roads into them from all sides, so that^tbey can be freely explored at least. The correspondent of the " Nelson Examiner," writing from the gold fields on the Wakamarina on the 7th June, says :— " The river is up again, having risen in a few hours after the rain, which fell heavily the night before last and yesterday. Business is remarkably dull, and prices are coming down fast. Except in the last particular. Canvas Town almost reminds me of Nelson! A good many diggers have arrived here to-day; some of them have walked overland from Otago. I hear that numbers are still leaving Dunedin, and that we may expect large reinforcements from Melbourne. What they will do I caunot see, for, supposing that they jump all the claims now held by quiet individuals, in the first place not half of them will be employed, and in the second, the claims in good bauds will be worked out in a few weeks, and then must come another smash. Nelson is sure to share in the bad effects of the diggings; indeed, she is already doing so, as is shown by the number ot unemployed diggers at present in her streets. Of course the chance ef gold being struck in the neighbouring districts yet remains, and, for my part, I believe such an event to be by no means improbable. Reports of gold having been found in the Wairau have arrived from time to time lately, and a good many diggers and others have left for the ' new rush.' One party, who went prospecting, brought back a substance which they fondly imagined was what the Latin Grammar calls the 'root of all evil,' but it turned out to consist of small fragments of mica schist.

The roads are in a shameful state. There is no Warden appointed, and no certain prospect of it for some time to come. No Resident Magistrate, no lockup, or police accommodation, no miners' rights, nor indeed anything that there ought to be, and ought to have been weeks ago. Letters on subjects of immediate importance to this district receive no attention whatever; licenses cannot be obtained; and the Wakamarina joe? on

in a state of disorder, as if, between it and Picton, an impassable gulf were fixed. Ibelieve that the Superintendent will not hold his position long, and I think that the substitution of an energetic and talented man for Mr Caiter is almost the only thing which can avert extensive and dire calamities; for should the Wakamarina gold fields come to a sudden end through misgovernment and negligence, it will redound not only to the lasting shame and disgrace, but also to the injury and ruin of tnis province. The Phovincial Government.—A dead lock appears to have occurred in the administration of affairs. In the " Press "of the Bth we find an account of serious differences between, his Honor and his Executive, in which each side threatens to end the difficulty by forcibly ejecting the other from office: —

The Marlborough Government appears to have come to a deadlock. When the session opened everything promised well. Members applied themselves to the business before them with great earnestness, and there was a display of unanimity seldom hitherto witnessed in our Council chamber. The first reading of one or two not very important Bills was hurried through, and a general adjournment of all matters of minor importance was agreed to in order that the estimates might be taken in hand. The items under the head of Police Expenditure were passed almost without discussions, and the House proceeded to consider the sums to be voted for Public Works and Purposes. All went tolerably smooth until the item of LIOOO, which had been placed on the Estimates for a dray road from Anikiwa (The Grove) to Havelock came to be discussed, when members grew warm and expressed strong and various opinions upon,the policy of voting such sums for such a purpose. At length it was agreed upon that the amount should stand over until the opinions of practical and: competent men had been obtained. There was afterwards a long debate upon the LIOOO set down under the rather vague and indefinite head of " Other Roads." »Suddenly, and without any very apparent:reasou, the business of the House was brought to a close by an adjournment for ten days having been moved and carried. The next thing we learn is that the Executive and his Honor the Superintendent had had some very serious differences and that the former had resigned, threatening at the same time to bring forward a motion requesting Mr. Carter to resign. Yesterday afternoon the business of the session was to have Jbeen resumed. It was argued that there would be a stormy meeting. A resolution cut and dried, it was known, had been proposed, requesting the Superintendent to vacate his office. What his Honor iwould do or say, or how he might act under the circumstances, was the theme of some extraordinary surmises. Yesterday was, in fine, to be a turning point in the political history and progress of the Province. A new Executive and a change of Superintendents do not occur every day. How anxious members were under such important responsibilities as devolved upon thorn was seen when three o'clock came —the hour to which the House had been adjourned. The Speaker took the chair to an empty hall. At a quarter past three there were only two members present, it being understood that three others were in the lobbies of the Government Building. * There was no quorum, and the Council was declared adjourned until eleven o'clock this day. So much for the importance attached by members to the resignation of the Executive and the threatened ousting of the Superintendent. All sessional business appears suddenly to have ceased. Several important Bills have been printed, which required to be printed without delay. Other Bills have gone through their first reading only, when they should by this time have been disposed of. Notices of Motion remain on the paper. Standing Orders are in abeyance, and a political chaos reigns supreme. We are left to wonder whether the legislation ot the Province is to take care of itself, and at the same time to admire the self-abnegation of members remaining quiescent while so much is being looked for and required at their hands.

The Unemployed.—A statement was made to us on Saturday evening last that the men who had been set to work on the bridle track, between Picton and the Grove, were offered such a low rate of remuneration by the Government, that it was utterly impossible for them to eke out the barest subsistence. We have taken some pains to inquire into this alleged grievance, and we learn that there is little or no foundation upon which such a statement could justly be raised. The work which the men were set upon was some time back tendered for at I7s 6d per chain for the whole line. This contract was thrown up before its completion, and the unemployed were set upon it, at rates varying from 17s 6d to 46s per chain, at which prices the men appear to he generally satisfied. The Government, we think, have acted with much consideration and liberality. They have entered into arrangements to supply the workmen with four, meat, tea, sugar, tobacco, &c, at cost prices, and placed free on the ground. The provisions are excellent of their kind, and the charges exceedingly moderate. The men are allowed to draw, according to their necessities, and the amount of stores will be deducted from the wages of the men as they accrue. About one hundred and fifty of the unemployed are engaged on the work, which is being rapidly proceeded with.

Served Him Right. — On Tuesday morning one of those idler 3 who may have been seen any time of the day hanging ab»ut the Picton wharf, and complaining of the province because people did not run after them praying them, to accept work, took, or attempted to take some improper liberty with a Maori female. In an instant the woman's arm was lifted, and in the aext the man was floundering in the water at the steps which lead up to the jetty. Amid the shouts and jeers of the crowd which soon assembled round the spot the fellow was drawn out thoroughly drenched, as he well deserved to be for his grossly improper conduct. No one laughed more heartily than the Maori woman, as she turned to witness the - scamp sneaking away from the crowd into the scrub.

Some experiments have been tried against Inglis's shield at Shoeburyness. Wlritworth'a, Armstrong's, and Thomas's guns were used against it, but victory remained with the target, the thickness of which, however, was seven to eight inches. Thomi's gun hanng been overbored, burst into fragments—a piece weighing one ton being thrown a distance of 140 yards. A curious machine has been in ventea by Mr J. B. Fenby. It is worked by electricity, and it will print the music performed on any instrument to which it is joined, having keys like a pianoforte. A piece of blank paper is put into the machine, and, as the tune is played, it prints distsnctly the staff, time, notes, and movements, suoh. as andante, allegro, &c, with remarkable correctness. Mr tfenbj has patented the invention.