OTAGO.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1802, 9 December 1862, Page 3

OTAGO.

GRATIFYING NEWS FROM THE DUNSTAN. 19,C09 OUNCES OF GOLD ARRIVED BY THE LAST ESCORT. REPORTED NEW RUSH. The brig; Remark arrived in this harbour yesterday morning, from Otago, and Captain Duncan has kind!> supplied us with papers with dates to 4th Deeetnber. The intelligence from the gold fields is very satisfactory, the Daily Times of ths 28th mat. states that, The Escort from the Gold Fields to arrive to day, will bring 1 down the follewiug quantities of gold :— oz. dwt. gr, Dunstan , 13,005 JO 0 Tuapeka 4,824 10 0 Waitahuna 1,242 0 0 Teviot 37 13 0 19,109 13 0 Add Woolshed say 500 0 0 19,609 13 0 Captain Duncan reports that the escort ararived in due course bringing the amount of gold as above stated. The following paragraph is from the same journal. Reliable information has reached Tuapeka to the effect that a new rush has taken place to M'Aul/s station. The ground opened is said to be exceedingly rich, but at present no details as to the actual §ytelds have been obtained. The locality is stated to be a gully running from the Umbrella Mountains, and about 3') miles from the Moa Flat, in the direction, of Nukomai. Various parties have come from thi9 direction, and taken away friends and acquaintances who were for the present working on the Molyueux in the neighbourhood of Musgrave and Anderson's station, and it was through this medium that information was obtained as to the new rush. From the letter of their special correspondent at the Dunstan we make the following extracts :— New Disoovebies. — Fox and party arrived here at twelve o'clock on the 20th, and deposited 260 ounces, which they state is the result of three weeks, work. They have also sold a little over fifty ounces for current wants. The seat of their exertions is on the Arrow river, a tributary flowing into the Wakatip Lake. It is situated upon Mr Rees run. They do not apply for a prospecting claim in this locality. They also state that ou the Overshot Creek, abont ten miles distant and near Lake Wakatip, they obtained within an hours' time 7 ounces 18 pennyweights. As they do not again apply for a prospecting claim in this instance, it is a most difficult matter to understand their proceedings. They are confident as usual, and believe the country they have opened will ac commodate any number of miners, whether one or ten thousand. They will not apply for prospecting claims, preferring their own private arrangements and local knowledge. They further state that they know other places that will pay equally well. Bill Fox, as he likes to be called, is the chief man, and prides himself upon his experience and ability to baffle any parties who may endeavor to trace him. It was two of his mates who took down the twenty two pounds weight, as mentioned in a previous despatch. Altogether they have obtained close upon six hundred ounces. Within two hours after Fox's arrival, your correspondent's special messenger also arrived, aud he delivers the following report. As already stated, he is an intelligent practical miner, and a point of honor alone prevented his remaining near Fox's discovery. He does dnot wish bis name to appear in print; but it would be a poor recog« nition of his services should testimony not be borne to tbe zeal with which be has executed the task at a probable loss to himself. He has left himself at the mercy of new ." mates,' with whom he is not acquainted, and maj on bis return find bis claim jumped. As he was instructed to enquire into tin merits of both lushes, they will in his report be combined. It is slightly condensed

i He says :—'-' I crossed the river (Clulha). nea; i the junction with the Kawarua, and. followed C up the west bank. Prom . the jnnclion this ■ branch runs through extensive flats. Table • Ranges, with gravelly terraces intersected these . flats. Some parts of this formation are likely j to be auriferous, but the working of them is not at present probable. Better means of getting \ timber, and a supply of provisions are required. . It is a sluicing country, and would entail an I outlay of capita], or large co-operative bodies of • miners to get sluice heads of water to work I effectively. I followed and crossed these Table > Ranges, till I reached the Cardrona Creek. I • found 1,000 persons here on last Wednesday 5 (28th Noasmher). The prospectors had then " obtained, as far as I conld find out, about three t pounds weight of gold. No other persons had then done anything. All seemed to be in a J desponding kind of mood, though they did not , blame the prospectors, who they though had . only dropped on a patch. I think from the i observations I made of the surrounding country, that gold is to be found, but that it will require perseverance. I would not advise any one to go there, though very rich patches might at any moment turn up. I think it is an auriferous country, but that the prospectors' finds are of a peculiar character. Heavy gold like theirs might turn up any day. They bare so far found it on a land slip. I think good gold must be found somewhere about this place, but would go further backwards from the creek. I will not state in which direction, as it might mislead people. If not successful elsewhere, I shall try this portion of the country. Leaving this quarter, I followed up the Cadroua Creek on the right hand. It splits into two streams, about tan miles up from tbe workings on the creek. You must still keep the right hand branch till you come to a saddle range. Immediately after coming upon this saddle bilJ, you seethe Razor Back Ridge, as it is called there. This formation consists of burnt slate but the gullies proceeding from it are more or less auriferous. Good gold will probably be found here. Passing the Razor Back, you descend into a rough flat, which you traverse for about a mile and a half, and then reach another leading range which will take you to the Roy or Arrow River. This river is very deep, but you can fold it in places at two feet deep. To arrive at Fox's ckim you must cross it. I found there fity tents, and perhaps two hundred and fifty people. They were all contented with the results and prospects. I can give no general idea of the gold obtained, as people would not tell. The answer was, *I am satisfied.' Ido not think it was very rich, but good It is a very large river or creek, and the gold is in the banks. Rees, the squatter, charged three pounds twelve shillings for a sheep, and ' kill it yourself.' The sheep average about fifty pounds weight each. Butler, a storekeeper, had packed up flour, which be sold at three shillings per pound. Provisions are almost impossible to obtain. Learning that Fox and his mate had started for the Dunstau, I started back at once to place you iv receipt of this information, according to raj agreement. Ido not wish my name made known. There is plenty of ground there, and auy amount of likely looking places. I return at once." Returning to the more immediate locality of the Dunstan, these rushes do not interfere with the daily opening of ftesh gullies and contiuual rich finds. People are absolutely tired of hearing about these things. It will require a tabulated form to convey a fair idea of their number and value. It is in course of compilation, hut cannot be completed for this occasion. Desultory statements are so lost ia a place like this, that it will be quite a sufficient guide of its increasing value and importance to refer to the escort which will convey— if the horses are able — fully twelve thousand ounces.' The population has necessarily been of a very fluctuating uature, and tills taken into consideration together with the additional fact that the miners sell their gold most reluctantly, is quite a sufficient account of its progress. Of this large escort over three thousand ounces consist of deposits from individual miners. A<s a proof of the productiveness of some of tbe outlying gullies, it will suffice to say that twelve men deposited on an average over fifty ounces each. This was obtained in a short period from Potter's Gully, and not out of any of the best claims. That they should have been able to part with this amount, pay an increased late of piices at that place for their provisions, in consequence of having to employ packers at from sixpence to one shilling per pound, is the clearest proof of the correctness of the statements giveu by your correspondent. These gullies are all nearly worked out for the first time, though hereafter they will reward the gleaners when sluiced. In the meantime the continual discovery of fresh places around them, though not perhaps so rich as those first opened, supply fresh scenes of labour for those arriving, and who do not care to extend their journey, or visit the fresh pastures announced. The report of Mr George, a gold broker, demands more than a passing notice. If the quartz is so rich as described, a Coromandel is likely to be added to the other resources of the Dunstau. Fire in George Street, Dunedin. — A fire occurred on 24th Nov., in George Street not far from the Octagou. The building was an extensive set of livery stables, separated only by a cottage or two from the Royal George Hotel, and belonging to the landlord of that house, Mr Towers. It was 90ft or lOOft long, and 45ft or 50ft wide. It was of wood and corrugated iron. Iv it there were, as far as we can learn, near 40 horses. Through the strenuous exertions of the, Fire Brigade, the adjoining buildings were saved although much difficulty was experienced from the want of water, and pumps, tanks, and buckets had to be called iuto requisition. Tbe horses were all saved, but the damage done was the total destruction of the roof, and the very nearly total gutting of the store rooms oh the side where the fire commeuced. The fittings below were very slightly injured by fire ; and the same may be said of the weather boarding. On the opposite side the damage was nominal, and not at all from fire. Mi Towers' loss will be several hundred pounds, and he is not insured. Some time ago, he leased to Mr Brunton the land on which the stables stood, and it was only at tbe close of last week that he bought out the owners, for (as we have heard) £800. He had commenced negotiations for an insurance.