190

of bearing traffic upon it. It will therefore
be hazardous for those who are not well pro-
vided with clothing, and ample tent accommo-
dation, to remain during the winter. Many
have gone up without funds and have been
obliged to return. None but men of robust
constitution should attempt to remain over
the winter months.

"With regard to the preservation of order
on the Field, I am happy to state that the
diggers themselves are fully alive to the neces-
sity of keeping due regularity, and have drawn
up regulations for that purpose. I think a
few constables on the ground in addition to
the mounted police already sent would be quite
sufficient to preserve the peace.

"In conclusion, I beg to state that I con-
sulted with the Civil Engineer as to a pass at
the foot of Mount Jonathan, over which I
suggested to him that a road could be made,
which might be made available both for the
roads from Oamaru and from Dunedin. He
also stated that he would come down that way
to Dunedin, should he not be prevented by
the snow.—I have, &c.,

"ROBERT SHORT.

"To his Honor the Acting Superintendent."

GOLD FIELDS.

A. C. STRODE, Esq., to his Honor the
SUPERINTENDENT.

OAMARU, May 20, 1861.

SIR,—Thinking it would be satisfactory to
your Honor to receive reliable information
regarding the Gold Fields in the Lindis Pass,
I have the honour to inform you that, several
respectable persons having lately returned
to Oamaru from the Lindis, I have been ena-
bled to gather the following facts.

There are about 300 persons present on the
gold fields, who maintain the strictest order
and propriety. Very few, however, I am in-
formed, have as yet procured sufficient gold
to cover their expenses; but this is owing
chiefly to the winter season, and the consequent
swollen state of the rivers. It will be satis-
factory to your Honor to learn that plenty of
supplies of all kinds are now procurable on
the spot, and that the state of things as re-
gards the order and well-being of the diggers
is extremely satisfactory—so much so that, up
to this time, not even a petty theft has been
attempted. I have given the Police express
instructions not on any account to disturb so
happy a state of affairs by their too ready in-
terference in trivial matters; so I venture to
hope that, with due discretion on the part,
the present order and peace may be main-
tained, until at least the gold fields have been
properly tested, and the Government enabled
to organise the necessary machinery.

With regard to Oamaru, I am happy to be
able to give your Honor an equally satisfactory
report—the present inhabitants being ex-
tremely well conducted, and apparently con-
tented with the rapidly thriving condition of
their township. They have requested me to
bring to your Honor's notice the very great
advantage all classes here would derive from
Oamaru being declared a port of entry, and to
solicit your Honor to recommend to the Gene-
ral Government the adoption of such a course.
A Public Pound here appears also to be very
necessary, the nearest one at present being at
Dunedin; and I would suggest, as a temporary
arrangement, that one of the constables sta-
tioned at Oamaru be appointed Pound-keeper.
No steps have as yet been taken by Mr. Roy
to the erection of an Office or Court-house,
which, it is unnecessary to say, is absolutely
indispensable.

Should any important information regarding
the Gold Fields reach me, I will not fail to
impart it to your Honor.

I have the honour to be,
SIR,
Your Honor's obedient servant,
A. CHETHAM STRODE, J.P.,
Resident Magistrate, pro tem.

His Honor the SUPERINTENDENT,
Dunedin.

CAPT. FRASER AND MR. CUTTEN.

The following documents are published for
general information:—

Captain Fraser to his Honor the Acting
SUPERINTENDENT.

Dunedin, 17th May, 1861.

SIR—I beg to be allowed to call the atten-
tion of your Honor to the circumstances at-
tending an application made by me to the
Chief Commissioner of the Waste Land Board,
in September, 1859, for the purchase, in exer-
cise of my pre-emptive right, of 100 acres of
land, on Run No. 109, viz., 80 acres for a
homestead, and 20 acres in respect of two out-
stations.

An irregularity appearing to me to have
taken place in the Land Office in connection
with the application, I am induced on public
grounds to ask the Government, through your
Honor, for an explanation of the transaction.

The facts are these—On the 29th Septem-
ber, 1859, I wrote a letter to the Chief Com-
missioner, from my residence in Shag Valley,
and sent it by the post, asking him to submit
to the Waste Land Board my request that I
might be allowed to purchase the 100 acres,
and I enclosed my cheque upon the Union
Bank of Australia, in Dunedin, for £50, the
price of the land. The cheque was an open
cheque, it was dated September 29, 1859, and
was made payable to the Chief Commissioner.

From an indorsement now appearing upon
the back of it, and from my bank pass-book,
the £50 seems to have been placed to the
private account of the Chief Commissioner on
the 3rd of October, immediately on the receipt
by him of my letter, and before my application
was submitted to the Board.

The receipt of my letter was acknowledged
by the Chief Commissioner, and I subsequently
received from him a written communication,
dated 3rd November, 1859, in which he stated
that my application would be decided on the
16th of that month, and he would take the
opportunity of laying my letter before the
Board, when he had no doubt but that the ap-
plication for the homestead would be granted.

I heard nothing of the matter for six
or seven months, when I learnt that my ap-
plication had then only recently been brought
before the Board. I immediately called on
the Chief Commissioner and expressed to him
my surprise at hearing that there should be
any question about my pre-emptive right of 80