LATEST FROM OTAGO.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 427, 26 November 1861, Page 2

LATEST FROM OTAGO.

(From the Otago Colonist) '. OF THE ESCORT. The Escort arrived last evening, November 14th, with 35,100 ounces of gold. Of this amount Gabriel's alone supplied 30,400 ounces. It is reported that from 10,000 to 15,000 were still held at Waitahuna, awaiting transit. The rush to the Blue Mountains was still increasing, and hundreds were leaving daily. The excitement has been intensified by the report of several parties who are said to have returned with glowing descriptions of the prospect. A report was current, and extensively believed, that two men have returned with 71bs. as the product of a single week's labor. . .... The Escort, brought down seven prisoners, two of whom are for highway robbery under arms. AMOUNT OP GOLD RECEIVED PER ESCORT, TO PRESENT DATE. •'■ '■' ■••■ •■■ '. ■■'■•-■:-.. ■■: ".::-.': - OZ3. :'' To October 4: ........=■..•„ ...,38,945• ■'- ' „ 18 15,400 Novem. 1 ....; 19,700 '• „ 14 .............. 35,100 . Total.. 109,145 . SHIPPED UP TO DATE. To.Novem. 9 , 46,593 „ ■■:-'■: 11 .....:. 22,326 „ IS 10,428 T0ta1....... 79,347 THE GOLD FIELDS. During the last week various encouraging accounts have reached town from the mines. The diggers, on the whole, continue to be exceedingly successful. Up to Saturday'last it is known, upon undoubted authority, that 25,000 ozs. of gold* had been lodged at the Government camp at Tuapelca, which amount was the yield of some ten days only, seeing that the last escort was despatched on the Ist instant. Besides this amount, it must be remembered that a considerable quantity is continually being held by the diggers, owing to the storekeepers being unable to buy, and the branch banks being exceedingly restricted in their purchases—for they, too, are complaining of being short of cash (and to this particular remark we would call the special attention of the bank authorities in Dunedin). To bear out this statement, we must add that several diggers have been heard openly to assert that it * was as difficult to sell gold as it was to get it.' On Monday last it became known at Gabriel's that many of the old miners had. quietly disappeared from their claims, and that something good had been discovered in one of the many adjoining gullies; accordingly numbers of) diggers were to be seen congregating together, discussing the propriety of endeavoring to find out the whereabouts of their late neighbors. It soon, however, became to be believed that a new field had been discovered among the Blue Mountains— some ninety miles to the southward of Tuapeka, across the Molyneux River;, but as the road to this mountainous country was quite'unknown, the multitude were unwilling to venture upon so tedious a journey. Some few, nevertheless, were intrepid enough to undertake the task. Sufficient time, of course, has not elapsed to enable us to learn what success these enterprising fellows have met with. As we have now amongst us many hundreds of Victoria's most • experienced miners, we may look, almost every day, for new discoveries, seeing that our whole Island is considered to be auriferous. ' '

MR. GABRIEL READ'S REPORT. Dunedin, 6th Nov., 1861., To his Honor the Superintendent,

Sir—l have the honor to report to you the result of my proceedings in connection ,with prospecting for the Government, since the 15th September last. , \-'i

My researches have extended from the site of the present gold-fields to the Pomahawk, and from thence towards the Matuia.

Throughout the country I have traversed, I have to report that gold exists in quantities which would remunerate the day laborer by what is commonly termed ' wages,' but I regret to say that I have not been fortunate enough ,to find a payable gold-field, such as that of Gabriel's Gully or the Waitahuna.

It is my firm impression that although I have not succeeded in further discoveries, that payable gold-fields exist in the country I have inspected, and that they will before long be brought to light through the medium of an increasing and widespreading population. I was precluded from, prosecuting my search for the existence of the precious metal, by means of deep-sinking, by the absence of the proper material and appliances. ' ' ■ In thus furnishing a brief report of the result of my labors, which I regret were not more successful, I beg to say that I do not think myself sufficiently qualified to prosecute inquiries relative to new gold-fields, and I request the Government to relieve me of any further duties in connection -therewith; At the same time, I beg toexpreqa my feelings of gratification in the manner you have been pleased to mention my name in Council. I have, &c, Thos. Gabriel Read.