THE DUNSTAN DIGGINGS

Otago Witness, Issue 567, 11 October 1862, Page 2

THE DUNSTAN DIGGINGS

(TROM THE DAILY TIMES COKItrSPONDIi.VT.) Coal Point, ."rd October.

As I anticipated in my last letter, the escort which h'tl here yesterday only took down a little over GOOO ounces, the exact amount being GO3l ounces. The gold is being taken down by means of pack horses, the escort being SorgeantMajor Bracken and three troopers. The rapid rise of the river, and the q laufity of gold that has left the field by private hand, have tended to reduce the amount he.it down to Dunedin. The river still crmfc nucs high, and as a matter of course the amount of gold being produced is but small. Large numbers are leaving here for the Nokomai rush, unable to work the flooded claim-;, but 1 hey express their determination to return as soon as the river falls. A little desultory work is being cairied on at various points on the river, but to .'ill intents anrl purposesdiggingo|)erations areat present suspended. ITor several miles along the Msiniihcrikia parties are scUlinor down, and in most instances making wages. Between Lowe's station and thc^Molyneux, on tho Manuhcrikia, a party of three have obtained a payable prospect. The gold is fine and mixed with a large quantity of iron sand, in the same way as that obtained from the banks of the Molyneux. At the spot where this gold was obtained, a creek runs into the Manuherikia from the Duns tan, nnrt it is evidently from this source that the gold has been derived. The ground is not particularly rich, but is admirably :i ( ls\[>ted for sluicing, the slope being sufficient to carry off the tailings and water, without, emplo3 r ing extra labor.

Yeslei'.lav, the upper township' was subjected for several hours to the tyranny of a few rowdies, who had evidently made up their mind to commit any outrage cither with or without pretext. One iTinn, v.iiose brogue betrayed his country, suid who it appears has not been living lonjj out of jail, lushed up and down the township assaulting every persoa he me*". Infuriated with drink, and beyond all control, this man kept the township in a state of terror. Backed by the presence of a large number of rowdier, bo was enabled to carry on his violent conduct without let or hindrance. No sooner had he atlac'ced an unouending citizen, who not exactly relishing a job in the eye with a stone, ventured to retaliate, f han the injured party was surrounded by these rufnaMS, hustled and kicked, in a most brutal manner. Matters began to look so serious, that revolvers were brought out and knives drawn, and' there appeared to be every probability that the affray would end ill the loss of life. Of course it will naturally be abked where were the police? and the only answer which can he given is— absent on duty. The number of police stationed here, has been out of proportion to the number of the population to be controlled, and the first outrage, may be said to have been committed with impunity. Only one solitary trooper was left at the camp — jMr. Kedtlell, and a trooper beins; absent, engaged in settling mining disputes. Information being conveyed to the trooper (O'Brien) as to what was g^ing on in the township, he came down with 'ho view of marking the ringleaders. lie had no, sooner made his appearance in the street than hi was sin^lea" out"T)y tho man who was running' a muck, and assaulted. O'Brien knocked him down and attempted to handcuff him, but while doing this, ho was set upon from behind, and the man rescued. O'Brien thftn drew his revolver and attempted to re-capture him, but was immediately surrounded by the gang, kicked and knocked about until the man escaped. Finding he was not likely to receive much assistance lrorn the bystanders, O'Briau retired. Mr. Keddell and the trooper returned shortly after this occurrence, but in the meantime the mob had dispersed, and the principal ruffian was nowhero to be* found. He still remains at lart>e, but it is to be hoped no time will be lost iv arresting and making an example of such a dangerous character. Several most respectable persons were assaulted, without the smallest provocation, one person having his face gashed and bruised by the stones which the ruffian carried in his hand. It is of the utmost importance that the arm of tho law should bo powerful to punish those who commit ontrages on a newly discovered gold field. The buildings are generally so insecure that unless men arc prevented from committing crime, by the knowledge that they will be punished, there is in reality no protection for life and property on any gold field. In addition to the letter from our own correspondent, wo have, by the courtesy of the Commissioner of Police, been favored with the perusal of a report from Mr. Keddell, under date 30th September. Mr. Keddell states that tho rivor still contiuued too high for the holders of claims nearest the river, at low water, to work, and thivt, consequently, a great many of these men were at -a stand-still In the mean time they arc waiting on the field, unwilling to leave their claims, which they know, in many cases, to be extremely rich, afraid of their being '.'jumped" when the river falls again. Mr. Hill arrived on the Sunday previous with the first raft of timber from the Hawea Lake, It was but a small quantity, but sufficient to prove the practicability of obtaining supplies of timber by rafting on the Molyneux. The timber country at the Lake is described by Mr. Ilill as being very fine, the trees wry large (chiefly white pine;, and abundance of it close to the water. In consequence of the flooded state of the river, a great many men are said to have left for the Nokomai, some few trying the track over the Umbrella Ranges ; but' those returned, reporting the track impassable on account of the snow.