Original Correspondence.

Otago Witness, Issue 560, 23 August 1862, Page 4

Original Co rrespondence.

To the JZiliur of the Otago Witness. Sir. — Much exciteroe.v.^has been manifested on the diggings of ktc in hiding so many public meetings to discuss the many topics which seems to present to individual*, of looking Itrtn the distance. One iiiglit bread, beef, and mutton IS-o^l the discu&sion, so that all may not only have a sm&l^but a taste also. At other time 3, Separation is all ft^go — and the third, storm water channels, head and tail races are the general conversation, so that one might think we are going to drive the world before us And, sir, Dunedin is not a whit behind, theatres are extolled, billiard matches and horse races are the subject of conversation, while Falcon and Kauri Gum are doing 1 their best to beat each other, and so the money has changed pockets — perhaps very reluctantly. ~ But fair play is fair™lay all the world oyer. Now, sir, if I set my hobby up and try to set it going! I trust you will not be anptry with me for so doing, as it not o:\ly concerns me, but all my fellow di»«ers. Much has been said on various subjects, whica if carried into effect, will be a boon to the diggers of this locality ; but at the same time, as others have been reaping a plentiful harvest on other men's labor, I think it is ju^t time it should come to our turn. Now, s : r, my first hobby is the Bank of New Zealand or the many banks on the different gold fields, wliich have been reaping just twelve months with preat success, and no failure, but giving the diggers £'5 125. (3d. per ounce for gold, when Melbourne gold buyers wilFgive 1.3 18s. O'l. per ounce for Otaco gold, ami Sydney Mint will give the high sum of fo 16s. 10 Jd; in adding the 2s. 6d. to the L 3 12s. 6<l. will make L 3 los. od., leaving a profit to the banks of 3s. on every ounce, and if taken to Sydney Mint will give them a profit of & lO.Jd. per ounce ; and if transmitted to England, no doubt they would realise the sum of js. Now, sir, I would ask is L 3 12s. 61. a fair price for an ounce of Otago gold. It is not now as when the digqimrs were first discovered, when we could get the quality, but now the quantity must be turned over and that with much expense, to j, r e' an ounce of gold for our necessities. My next hobby, is the Government of this Province. I think it would be nothing more than right and just for the Government to take off part of the export duty on the gold, and meet us on the same ground as the Victorian Government have met the diggeis there. Then the banks would give ns more for the ounce of gold we sell them, without grumbling about it. Wow, sir, you are at liberty to add your mite of strength to set my hobbies going, and pardon me for intruding so long on your valuable paper which is so widely circulated. And believe me, yours sincerely, A Poor Diaanu.

Blue Spur, Gabriel's Gully, August 19, 1862.