Local Intelligence.

Otago Witness, Issue 517, 26 October 1861, Page 5

Local Intelligence.

Discovery of Gold in Quartz. — A remarkably fine specimen of gold in quartz has been brought to town. It is a cube, measuring about 7 inches on each side. One side is covered with gold, which is also in crevices half an inch deep. The quantity of gold it is estimated to contain is above a pound weight. The locality' in which this fine specimen was found is a secret. It is satisfactory to find that our gold mining is likely to take the form of quartz crushing, and^ve, may, now feel more assured of the permanence of the yield of gold than we have •hitherto done.

No report has been received hy the Government from Mr. Read. As that gentleman would certainly have reported immediately to the Government had he made important discoveries, it may be assumed that the reports of his success are without foundation.

" Sticiung-up." — In our last communication from the diggings we received intelligence of the first " robbery under arms" which has occurred in the Province. On Friday the 18th inst. a much more daring and successful robbery of the same character toot!: place on the road to the diggings at the West Taieri, or rather on the hills at the hack of the Taieri. It appears that a gang of 7 men, armed and wearing masks stopped and "stuck up" 15 persons during the da}'. A gentleman coming into town from Mr. Thom«on's llun was the first victim. He was riding, and as ho ascended a spur of the hills he passed a man lying on the grass, of whom he took no particular notice. Proceeding a short distance on, he observed three others apparently engaged in chopping wood. When he approached near enough, they made a rush, and two seized the bridle of liis horse. Mr. Miller resisted,, and threw one man off, but he was immediately attacked by others and pushed out of his saddle. While the villains were in the act of robbing and tying him, one of them presented a revolver at him and said, " Look at that tree, sir." They then bound him to a tree in the gully adjoining. This is the third time Mr. Miller has been stuck up, having twice passed through the unpleasant ordeal in Australia, and on one occasion received a shot in the face. Fourteen other persons were robbed by this gang during the day, and as each man was caught and robbed, he was placed in the gully out of sight, with his hands and feet tied to prevent his escape. The persons robbed describe the treatment they received as being unaccompanied with any personal violence other than that which was necessary for the robbers to effect their object ; indeed, that they were treatcdr alher civilly than otherwise, the thieves cutting up tobacco and lighting the pipes of the captives, and supplying one or two of them with grog, wliich had been stoL-n. Towards evening one of lhe party managed, after skinning his wrists, the cord being ko tightly tied, to work liis Lands free, and unbound his fellow-sufferers, who in a body proceeded with Mr. Miller to the residence of J. I niton, Esq , in the West Taieri, where they were kindly treated, and after partaking of refreshments, went on their respective ways. Information of the robbery was forwarded to Dunedin, and a body of mounted police ivere immediately despatched to endeavour to catch the thieves, hitherto without success ; but we believe a clue to them has been obtained. Four persons were arrested and brought before the Magistrate, but were discharged. The amount of property taken from the various persons stuck up was between £300 and £400. Caution. — In the present state of the Province persons cannot be too careful in avoiding giving temptation to robbery and crime. We have repeatedly pointed out the folly of persons travelling with gold or other valuable property. We hope that the few cases of sticking-up which have occurred will deter the public from pursuing the practice, ft is quite impobsible for any Government to afford protection to the community unless they will help themselves. Those who are obliged to be out late, or have to carry valuable property, should go armed, and in sufficient numbers to deter bushrangers from attacking them. Outbagk. — A serious outrage was committed in the Anderson's Bay District on Tuesday last. A suspicious-looking character, a Spaniard, had been seen lurking about for some days past, and on Tuesday he attacked a young woman on the Tomahawk Road, and, but for the timely interference of Mr SubInspector Mortorij whose attention had been attracted by the suspicious appearance of the assailant, serious consequences might have ensued. The man was taken into custody, brought hefore J. 11. Harris, Esq., and remanded for the attendance of the young woman. A Mjxitaky Force. — We understand that the request of His Honor for, a military force has been complied with by the Geneivl Government, and that 100 men of the 40th Regiment may be expected immediately. They were to leave Napier during this month. Postage. — We have been requested to direct attention to an alteration which has been made in the rate .of postage of letters passing between New Zealand and China, Hongkong, Penang, Singapore, Japan, Java, the Phillippine Islands, Borneo, Labuan, Siam, Sumatra, and the Moluccas, in future the postage upon letters directed to any of these places will bo at the rate of one shilling per halfounce, instead of sixpence as heretofore. Land Rkvckus:. — Friday the 18th was a Decision day in the Land Office ; £2,141 were received chiefly for moderate quantities varying from 50 to 200 acres.' Tub CiAiTirA, a Port of Entry. — The question of making the Clutha a Port of Entry has been verbally settled by a fact which has just come to our knowledge. It appears that a vessel from Ilobartown, entered at Southland, paid duty on her cargo there, and then proceeded to the Clutha to discharge and dispoae of her goods Under such circumstances we do not think there will be much hesitation on the part of the public "of Otago in sanctioning the recommendation of tho Collector of Customs, made at tho earnest solicitation of tho Provincial Government, that the Clutha may at once be declared a Port of Jin try A Provincial Gazette of the lb'th inst. contains a proclamation by his Honor, extending the area of the Cold Fields to 187,000 acres, bounded on the north by the Watershed of the Waipore, with Lee and Traquhar streams extending from Lmumorlaw to Maungatua, on the east by tho boundary of the North Tokonmhiro and West Taieri Hundreds, on the south by the south boundary of I llun 54, on the west by the Tuapeka liiver to jts^ junction, thence hy an east and west line (tote

b earing) to the^Watevshed of the Tuapeka and Clutha, thence by that Watershed to Lammerlaw. Also, notifications of fchc election of James Paterson, Esq., as a member of the Provincial Council for the town of Dunedin, and John Lillic Gillies, Esq., for the Tokomairiro district ; the appointment of John Gillies, Esq., to be an auditor of public accounts, in room of A. C. Strode, Esq., resigned, and Mr. David Dickie to be second Deputy Harbour Master for the port of Otago. The same Gazette contains the Rules raid Regulations of the Tuapeka Gold Fields.

G.voij Breaking. — An attempt was made on the evening of the 17th instant to escape from the Dniicdin Gaol, which was nearly succcssfiill. it appeared that two prisoner, 1 ) confined in one of the colls had possessed themselves of a chisel and two files, and that they had pu&hcd out the htoncs at the back paifc of "the coll v.-liicli forms the outer wall. The men were locked up at 7 o'clock, and at half-past 8 a noise of knocking against the wall was heard by the warder. On examining the cell, it was found that a large hole had been made in the wall, nearly half through. It is not usual to put a warder i"n the lobby of the cells until 10 o'clock nt night, and but for the noise accidentally heard, the prisoners would have escaped before that hour. It is quite a reasonable enquiry to make, how is it that prisoners who arc allowed out^ of their cells to work are not searched before being locked up.

Public M beting in Gabriel's Gully. —A Public Meeting was held in Gabriel's Gully on Monday evening, the 14th instant. Mr. James Gillon was voted to the Chair, and the following reso unions were unanimously adopted :: — '• Hesolved—That a Memorial be sent to the Superintendent and the Executive Council, praying them to place on the Estimates a sufficient sum to make a passable road from the junction at the mouth of the Gully to the Post Office." A Committee was appointed to obtain signatures to the Memorial, and a deputation was also appointed to wait upon the Commissioner, to explain to him the views of the Memorialists. The Memorial has been received by the Superintendent. The object of the petitioners has been anticipated by the Government, who, we understand, intend to propose such a sum for making roads on the diggings as will enable them not only to make this road, but to meet any other emergency which may arise. ;