A DIGGER'S OPINION OF AUCKLAND.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXIV, Issue 2921, 27 November 1869, Page 5

A DIGGER'S OPINION OF AUCKLAND.

TO THE EDITOR 05? THE INDEPENDENT. Sib,— Perhaps the publication of the following letter dated Gtoahainstown, Nov. 10th, from a working man who recently went to try his luck, may be of service to othera here, who are discontented with the dull times:— "l would have written sooner, but on my arrival at the Thames I did not find things so flourishing as I had expected. There are a great number of men out of employment and wages very low, say six shillings a day and work very difficult to got at that. Scrip ia unsaleable at any figure except in a few claims, and I believe there are some hundreds of men here who would leave if they had the means, for there is very little chance without capital to speculate with, and then there is a great risk. If the Upper Thames don't open this summer, the times here will be very dull, for their ia very little employment other than mining. The business people of Auckland and the Thames I think aro doing well, for their is a great number of strangers arrving every day, and they all spend money more or less. I should not advise any one to come down here, ns I believe a working man is as well off in Wellington if not better. I hear that there is a great deal of roguery carried on hero, and that some claims for which the shareholders got several thousands, are worth nothing to-day. There is a great number of people here walking about, but everything is very cheap. The greatest drawback to this place is the system of protection they have, enabling men in small parties to lease large blocks of ground and do nothing but shepherd it, so that the ground lies idle and unprospected. I have not got much love for this place, and should never invest money in the Auckland province, for even with the gold how, it is a poor place. It is so many strangers coming and going that keeps the place brisk. I have not the same faith in the richness of the Upper Thames that somej people have, and am inclined to fenr that there will be great disappointment, for I believe there will be little gold got, and should it be bo, it will be a bad job for Auckland. I send my best wishes, &c." Fom the above it will be seen that the bulk of the diggers aro like Micawber, " waiting for something to turn up," not an altogether satisfactory state of affairs. — I am, &c, Witness.