A VISIT TO THE GOLD FIELDS

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1616, 10 September 1861, Page 4

A VISIT TO THE GOLD FIELDS

BY T. M. HASSEL, ESQ.

Having just returned from a visit to the Tuapeka Gold Fields, in company with a gentleman from Lyttelton, I now according to promise, beg to hand you a short account of our journey, in the hope that it may prove interesting to some of your readers who may contemplate a trip to .the Southern El Dorado, or those perhaps, who prefer to " bide at home " and hear, all that is to be said aboul the already far-famed Otago Diggings. We left Lyttelton on the 2nd inst., in the Prince Albert about three o'clock p,m*/ai-d were safely landed on Dunedin jetty at six o'clock on the following day; our horses were landed on Sunday morning.

Having been in Dunedin some tbree years, ago, I was struck with the rapid •progress that town had made during the interval, and soon found to my cost that the golden era had commenced. Although the state of the two places was somewhat analogous, I found civility a much cheaper and more general commodity in Dunedin than I have ever experienced it to be in Melbourne under somewhat similar circumstances.

Horses are lower in price in Dunedin than with us, and intending visitors to the gold fields will find it more profitable to buy saddle horses there than take the risk of the sea voyage, and afterwards learn that they might have been as well suited on their arrival, besides doing away with the unpleasantness of looking after one's horses on the way dowD, which, to people who are at all affected with that dreadful malady, sea-sickness, and don't feel that interest in horseflesh afloat as when ashore, is no joke ; shoeing is about 30s. per set, computed, I suppose on the principle of ld. for the first nail, 2d. for the second and so on.

A carrier, well known on the Sumner Road, went down with his team in the Prince Albert, and loaded for the gold fields at the rate of £100 per top; he started on Monday the sth iust., aiid unfortunately was advised to take. the West Taieri road; he had not reached his destination When we left on the J 6th, but vfUs expected to be' there about the 18th or 19th Aat this season of the year the West Taieri road was next to impassable.

, Mot, a week after our arrival we were detained in Dunedin through inolemenoy of weather. At last, about noon ojq the

10th instant, we got fairly on our way to the diggings. Our first stage was to Adam's Accommodation Houss, about 16 miles from town ; a very good place, although not being accustomed to upcountry life, I felt rather inclined to be' dissatisfied. This, however, was quite rubbed out of me before my return. No grog is to be had here, which caused the foot passengers to push on to the Taieri Hotel, some three or four miles distant. The road for about half a mile before you get to Adam's is very bad — red clay up to your horse's girths. Had 1 not been present at the firing of the feu-de-joie when the first sod of the Lyttelton and Christchurch Railway was turned, and become a little accustomed to that sort of teing, I -fear I should have been considerably startled by the report made by my horse's hind legs as he drew them out of the mud. ,

On our way from Adam's to Tokomairiro, we met several returning, all.complaining of the scarcity of provisions, but stating their determination to return when the weather was more settled. The road about half a mile from the Taieri Ferry passes through a very bod swamp, though only a short distance ; but this may be avoided by skirting the hills.

Instead of going direct from Tokomairiro, to the diggings, as my friend was anxious to see the Molyneux river, we decided to visit that first. The hills between the plains and the river show every indication of gold. We are informed by a person resident in tbat district that gold bad already been discovered under Mount Misery, and that in all probability a paying gold field would shortly be opened there. We left the Molyneux oil; Wednesday morning, and arrived at the diggings that same evening. Tbe tenls, at first sight, appear like small patches of snow, and Gabriel's Gully to be not more than half a mile long ; this latter illusion is, however, soon dispelled when you come to it.

Our arrival was greeted wilh one solitary cry of "Joe," the bulk of the diggers appearing to be too busily engaged to favor us with more of that kind of vociferous reception usually given to new chums in the Australian gold fields. I noticed two accommodation tents ou tbe diggings, oue before you cross tho creek, and the other a short distance up the gully. Flour is £12 per bag of 200 lbs, and meat Is. per lb all round; the former will doubtless be cheaper as the roads improve. The mud on the diggings is something indiscribable ; but this does not appear in auy way to damp the ardour of those who are working anything like a paying claim.

. The commissioner and gold receiver arrived the same day that we did, and were prepared to issue miner's rights to all applicants on payment of £1 per annum ; these secure law and protection aud entitle the holder to a vote.

i The escort brings down gold free of oharge. Previous to the commissioner's arrival the diggers had formed a committee among themselves, to whom they submitted all disputes for settlement. The charge of £1 per man for miner's rights is certainly moderate, very different from the 30s. per month at one time charged in Victoria. After some little difficulty we found out Well's and Hobbs' party, oonsisting of five, fthey had washed out lOibs weight of gold for three weeks' work, aud were very sanguine of their future success. We picked up several specimens of gold from the top of about a cart load of stuff they had ready for washing, and for which we were informed they would not take £50. Many others were doing equally well. Most of our Lyttelton people are located at the head of Gabriel's Gully.

The best way for horse and foot passengers is across the Round Hill and not by Mount Stewart — tbe latter is the proper road for loaded drays. Tether ropes are liable to be stolen — they come in very handy, both for diggers and draymen ; hobbles are much more secure. At present the discomfort on the diggings is certaily considerable ; and prudence will probably suggest to those who are at all inclined to rheumatism, and intend trying their fortune iv the mines, the desirability of putting it off until the fine weather sets in. Notwithstanding any accounts you may have heard to the contrary, the majority of the diggers are really doing well ; and the fact that good workmen cau readily obtain employment at ,£1 per day and rations, speaks for itself.

It would be premature at present to pass an opinion as to tho probable duration of the Otago diggings, but if they do not fail in three or four months' time, when they will have been well worked and had a fair trial, I think we may safely count upon them continuing to be above the average ot paying gold fields for year to come. — Lyttelton Times, August 24th.