OTAGO.

Timaru Herald, Volume IV, Issue 101, 20 April 1866, Page 3

OTAGO.

[from our own correspondent]

Saturday, April 14. On Monday evening last, the two Ota fro volunteers, (Christie" and Taylor) who gained the first and second prizes at the General Government rifle competition, at Wellington, were entertained at supper by their respective companies. Upwards of GO were present, and a pleasant evening was spent. Mr. Yogel, M.H.R., m the course of a speech, suggested the propriety of having a great inter-colonial rifle match next}-ear, m Otago, and that the first prize be £1000. I have all along had an idea, not by an}' means based on mere supposition, but on the contrary borne out by facts, and " Facts are chiels that winna ding and canna be disputed," that Otago at present, and for the past eighteen months, has been m general, and all over, m a very poor monetary condition, second only to that of poor deluded Southland, our very water}* neighbors next door. Mr. Yogel, however, must think more of Otago's present condition, m respect to prosperity, than a great many other persons do, or he never would have suggested the enormous prize of £1000, for a game of rifle shooting. Why, the Queen's prize at Wimbledon, which lias been won by men who can make successive bull's eyes at a mile's distance, is only £050, and it is considered amply sufficient by hundreds of the best rifle shots m the world. The proposal to have a £1000 rifle prize looks very well m print, but 1 doubt much as to its becoming a reality. The carriers' strike still continues, and promises to cause great harm amongst storekeepers, and the general population of our up-country districts. Considering the low rate of freight, namely: — £3 10s. per ton from Dunedin to Tuapeka, a distance of 70 miles, a good portion of the said distance being over one of the worst formed roads m the province, I am not surprised at the strike. There are four toll gates on the road referred to, and the carrier has to pay a fixed rate of one shilling per gate for each of his waggon horses, whilst drays conveying goods from town are charged a uniform rate of sixpence per horse. The carriers would rest content, and the strike would at once cease, if the Provincial Executive resolved on reducing the toll charge to sixpence. An answer is to be given to them on Wednesday next. This afternoon a large waggon drawn by seven horses, and filled with carriers, paraded the streets by way of enlisting public sympathy with the strike. There was a rumour m Dunedin, on Friday afternoon, that payable auriferous ground had been discovered m the irame-

diate neighborhood of the city. After making numerous inquiries, however, I have not been able to discover whether or not such a report has any foundation m fact. News reached town on Friday that good payable ground had been discovered on the Horse Ranges, above the gorge m the Mooraki district, and distant north from Dunedin about 53 miles. The prospector applied for protection for a claim to enable him to examine the ground more fully, and m the meantime to prevent what might prove a foolish rush. The exact locality is kept a secret. Just at the present time Dunedin would derive vast benefit from the discovery of a payable gold field, as general trade and commerce lias been dull enough during the past eighteen months. A little excitement was caused m Dunedin during the week by news arriving from the Coast, that an extensive rush of miners had taken place to a neighborhood m the vicinity of Bruce Bay, tending southwards into the Province of Otago. The succeeding mail, however, brought intelligence that the rush, so far as regards the discovery of a payable gold field, had proved, m "digger parlance, "a duffer," and that many hundreds of miners had set to and destroyed many stores and their contents. It was fortunate for Hunt, the original prospector of the supposed gold field, that the disappointed miners were not able to find out his whereabouts, as for a certainty he would, however unjustly, have been subjected to similar treatment to that experienced by the digger who, three years ago, led hundreds into the Blue Mountain Range, m our Tuapeka district. The Rev. Mr. Connebee, pastor of the Congregational Church, m Dunedin, leaves next week for England. His wife left lately, m very ill health, also for England, and her medical adviser, I understand, has now recommended Mr. Connebee to follow as there is a probability that Mrs. Connebee may not survive the long voj'age. Mr. Connebee has laboured very successfully m Dunedin, and is temporarily parted with by his large congregation with great sympathy and regret. The election for a member to represent the district of Waikouaiti m the Provincial Council, took place on Thursday last, resulting- m the return of Mr. Orbell by a majority of three over his* strongest opponent, Mr. Mitchell. Mr. J. S. Webb, accountant, of Dunedin, was the third candidate, but he only polled nine votes. As instancing political apathy m the district of Waikouaiti, with its population of 1000, I may mention that only 82 voters came to the poll. The Municipal Corporation have, during the weak, perpetrated a " hole and corner business, "for which our antique Town Board used to be famous, and appointed a Town Clerk, and other officers, by means of a small and, it is said, a very select committee of Councillors. Mr, Lazar, the late City Clerk, has at all times performed his laborious duties to the entire satisfaction of the ratepayers and the public, and his being now superseded by wte casting vote of the Mayor, has been severely corn-

men ted upon. The new Town Clerk is a Mr. 11. P. Morse, perfectly unknown to the varied and important duties attached to the office. New Municipalities, under the recent Act of Assembly, have been proclaimed for Port Chalmers, Waikouaiti, Milton, Clyde, and Oamaru, all m this province, and the old fashioned, yet at the same time necessary, local systems of Progress Committees done away. Lady Don's management at the Princess' Theatre is about to close. Her ladyship deserves praise for the admirable manner m which she has conducted the Theatre since the retirement of Mr. Mumford, the late lessee. I have just heard that Mrs. Mumford, more widely known as Julia Matthews, has entered on an engagement with Mr. Bartlett, of the Hokitika Theatre. I have also heard it stated that the notorious Mrs. Kinder, of Sydney fame, has got an engagement as barmaid

at Hokitikii, at a salary of £10 per week ! Verily our tastes are growing spasmodic. The weather during the past week has been very fine, and harvest operations may be said to be over.

The Celceno, the eighth wool ship from this province during 1 the season was cleared at the customs for London during" the week, having* a full cargo, and six cabin and seventeen steerage passengers.