OTAGO.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 6, 28 November 1862, Page 2

OTAGO.

; xfFBOM OUB^X"/cb»|^PO»«BKT.J;^;:--DUtfEDIK, * : " Monday, Nov. 22nd There ha9 been such startling news thia week respecting the Dunstan Goldfields, that since Wednesday afternoon last, when an "extraordinary *' was issued from the Daily Times office, nothing else has been lalktd about than the marvellous account it contained. The excitement which, on the first receipt of the intelligence, fermented through . all Punedin, was immense, and when I teli you that within fourteen hours after the news had been published, about 500 men were fairly on their -way to the Dunstan, yoju can easily imagine that such was the case. On the 15ih inst., the Dunstan correspondent to the Daily Times, foi warded down a letter detailing the general success which nearly every digger was meeting with, and eulogising this goldfield in very glowing term* Two days later, the correspondent again addresses a long letter to his editor, which created the excitement I have already alluded to. Mr. Commissioner Keddell's report, dated two days previous to the latest communication from the Daily Times correspondent, will place you in full possession of all the particulars relative to the last rush on this field. I must confess the rews is startling, and, I have no doubt, will, when it reaches other parts of this and the sister colonies, cause a large influx of population. We are all now anxiously awaiting further intelligence from the Dunstan. but such is the confidence felt with respect to the permanence and richness of these fields, that much capital is now being expended on the erection of large stores and places of business. Immense quantities of goods are being forwarded on to anticipate the wants of a very large population. The spirited coach proprietary, known through all the colonies as Cobb& Co., have .started a five-horse-coach, which will leave Dunedin every Saturday morning for the Dunstan. The journey will occupy three days, and the description of conveyance will admit of the cariiage of swags and light good* as well as passengers. There is talk of another company being immediately initiated for the same object. The traffic between this and the Molyneux is now so great, that three or four coaches starting at regular intervals, will not be too many for the public lequirements. The relaxation of the Ca'tle Ordinance, permitting the importation of cattle from Victoria, so far asGipps Land district is concerned, has resulted in the arrival yesterday, of 90 headof cattle in beautiful condition. They came by the barque S. 11. Page, and were consigned to Messrs. Driver, M'Lean & Co., the extensive cattle salesmen of this city. Other vessels were expected shortly to be laid on, and one or two largesteamers are to be chirtered. all for the rattle export trade. Mental one shilling to fifteen pence a pound, will soon be a thing of the past. lam inform?d that fat cattle .day be land d here, including cost of purchase, freight and all charges, at, as near as may be. £1 1 per head.. Store cattle will be imp >rted extensively, when, having been allowed to fatten on our richly grasped lands for threp or four months, will be forwarded down into the market for sale. It is generally understood that 1 this is the system which will prevail in the matter of managing ctock imported into Otago. No small amount of alarm is being felt among the inhabitants at the tot<l want of drainage in the lower portion of the city. In many of our street and right-a-ways," are pools of stagnant watt r, emitting mepihtic odours and the most noxious exhalations. Disease in an incipiant state, is beginning to show itself in vatious quarters in the form of dysentery, diarrhcea. and low fever. I feel j quite convinced, that without immediate i s»eps are taken to improve the san tary conJ dition of Dunedin, we shall this summer, experience an outbreak of some dreadful r> alady which will carry death to the doors of numbers of our inhabitants. The fearful smells which pervade the most densely populated parti. m ttf Dunedin, are sufficient to breed a pestilance. This is not a climate to trifle with. Fevers of a typhoid form have always been more or less prevalent with us. Why Victoria is so free from epidemics of a fatal character is, it is said by that section of thp medical profession who have studied the subject, owing to the hot winds, whi^h burns up, destroys and sweeps off by the intensity of the hot blasts, the seed> which would have grown into life and health-destroying exhilations. Here, our climate stimulates orgauic and vegetable lefuse to fcrmtnt and give fourth odours, carrying fell disease into the homes of the rich and poor, the hale and the infirm, without destinction. and with but short warning. If the people could only be aroused to a sense of their real danger, all would be well enough in a short time. The Oineo with the Melbourne and English I Mails is now overdue some four daj's. Sha ! is anxiously looked for and I shall keep the t letter open until the last moment, to send | you any news which may arrive by her. By the way, I should inform you it is reported that very fine grazing country has been discovered on the west coast of thi* island, and that more than one enterprising party are about to fit out an expedition to take up couutry. Geologists, of which we possess very few, and those few not very eminent in the-r line, say that the gold will be found in greater quantities on the west c><ast, and that daily experience sh >ws the " leads " of the princ'pal goldiields fallowing in the direction of the w^st »n<t north west. This is very likely to be true. The west coast is a terra incognita at present, and is something in reserve for future reseaich and entei prise. Monday, 24th November, 1862. The Omeo arrived last nght with the English mails, bringing most important news besides intelligence of much general interest. I have cut out and enclosed you all the latest intelligence, telegraphic and otherwise. The war in America, so horribly bloody and fra- ■ ricidal, still rages. The last battle cost •20,000 lives; but you will find all matters relating to America and Britain are herewith enclosed. The Omeo brings an account of a terrible conflagration at Sandridg^ dtMr >ying pro-r party to the amount of £50,000. Anothe disastrous wreck has to be recorded. The City of Sydney, trading between Sydney and Melbourne, has been totally wrecked, the passengeis and crew having a narrow escape of their lives. Later news came in from the Dunstan last (Sunday) night. The field as it becomes moie developed day by day, shows its immense extent and richness. The Daily Times correspondent sends the annexed communication by a Mr. De Wolf, who walked down in three days. Junction Township, Friday, 21st November, 1862. An oppornunicy offers of perhaps conveying earlier intelligence from this field. As the time given to prepnre this communication is exceedingly brief, and as I shall despatch a " special express," immediately upon receiving authentic accounts from the new rushes, which should reach here to-morrow, it will be unaivisable to send more than a b> it f summary of facts. The accounts received from the new rush on the Cardrona Creek have been very few, I and are of a doubtful nature. It is uncertain i whether Home of these parties have even reached the place. Some say they are picking, up gold in the old style, by simply "fossicking" with a knife; others say the I whole thingis a *' hoax." If the former ha 1 seen gold so plentifully got, it is a difficult matter to understand how they- left it,

thcn^h th.riUteth^irant of proviMon, .w^ tK£r*ason; Tlw: others have not apparent&s reacted the t*glf# p&. Which of these two statemtnts is' correct will be decided on the return of a|pin^ticll miner, in whqrifrsgtf£ correspondent" ha* trie fullest reliance.iHtf despatching this messenger, to ascertain the real state of the prospector's statements, his qualifications were particularly regarded, andevery confidence can be placed in his judgement. These subjects are mentioned because there is a chauce of this paper reaching you before the " one. _..;_,.._- ..,.,,.:... .....

Fox and party are a genuine fact. They do- not apply fur a prospecting claim, preferring another arrangement ; a few personal friends., arc thus placed, in an excellent position. If their (Fox & Co'*) •tatements aietrue, those who are ♦• laid pa " will hare no cause to complain of the agreement.they have made. The greatest secresy has been so far observed, and but for the exodus to the Cardrona, the par lies going to this new discovery must have had a very po.>r chance of reaching it without being tracked. As it is, the locality will be. dt blared oh the 22nd, (Saturday,^ Th t the 6;-0 ounces Wai obtaintd by them in a fortnight, and was also under their clever arrangements forwarded by the escort to town (though not ii» one amount) is now verified by the assertions oftheir friends in business here. Privately, and in confidence, these names are forwarded to you as a guarantee. Business men are not prone to encourage a rush from their own imn.edi«ue locality ; but this is not under the present brisk s*ate of affair-, taken into consideration by those who have the information in question, and are acting, as ttiey state, for Fox and party.