DUNSTAN.

Otago Witness, Issue 608, 25 July 1863, Page 8

DUNSTAN.

(from the dailt times correspondent.)

Dunstan, 17th June. The escort leaves this morning with 4083 oz 5 dwts of gold. The amount is most unexpectedly large, considering that all work in the river claims is for the present suspended. The news from the Hog-Burn is not so encouraging as might be wished. The ground is in general rather poor, but still the precious metal ia well distributed. Water is plentiful for cradling. The average earning of those thus employed is from 2 to 3 dwts per day ; any body with a cradle may earn that. The best yield I can hear of was got by a party of prospectors, two men obtaining five ounces for a week's « V n^' There h ' at the P^sent time, about 5000 persons on the ground; a large number are both arriving and departing daily ; provisions have come down considerably in price, a law quantity of flour having arrived from Waikouaiti. A street has been laid out, and numbers of stands have been taken up. It is r Jhe prevailing opinion that something really "worth while" will' be strode erelong; i n reality, it is this that keeps so'large a population there; none of tbe sluicing parties have

as yet, commenced operations. The men employed, cutting the race are getting on with their work rapidly.

From the Lake District, we have news of serious losses. A great many miners are coming down this way, most of them bound to the Hog-Bura.

On Sunday evening a young man named Sidebottom, employed in carrying Rowley's Express from this to the Sbotover, was drowned in crossing the Arrow River. No positive particulars of the accident have come to hand, the accident having ocurred at night and unseen. The horse he rode was found on the bank of th^ river on Monday, in a very exhausted condition, and apparently must have had a severe combat with the watery element. The saddle-bags were dragging from the pummel of the saddle, the contents were all safe, but saturated with water. There is little doubt but that the horse and rider when caught by the current rolled over together, the unfortunate fellow being immediately uni seated. An agent of Mr Rowley, in conjunction with a police officer, searched the banks of the river for a whole day, but could discover nothing whatever of the body. An active search is still being made. The horse was brought down to the Dunstan last night ; the poor animal is in a very weak state, and bears evident traces of a terrible struggle for its life. .