SOUTHLAND.

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

SOUTHLAND.

(from the daily timi:s correspondent.) Invercargill, 27th Oct., 18G2. The latest official news from the Xokomai is from Sergeant Morton, of the Southland police force, to the effect that on the 13th, ho visited Moa Creek, where he found 700 or 800 men, several of whom were making good wages. One party of six showed him 51 ounces, which they stated was obtained in rather less than a month. Another rarty of four, 7 ounces, got in one day's washing. About twenty men working at the old Whakatipu diggings, some of whom were making wages. Prospectors out in the fork 3of the Mataura, Eyre River, &c. There was a rush that day to the Nokomai. Diggers appeared to be more inclined to settle down and work, and entcitained better hopes of a remunerative gold field. Provisions plentiful. He visited the same diggings again on the I6tb. Those working with proper appliances were making good wage*, the rush to the Nokomai still continued, the few who had bottomed having obtained a fair prospect, the site being about seven or eight miles from the Moa Creek. I was told by'Capt. HoweU that he sold on the 13th two tons of beef at Is per lb ; this shows the population and state of funds on the diggings, considering there were others butchering at the same time. lie was informed that 150 ounces of gold had been taken to the Commissioner, and refused, owing to there being no safe chest at the camp to keep it in. "From another source I learn that at the Moa Creek or Victoria Gully there were on the morning of the 17th inst., several parties engaged cutting tail races on the lower end of the flat, near the junction of the Moa Creek with the Nokomai ; they seemed on the whole to be in good spirits. My informant saw the prospecting part}', (Lamb and Co.) who seemed well satisfied with their claim. A company he states, is about to be formed for tbe purpose of cutting a large tail race at the junction, which it is expected will be the means of draining the whole gully, and thus allowing many claims to be worked, which are at present flooded out. He was informed by Sergeant Morton, tlut upwards of four hundred ounces of gold had been deposited in the Receiver's office, waiting transmission by the first opportunity. He saw a party prospecting in .a long gully this side of the saddle leading down to the Victoria Gully, who told him they had sunk 60 feet and found no bottom. lie reports tbe weather to have been unsettled for some days past, and the creeks rather high. The rush from Dim- \ edin to the Victoria Gully seecms to be in a great measure stopped. A good deal of gold I hear is for sale on the diggiugs. On the whole, the news is more cheering, and there seems every probability of a fair gold field being ultimately found. I have heard that many who have returned to Invercargill from Victoria Gully intend to go back so soon as the summer has fairly set in. Up to the present the weather has been by no means encouraging, strong gales from the south-west, ra?u and sleet, and one ni<?ht, snow— a great contrast to the last spring; there is, however, one consolation in the high winds— it dries up the roads. The weather seems inclined to clear up now.

Our Provincial Council was opened on ! Wednesday last by the Superintendent. We | open with a gratifying balance to our credit of L 15,581 Bs. 5d.; and, although the proposed expenditure is pretty stiff, I have no doubt it will be easily met. The question of a railway between Invercargill and the Bluff, will not be determined this session, owing to the Government being hardly prepared with all plans, specifications, &c. ; but in all probability a short sesbion will bo held in December or January, to pass a bill for the construction of a railway. The following bills have been knocked off during Thursday and Friday; the Interpretation, and Provincial Auditor's Salary, and the Marine Boards, Thi&tle, Municipal Endowment, Educational Endowment, and Vagrants, read a second time. We don't waste much time in talking much, to the disgust of the gallery, the nightly fre- ' quenters of which seem to have a hazy impression that the Provincial Council is an institution got up for their c&pecial delectation, and are much disappointed at the absence of froth. The Provincial Council, however, don't see it ; the only member inclined to misconduct himself in that way, being made chairman of committees, in lieu of Ur M'Nab. resigned. It is amusing to see him, anxious to burst but forced to keep corked; Jbe must suffer severely. We are going in for L 20,350 for Public Works, and L 32,800 for Roads and an Electric Telegraph through the Province to join yours. This will be set about at once, and I trust our part will be completed in six months._ Having patches of bush along the whole line, we can set sawyers to work at different spots, and then get the timber part of it, which will of course be the heaviest executed rapidly. Messrs. Dalgety, Rattray and Co. are about establishing a branch of their house here, and have rented a capital site and started the architect ; this will do good to the place.