OTAGO.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 5, Issue 243, 11 July 1861, Page 4

OTAGO.

LINDIS GOLD FIELDS. To the Editor of the Otago Witness. Sir, — I send you an extract of a letter from the Diggings, which may afford your readers some information as to the state of the Limlis Diggings. I am, &c. F. Walker.

“ I arrived on the Diggings on the 23rd (May), and in the course of the evening set up my tent, and to work. I will not detail all my small experiences, but at once proceed to give you my notion of the value of this place. “All who go steadily and ra tonally to work, with all'appliances and. means to boot, are doing exceedingly well; so far as I know, there is not one of them would take 20s per day and leave the Diggings. .According to their own statement they, are clearing 30s per day; and depend upori it they are not exaggerating. Numbers of people came here from Dunedin, and left without putting into the ground pick, shovel, or spade—without resources of any- kind. Their account of course will be unfavourable, but worth nothing. No one that I know of who has been on any other ‘diggings’ has left this one, if he had any means whatever to carry on. “ The country in every direction seems to be literally teeming with gold. Wherever you go you get a few specks, and as all the gold found yet is considerably water-worn, I have no doubt large * finds’ will be got the nearer the fountain head is approached. The population now numbers 3GO, but a considerable accession is anticipated from Canterbury, in the course of the ensuing week. That the Diggings are a reality I think no one caa now gainsay ; the only obstacle to their being properly worked js the horrible state of the road from Oam£ru,'and I thhik, seeing the large sum Government has realised from.the sale of land at Oamaru, that it would not only be justified in expending JB4OOO or £SOOO in making the road, but that it will incur a grave responsibility if it fail to foster this one ; means of developing the country. There is one place,

called Long Slip Pass, where in a space of about six miles you have to cross one creek upwards of forty times ; and this place, unless something is done, will be absolutely impassable in less than a month. Need I state what will become of diggers and diggings in that pleasing alternative. The weather is beautiful, and the rivers lower than for the last month. The future looks hopeful. Parties who were here last winter anticipate doing better during the ensuing winter months than during the last three, because during the hard frosts the flats can be bottomed without the aid of pumps, while in spring and autumn the water is too plentiful for this sort of work. “ You must try and get us a Post, as it is an absolute necessity ; and there are 300 people here, a larger population than is concentrated anywhere else in this colony. ; “ Price of provisions at present as follows : —Flour, 60s per 100 lbs.; sugar, 9d to Is per lb ; butter, 2s 6d per lb; cheese, 2s 3d to 2s, 6d per lb; pickles, 3s 6d per bottle, §c.”