DUNSTAN.

Otago Witness, Issue 571, 8 November 1862, Page 4

DUNSTAN.

niOH NEW OULLTEB.

We are in receipt of private despatches from the Duncan, bringing news up to Monday, 3rd instant. The newly discovered gullies—Cotiroy's, and one adjacent to it, appear to be exceedingly rich. The following 13 the substance of our report : — The progress of the Dunstan township is much impeded by the scarcity of timber. At present there is hardly a stick of sawn, stuff or board to be had, everybody is anxiously looking out for the rafts expected from the Lakes, The price of boards is now 4s per foot per foot super. The raft which ciime clown the river on Wednesday List, ran foul of some rocks and broke/ The consequence was that a greater part v of the timber floated " away and was u\t The tow ? s^P at the junction of the Manuherikia is increasing very rapidly in size. Provisions on both townships are comparatively cheap. Flour is sold at Is ; bread 4s per loaf, and other things in about the same proportion,

The greatest order prevails here. The exhibitions of rowdyism, which a few weeks ago were so common, are now Tthanks to the salutary influence of a strong posse of police) rarely seen. Mining operations on the Clutha are at present almost suspended. But as most of the miners have obtained protection from the Commissioner for three months for their claims, .at the end of that period, or before, should the river lower, york will be commenced in earnest, and it may be predicted the results will be very little short of those anticipated by the prospectors. At the twenty trifle rush there are some hundreds at work, the greatc • number of whom are doing well. A prospecting claim has been applied for this week for a gully near the Kawarau. The depth of sinking is three feet, and the prospects obtained six dwts to the dish. Conroy's Gully, about eight miles from the upper township, and the gully adjoining, still possess great attractions for the digger, and the yield in individual instances is enormous. Two Germans, a few days ago, brought into the township fifty pounds weight of the precious metal, obtained from one of the above places. There are upwards of a thousand people on the ground, and numerous cases of jumping have occurred. The commissioner has had great difficulty in settling disputed claims — pegs seem to have been stuck in haphazard, without regard to the rules which regulate such matters. Great complaints are constantly heard of the want of another Commissioner. The labors of Mr Keddell, although almost herculean, are totally insufficient to settle half the disputes which arise on a diggings like this, scattered over so large an extent of country.

In addition to the above, we have been informed by a miner who has been working in Conroy's Gully, that the average earnings of the miners there were very large. Our informant states that about 400 persons were at work in the gully, and that those who had been fortunate enough to get on the lead were realising fortunes. The sinking varied from 4to 6 feet, and the ground at present worked ran parallel to the creek running through the gully, and appeared to have formed a portion of its former bed. We- have been shown a sample of the gold obtained. It i 3 rough and waterworn, some of the pieces weighing over a dwt. The gully had been tried at some distance from the cree c, but no payable prospect was obtained, and in consequence the ground was abandoned. Our informant was fortunate enough to hit on the lead close to the edue of the creek, and in eight days, himself and mate took out nearly sixty ounces. One tin dish of stuff taken from a crevice in the bed rock, yielded 14 ozs. Larger yields were continually being reported, and the utmost confidence was expressed as to the future ot this portion of the Dunstan gold fields. It may be mentioned that Conroy's Gully is situated on Strode and Fraser's Station, on the opposite side of the Molyneux from the present township at Coal Point. The gully runs from a high elevation in the Umbrella Ranges, and Tails into the Earnscleugh at a distance of about' eight miles from the Manuherikia. There is a considerable quantity ot scrub at the head of Conroy's Guily, and the miners will therefore be able to obtain a certain supply of firewood.