ARRIVAL OF THE "WONG-A WONG-A," FROM OTAGO.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1612, 27 August 1861, Page 5

ARRIVAL OF THE "WONG- A WONG- A," FROM OTAGO.

i News to the 23rd August. ! By the Wonga Wong a, we have received f six days' later news from Otago. The i intelligence from the diggings is still of 1 a most satisfactory character. The | Fanny A. Grarriques, from Auckland, p arrived at Otago on the 23rd instant, 1 with cargo and passengers. The brig 1 Reliance, from Port Cooper,- also ; with passengers,' arrived on the 22nd. The ketch Petrel, Scott, Master, was on her way down the river, on the 23rd, bound to Wellington. The schooner Mary Jane was advertised for Wellington, to sail in a few days. We have extracted tho following from th'p Otago Colonist of the 23rd instant. THE GOLD FIELDS. It is, we have no doubt, a very interesting and 6xciting, as well as profitable occupation, to go on from week to week adding ounce to ounce, and pile to pile of gold, and fortunate diggers are not to complain of the monotony of such a pursuit. It is, however, a somewhat different thing to have to chronicle, hebdomadally, a repetition of the same class of incidents, presenting but little variety of detail, beiug merely the uninterrupted and increasing sucoess of the "lucky" diggers— that is to say, of the majority of those who by experience, industry, and proper equipments, are really qualified for the work in which they are engaged. The past week has, however, afforded something fresh by the arrival of the Escort from Tuapeka on Wednesday bringing about 5055 ounces of Gold. Mr. Booth, who has been amongst the most fortunate, also broughtin about7oozs. on his own account, and from the latter we have received a few particulars with regard.to the state of things on the diggings. It appears that the Receiving Office was opened on Saturday at one o'clock for the receipt of gold and closed at five, by which' hour as much had been deposited as the horses belonging to the Escort could carry. Great dissatisfaction was expressed at the inadequate provision made by Government for the transmission of the Gold to town, the diggers appearing to have become alive to the danger of retaining large, quantities of the precious metal in their own possession, from 15,000 to 20,000 ounces being still in their bands. Many who had been waiting the whole afternoon outside the Revising Office did not succeed in depositing their gold, and the loss of time was bitterly complained of, the scene being described as somewhat similar to that at our Post Office upon the arrival of an English mail, the customers being served at the rate of about one in every ten minutes. The diggers are represented as being universally willing to pay for the carriage of iheir gold to Dunedin, provided there were a proper escort; and as 10,000 ozs. per week may be estimated as the present yield, and which will soon be largely in* creased by addition to the mining population, it is to be hoped that the Government will make the necessary arrangements as soon as it is iv a position to do so. The totol amount received in Dunedin during the week has been about 6000 ounces Theie does not appear to be any discrepancy in the earnings of practised diggers, about £5 per day they consider to be a lair average, and in a few cases this is exceeded. One party of five obtained 51b. iv five days, and another of nine got 7lbs. in the same time. Of course there are hundreds, having no practical knowledge of the work, whose earnings are on a much lower scale, Prospecting is being carried on with great energy and with most astonishing results, proving the field to be rich and extensive beyond present calculation. Not a spadeful of earth is turned in any direction without bringing gold to light. Two gentleman prospecting at some distanoe from the Tuapeka obtained 31bs. weight in two days, und other instances of remarkable success are mentioned. There is probubly room for 50,000 people on the gold fields, and we should not be* surprised to see that number employed by the end of the next twelve months. In connection with this part of the subject, there is one point which demands the serious attention of the Government. Wherever valuable gold fields have been discovered.large numbers ofChiuese have found their way, and wherever these Celestials have appeared serious riots and loss of life have been the inevitable consequence, The probability is that many will be attracted to our shores — and the fact is that an eruption of the kind is apprehended, and a determination has been universally expressed by the diggers that not a single Chinaman shall set his foot on the Tuapeka gold fields. We are not goiiig to argue upon ibe abstract right, or wrong, involved in such a determination ; wo have to do with a most serious practical fact. An apparently unextiuguishable haired springs up wherever the two races come into contact, and it is indispensable for the security of life and property that the Government should be prepared for the very probable contingency to which we have alluded, by the adoption of necessary measures lor the protection of the Chinese should they make their appearance on the gold field, or

id which would -bo far better, for preventing 10 their introduction into the Province at all. The weather has been somewhat severe at the diggings, the rain and snow having caused a cessation of work for about four days during the last fortnight. The roads a:-e still in a lamentable condition, though "something is being done in the way of bridging the creeks and provisions are consequently getting scarce and are likely to rise in price. Flour is at present • retailing, at I shilling per pouud, beef is 3 a shilling, mutton 1 lid. to Is. £d., tea 6s. f. 6d., eoffoe 3 6d., sugar Is. 6d., and chhese ) at 2s. sd. per pound ; eggs, 6d. each. } The number of arrivals from the other Provinces for the diggings during the I week has been about 200. J . Escape from; the New Prison.— On Sunday night, about 8, Mr, F. Monson, ' the assistant gaoler, locked up the prisoners under confinement, including Allen, 1 recently sentenced to three years' imprisonmeiit for shooting a man in Staf-ford-street, in their cells for the night. On opening the outer door on Monday 1 'morning, he was surprised to see the door kt the further end of the yard open, and on going further he found that the door leading to Allen's cell had beeu opened, , and that tho prisoner had escaped. This had been effeoted by accomplices from , the outside, who had entered through an unfinished part of the outer wall, and found a door open, the key of which was still in the hands of the contractors. The next door was locked, and they pulled • down some of the briqkwork to open it; • they then proceeded to unlock (her doors leading to the prisoner's cell ; this was very easily done, the fastenings being the common rim locks, not at all suited to the present purpose. Mr. Monson immediately gave information to Mr. Shepherd. On goiug to Mrs. Edhouse's cell, she was discovered to have also escaped, taking with her all the clothes, &c, in her box, and leaving a letter addressed to Mr. F. Monson, entirely free* ing him from blame, and giving as the reason for her escape, that Mr; Justice Gresson had refused to lower her bail to £100, which sum was forthcoming. She had made up her mind to escape, to effect which she had been assisted by friends outside, and were only waiting for a fa vourable opportunity which had now arrived, The locks leading to her room presented the appearance of having been picked from the outside. The prisoner had made his escape some 5 weeks ago, but was taken shortly afterwards in the old survey office ; this was not brought against him at his trial. He had been heard to say before his trial that if he got a long term he would escape and would .not be taken alive; that he had^ shot two men and would shoot another before he was taken. A man and woman had been seen to go down the river in a boat about I o'clock on Monday morning, but the efforts of the police to discover the runaways have hitherto proved unsuccessful. New Zealand Bank. — Captain Daldy and Mr. James Williamson are at present ou a visit to Otago for the purpose oflaying before our principal business men the details of the proposed New Zealand Bank, and endeavouring to obtain their support to the undertaking. It is intended, we believe, to hold a public meeting ou Monday evening. We trust the importance of the subject will secure, as it deserves, the serious consideration of those who are best qualified to discuss it. Nkw Gaol. — Another attempt from outside was made to breukopen the Gaol on Tuesday night; the supposed object was to iiberate Johnston, the Vaudemonian gentleman who robbed (ho steward of the " Prince Albert." Narrow Escape from Starvation. — Two men, named Henderson and Aitken, not having succeeded at the Tuapeka diggings, started about a fortnight ago for town, intending to return when they had procured what was necessary for the prosecution of their work. When on the Lammerlaw Ridges, about 15 miles from the diggings, they were overtaken by the snow, and lost their way. They were found by a party of diggers, after being four days and four nights in the snow with nothing to eat but the almost rotten remains of a wild pig, wh,ich had been shot and left lying on the ranges. When found they were so weak that they fell at every four or. five yards. The were token to McKay's Accommodation House, where they were kindly treated, and after they were sufficiently recovered, were forwarded to town in a cart. Both men suffered very much in the feet from the ; frost, indeed it is feared that both Henderson's large toes will have to be amputated.