CORRESPONDENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 921, 24 July 1869, Page 17

CORRESPONDENCE.

TBJJ WAIKAKA. GOLDFIELDS.

f To the Editor of the Otago" Witness. Sib — Your journal being par excellence the diggers' paper, permit me to correct some exaggerated reports which .are appearing in an up-country contemporary,' and re-copied into yours, .with respect to the Waikaka goldfields. From whatever source obtained, the party can be more envied for " freshness oi imagination " than accuracy. If he had Btated that parties were making about 5b a day, it would have been nearer the mark, and the races he refers to are on Ainslie's, and not M'Nab's ran. Another error is the price charged, for mutton ; it should hare been 4d, and not 2d. That there is a large extent of country which would pay for sluic- ' ing has been known for years, if there was water, but, owing to the levelness of the Waikaka, it requires a large investment of capital and labour. It is to be regretted that ", Mr Maoandrew is not permitted to " draw on futurity,", for the supply of water for the goldfields is the only means of keeping up the prosperity of the mining population, of which, I am afraid, a large proportion, like Mioawber, are waiting for something to turn, up. So far as I oan judge, it will afford "quarters" for the winter*rtmt will never be an extensive goldfield till capital is invested in bringing on water. As a corroboration of my statement as to the. earnings, I may mention that in one of the races they are paying men at the rate of Ll a week and found, whioh will prove there is nothing very rich in the vicinity. If this is the means of Sreventing anyone leaving anything like a ving, it will repay the trouble taken by An Ex- Victorian.