ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 60, 10 July 1852, Page 3

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the Otago Witness. Sih, — Your leading article in the Witness of the 26th ultimo has had the effect of unsettling several parties in our settlement, who, from the glowing accounts you gave of the success of the passengers per " Louisa," are contemplating a visit to the Gold Fields. It appears to me (and not without good opportunities of judging of the real state of matters at the diggings) that in said article you have proved at fault, inasmuch as you have rashly termed the parties in question " successful diggers." In your last paper your correspondent — " A Looker-on" — has thrown down the gauntlet, and it now remains to be seen whether any of your " successful diggers'" or their friends will step forward and prove to the public that your statements in this respect are not [ fallacioiis. Having visited the gold fields, I am to a certain extent in a position to inform your readers that it is an ascertained fact that only an inconsiderable number (say some 4 or 5 per cent.) of the parties employed in mining have realised more than sufficient to pay their expenses, and this, too, after enduring privations of which parties here can form no'conception ; while, at the sametime, nearly one half of them cannot, with all their industry, provide themselves with the necessaries of life.- I think, that under these circumstances, if we balance the one with the other, it will be v found that parties would do well to pause ere they abandon such comforts as they possess here, for the uricertain and precarious chance of "making fortunes at the diggings. — r'axn,&c.' ' •> ' • ' „ AjvOTuna Looker-on. . To the Editor of the Otago Witness. Sir, — As an applicant for Shares in the proposed Otago Banking Company, I feel called upon to address you relative to the delay which has taken place jn the establishment of the, Company, and the incalculable, loss to the settlement which that delay is involving. At first I was,i_ncly*ed,to attribute ,the .loss, of time to apathy or want of diligence on the' part of the interim Directors, ; and I went so far as to-state my opinion to one of, them. He : assured me, 'however, that such'was not the -case, but 'that the interim Directors were anxiously waiting the,

esult of the application to His' Excellency for i Charter.: , , * , , Be this as it may, I think it is high time that in a matter of such , public importance, and so deeply affecting the progress of the settlement, that the Press should "step in and direct the force of* public opinion towards the subject: Most assuredly there is blame somewhere— either with the interim Directors, or with His Excellency.- T.for. one am ready, and willing to pay my instalments,,- and I believe If ca,n, say the, same thing for all my neighbours who have applied for shares. What r reason, then, can there I>e why the Bank should not be established at once? J I know many, especially' among recent corners^ who are much disappointed' and" inconvenienced by the Bank not having been established, so as to' afford a place of security for thoir funds while they are looking about them, before fixing on their future proceedings. I understand that an individual has been robbed of about 400 sovereigns, which would have been all safe had there been a Bank. Can it' be that 1 political or party -motives are at work in withholding from this settlement the very essential privilege of a Bank, the', establishment of which, while -it is absolutely necessary towards its very existence, could not fail to give an impetus to our industrial progress, which will be anything but satisfactory to those who are' traducing the settlement, and who have not hesitated to express their ill will, even in the Legislative Council. I confess to you, sir, that the notice inserted in your paper some time ago by the interim, Directors of the Otago Bank, stating that the Draft Charter was under the consideration of ,His Excellency, and the Attorney-General at Auckland, — I say, that the notice taken in connection with the delay of which I am complaining, and the speeches upon Class-Set-tlements made in the late Legislative Council by His Excellency and this very Attorney-General, leads me to suppose that some such motives as I j have hinted at are standing in the way of our proI gress. I have no hesitation in saying, that had the Bank Charter been granted when applied for, we should have had half as much land again under cultivation as there will be this season ; and in consequence, we should have reaped a considerable share of the golden harvest of the Australian Colonies. It is right that the settlement should know to whom they are indebted for this serious loss ; and thank heaven, that we have now the prospect' of a House of Representatives by which our social and political interests will meet with more. consideration than they are doing from the present irresponsible despotism. — I am, &c. - A Constant Reader. To the Editor of the Otago Witness. Dunedin, 7th July, 1552. j Sir, — The want of a " Building Act" in this colony has on more than one occasion nearly proved the destruction of property by fire ; and should such a ! calamity occur in a town constructed almost entirely of timber -as this is, it is impossible to calculate the extent of the mischief, or the ruin it would entail upon the sufferers. The fact of our having had a most providential escape from fire on Suday last has drawn forth these remarks, in the hope that unskilful builders may be compelled to conform. to certain well known principles essential to the safety of the community, and not caTry timber immediately under the hearths, as is commonly done, and which so nearly proved fatal to my prospects and property, and perhaps even to our lives. The specimen I send herewith was extracted by Mr. Mayo on Sunday last in a state of ignition, about 12 inches of it already destroyed, and the fire extending both ways to the floor boards. I am, Sir, your obedt. servant, Fuedk. Richardson. Princes Street. [The public are indebted to Dr. Richardson ] for calling attention to this subject. It is a , matter requiring consideration ; for were any of the houses at the corner of the High Street or Rattray Street to catch fire, with a strong north-east ■wind blowing, the probability is, that the whole side of the street would be involved in destruction. Our neighbours at Port Cooper have established a fire brigade ; something of the sort might be done here; ,or at least more attention might be given to the collecting of the rain .water falling upon the roof of the houses, — not only as a means of extinguishing fire, but ,as contributing to the saving of labour in carrying water for domestic pui"poses, and as adding to the comfort and cleanliness of the town. — Ed.] To the Editor qftkeOt±ao Witness. Owhiro, July 8, 1852. Sir, — A meeting of settlers in the East Taieri took place at the house, of Mr. M'Grigor on Tuesday the 22d ult. The meeting came to a unanimous resolution that the report of its proceedings be sent to the Witness for publication. A' report was accordingly drawn tip, and it was approved of, by the meeting, and with its , consent handed to Mr. William Jeffrey, the Convener of the Committee, for him to have it inserted in your columns. As this report has not yet appeared, might Task what has become of if? I am, Sir, your obedt.- servant, • RoBEftT Thomson. • [We have not received' the report referred to in MtvThomson's 1 letter, and what may have become of it we- are unable to state.— Ed.]