OTAGO.

Timaru Herald, Volume IV, Issue 99, 6 April 1866, Page 5

OTAGO.

[7ROM OUR OWX CORRESPONDENT] Saturday, March 31. Another week of delicious weather throughout the Province, and the finest harvest m Otago has heen almost entirely cut down and duly stacked. Speaking 1 m mj r rambles the other day to a farmer m our North-East Valley (a lovely spot m the immediate neighborhood, on the road to Port Chalmers), I was informed that the present season's crops are by far the heaviest yet grown m the Province. Wheat especially this year has been grown on a much larger scale, and with great success. During the week we have passed over a rather quiet Good Friday. It was of course an entire holiday, every shop and place of business being closed. The da}' was bitterly cold, and the majority of the inhabitants who could afford it made perambulation of the streets clad m habiliments indicative of winter. There are many m Dunedin however, at present, who have barely one suit of clothes to don, and they of course looked colder than others of the more fortunate m the human family. The river steamer Golden Age made a special trip to the Peninsula or Heads, and conveyed away a goodly number, who all enjoyed a fine day's pleasure. In the evening the fine Oratorio of "The Messiah" was performed before a delighted audience m the Theatre Royal. The leading vocalists were Mrs. W. 11. Mumford, better known as Julia Mathews, and Mrs. Mitchell, and both these ladies acquitted themselves with great ability. The chorus throughout, with one or two exceptions, was also well executed, and on the whole the large and enthusiastic audience gave almost unqualified testimony to their enjoyment of the rich treat. In general trade and commerce Dunedin is at present extra dull, and I have really never seen our various jetties so thinly clad with shipping. At the various large stores and goods forwarding offices there have also been fewer drays for the conveyance of up-country merchandise, and from all parts of the Province I hear constant complaints of dullness. At Port Chalmers, with the exception of a slight stir m the last of the season's wool loading business, matters are at a dead stand, and business people may be seen from day to day standing idle at the door " for want of work to do."

In mining matters tho Province is growing 1 great, and if all the duly registered sluicing and quartz reef companies only turn out to their shareholders one quarter as rich as the various advertisements announce they will do, then holders of shares will absolutely make fortunes. I am afraid, however, that more than one of these companies will yet burn the fingers of speculators. But this of course is only naturally incident to ventures of every kind, and more especially so to ventures for hidden riches m the bowels of mother earth. A goodly number of diggers still continue to leave every week by steamer for the Hokitika and Grey River Goldfields, and Wardens on our various goldfields, who at present may be said to have little or nothing to do, continue to report the new arrival of miners, and the general prosperous condition of the various fields ! All a sham ! In the end of the year 1864 there were nearly 13,000 diggers scattered over the auriferous soil of Otago. In the end of the year 1865, and consequent on the West Coast rush, their number became reduced to something like 7,000, and at the present time they may safely be assumed as amounting to 6,000 ! Great preparations have been made for the Dunedin Regatta, which is fixed to come off on Easter Monday. The prizes offered are really good, and from all I at present hear, the Regatta is likely to be a complete success. I understand that some Lyttelton rowers have sent a challenge here to row the winners of the boat race, the prize to be the handsome sum of £156. .

In election matters there is not much of a stir. Mr. Yogel and Mr. A. J. Burns, (the son of the Pioneer Free Kirk clergyman of Otago) are contesting for a place m our great Provincial Council. The poll took place to-day, but from the distance out of town I have not heard the result m time for this week's letter. It is thought that Mr. Burns, from his connection m the district, will be successful, though m debate, or as a good, honest, working member for the general interests of the province, he cannot hold a candle to Yogel. Major Richardson, formerly a great gun m the Council of Otago, prime author of our absurd Provincial expenditure, our useless Exhibition Buildings, &c, and nearness to Provincial bankruptcy, has been returned, unopposed, for New Plymouth, m the General Assembly. I have not heard whether he will again go m as a member of our Provincial Council. He seems disgusted with Otago, and his support of the late Weld administration has given some little offence to parties m this province. . The telegraph is now at work between the Bluff and Nelson, and an admirable suggestion has been made, that the direction of the wind and weather should by it be made public daily at the various ports along the coast. This will doubtless be the means, as m Britain, of saving many a wreck on our worse than Irish coast. At the Princess' Theatre, this evening, the highly humorous play of " Rory O'More," by Lover, was put on the stage m presence of a crowded house. Lady Don was inimitable, as Kathleen, and she was very creditably supported by the company.

The Committee of the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1867 has just decided that there shall Be no days of admission gratis. The charge will be one franc, except on Friday, when it will Me five.- Persons who may wish to enter before ten .m. the. morning will pay. one franc extra,-