VICTORIA.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1773, 30 September 1862, Page 5

VICTORIA.

[From the Melbourne Weekly Age.] September 19. The recorts received from the country districts fully confirm all that we have previously stated relative to the wholesale speculation by squatters and others, through the medium of dummy selectors and hired agents in the agriottifettraHands just thrown open for selection. O/' the 16,000 acres alienated on the first day at' Ballorat, we learn that by far the larger portion fell into the hands of squatters and their agents. The following, which we extract from the Grenville Advocate of Thursday last, will serve as an instance to show the immense wealth of some of our auriferous deposits: — i( Mr. Spain, manager of the British Gold Mining Company, Happy Valley, states that he is quite confident that the washdirfc in the claim of that company will, during the week, yield 250 ounces to the machine. The gutter is about three feet in depth, and the washdirt extends sixteen feet on each side of the reef, being more auriferous on one side than on the other. Gold is also being obtained at a depth of a few inches in the black clay. A. couple of pannikins of dirt, taken at random from the gutter, and washed out for amusement j'ielded If ounces. The greater part of the stuff brought, up will yield about a pound weight to the tub. It is shining with, fine gold, besides containing coarse gold in large quantities, and it is estimated that the return will amount to £10,000 worth weekiy. The machinery is undergoing an over haul, and a new driving wheel is to be put in, prior to a • glorious campaign below.' ' Notwithstanding the intelligence which was received from New Zealand on Monday morning, warning those intending to emigrate to the gold fields not t;) be too precipitate, but to vait further and more definite information, no less than 1,466 persons left Sandridge pier for Otago on Monday, — 800 in the City of Melbourne, and 660 in the Result. This makes the total number who have sailed since the receipt of the first informuion by the City of Hobart. on the Bth instant, 3255. We learn from the Kyneton station that, since the latest New Zealand news arrive!, 1709 persons have booked for Melbourne, and that probably an equal number frightened by the high fare charged, preferred walking to town to giving their mite towards the payment of the Railway Loan. [ From the Sydney Morning Herald.'] The City of Hobarfc, from Otago, with the New Zealand mails for England, arrived late in the evening of the 26th September, having chased the R. I.S. Northam unsuccessfully. M'Kinlay was received with great favour by the Royal Society, and was highly complicated by Landsborough. The Gottenburg, for Otago, took 250 passengers. A terrifflc whirlwind visited Talbot on the 27th of September, doing a large amount of injury to property, uprooting trees, unroofing houses, and in one place completely leveling a largo brick wall. Rumours are current (September 30) that a new goldfield has been discovered between Melbourne and Geelong. Transactions in trade moderate, ami mostly confined to orders for supplies for Otago.