SUMMARY OF INTELLIGENCE FROM THE SOUTHERN GOLD-FIELDS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1766, 13 September 1862, Page 3

SUMMARY OF INTELLIGENCE FROM THE SOUTHERN GOLD-FIELDS.

The Si. Dunstan diggings, which a few weeks ago, were the all exciting theme, of speculation and which as in the case of every fresh gold discoverywere rushed by an immense number of have not as yet answered the expectations of miners, the sanguine individuals, who inflamed with the tempting actual find of 87 lbs weight of gold by Hartley and Eiley, deserted other occupations tv try their fortunes at the New El dorado. Recent accounts from that quarter tell a ryther doleful tale of suffering and hardship undergone in consequence of a too precipitate rush. The Otago Daily Times, has the following items, on present prospects there. ' THK DUNSTAN DI GOINGS. On Tuesday evening, and during yesterday, a good many of those who started early for the Molyneux Diggings, and who reached to, or near the spots indicated by Messrs. Hartley and Riley, returned to Dunedin. Some of them, (as in the case of Mr. O'Brien, mentioned elsewhere,) are now on their road back with cradles and provisions, for which their mates are waiting, others are off in a day or two But whethei intending to return to the new field or not, all agree in the opinion that the field will undoubtedly prove a paying one to a large number of properly equipped workers. One man with whom we spoke was brief, but clear in his reply :— " I say let any one who wants to know what it is like, go and see for himself. I don't want to tell any one, but the tucker is what is wanted, with that there's plenty of gold to be ffot. I'm (joing back and I believe I shall d f 3ry v e'.L'g Provisions were both scarce and dear, the various stations on the road were besieged for food, and flour was selling at 3s. per lb. On this subject the same journal says — "Next to fooa the greatest want was cradles. Our informants on their way up, saw men at Muiisou's station, who had walked the 40 miles back to that place to buy timber for making a cradle. They got some pine at the rate of Is. 3d. per pound. Flour was selling at half-a-crown per pound, at o point almost close to the diggings. At Newton's station, where nothing eatable could be had at any price as the men went up, they found flour selling at Is. per pound as they returned ; sugar was " quoted " at Is. 6d. tea at 65., a quarter of a sheep at 7s. 6d. Close t) the banks of the river, plenty of sheep could ; be got at 355. each, " dead or alive." This state of things differs from that suggested by a story w:iich we have hear J from two or three ; persons who have returned by the Waikouaiti i road ; which is to tlie effect that at Coal Creek a dead bullock was found in the water, and the better poitions of theearcass cut off half-dressed and eaten joyfully by a party on their way. down I to Dunediu.

Later accounts confirm this intelligence, and large numbers of disappointed diggers have been returning, upwards of 180 arrived at Lyttelton on the Bth in the Airedale, who generally reported that the Dunstan Diggings seem only capable of supporting about half the population at present on them. The Irnth would appear to be that the richest spots are close to the banks of the river, and thus with a slight rise of water become unworkable. There is, however, a general opinion expressed that the yield is good. The excitement of the Dunstan, has scarcely h;id time to subside, ere we are once more startled by the announcement that a fresh auriferous field has been discovered near the Mataura, and only about 30 miles distant from the first mentioned.: A party of miners after working for 3 weeks in the Moa Creek, on Nokomai river obtaiaed a yield of 2£lbs. of gold. The country is reported by Mr. Lamb to promise equally well all round ; the Nokomai to preseut indications quite as encouraging to the digger as the Moa Creek— and Mr. Lamb has no doubt that gold will be found in the Nokomia of the same quality as that obtained from Moa Creek. There is a supply of provisions and other stores sufficient for present wants to be had at Mr. Joyce's store on Mr. Rogers' station. We would remind our home readers that the escorts from the Tuepeka, Waitahuna, and Weatherstone's still show that fair returns are being obtained there, and this taken in conjunction with the constant fresh discoveries, bodes well for the future of the South. There is room and work enough for all comers, and we anticipate and would welorae, a larg influx of population to whatever part of the Colony thej may come. On the subject of immigration the Canterbury Press, ur^e> upon the Government the necessity of giving more encouragement to immigration, and that at least fifty thousand pounds should be appropriated for that purpose.