THE Otago Daily Times. “Inveniam viam aut faciam.” DUNEDIN, THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 1865.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22831, 16 March 1936, Page 15

THE Otago Daily Times. “Inveniam viam aut faciam.” DUNEDIN, THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 1865.

SEVENTY-ONE YEARS AGO.

PORT CHALMERS.— March 15. The steamer Golden Age arrived at Port Chalmers in the afternoon with a dense crowd of passengers from Dunedin, and, having transhipped them to the steamers City of Dunedin and Phoebe, these vessels sailed in the evening with an aggregate of from 700 to 800 people, all bound for the new diggings, either overland or via Okitiki. The paddle steamer Favorite, after some delay through the accidental nondelivery of her clearance, left Port Chalmers Jetty at 2 a.m., bound for Okitiki, and, after daylight, she was seen to the northward of the Heads, steaming well against a stiff north-east breeze

The wreck of the ship Gazehoupd, lying stranded at Oamaru, and the wool on board her, are advertised for sale on Saturday.

The Supreme Court was occupied nearly the whole day yesterday with the examination of the daughter of Captain Jarvey. put on trial for the alleged murder of his wife. ...

The “Lyttelton Times” of the 14th, in its summary for Europe, refers to the Okitiki rush thus: —“Our latest accounts from the gold field itself are to the 7th instant by sea. We have had an opportunity of obtaining private and reliable information. The rivers, portions of which have been found auriferous, flow at intervals of from three to eight miles, for some forty miles along the coast, southward from the Grey. Every river and stream appears to possess gold; but that which is found close to the. beach is invariably fine, and the real diggings commence a few miles up. There may be from 2000 to 3000 men now on the field altogether, and the largest gathering, at the time of our latest news, was on the Wnimea or ' Six Mile Creek, which falls into the ocean between the rivers Teremakau and Arahura, Parties are spread all about, and it is hard to say to what particular quarter the principal diggings will belong. On the Arahura and Okitiki, and thence to the Totara, parties are vigilantly prospecting amongst the main hills whence the rivers issue. . . . The richness. of the diggings is a matter of comparison. The information which we have received goes to show that, while they are not so rich as Gabriel’s Gully in its first days, they are, nevertheless, almost equally profitable. The reason is that they are so easily worked. The bottom is shallow, the whole topsoil, as a rule, is washdirt, and the operation is easy and very remunerative, Though not so much will be found to the dish as in many rich fields in Otago, it is more easily pot at, and, therefore, on some claims as good a week’s work can he '’made. The fact is beyond question that some make a pound weight of gold in a week to a single share. Three ounces a day are known to have been averaged by a few for the last month; and one ounce is not an uncommon day’s work, although the aveiage may be taken as half an ounce. Twelve pounds a week has been paid as wages, but the price now is lower and may be called a pound a day, wet or dry and when the rush overland makes itseif felt, especially if many arrive without means of immediately setting to work on their own account, the rate or wages will be lower still, as a matter of course. ... It may be conjectured that 6000 miners would not overdo the field. . .

ANOTHER FIRE IN THE OCTAGON. A few minutes before nine o’clock last night, several persons passing through the Octagon, observed smoke issuing from a right of way running between Mr Garrand's (late Perriman’s) hay, corn, and produce store and the large ironmongery store belonging to Mr Henry. . . . . . . Before ten o’clock the extent of the fire had been defined, and no fuithei damage was apprehended on either side. It was most providential that it was so, for at this time the wells and tanks at the Public Baths had been pumped dry. all the neighboring water barrels had been emptied, and the engines depended entirely on the watercarts for a supply to quench the smouldering flames. The buildings destroyed were; — R. Henry and Co., ironmongers and ship chandlers. N. Gerrand (late Perrimans), produce merchant. Robson and Dreaver, tailors and clothiers. ,T. Collar, baker and confectioner. M'Rae’s Telegraph Hotel. E. Barnes, draper. The adjoining shop was that of Mr Percival, Optician, the stock and premises of which were very much damaged by the hasty removal and the pulling down of the neighbouring shop. . . .