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Hitherto the Otago miners have evinced but little disposition to settle, or even to render themselves comfortable by surrounding their dwellings with gardens, as in other gold countries. No doubt this has been owing, in a great degree, to the absence of facilities for so doing, as, until lately, no inducement has been held out to them. Considerable changes have, however, been effected in this respect. By a recent proclamation, holders of Miners’ Rights are permitted to occupy, for residence and cultivation, half an acre of land within the gold-fields; no extra charge being made beyond a registration fee of five shillings. Measures have also been taken, in accordance with the “Gold-fields Act, 1858-60,” to enable persons desirous of cultivating a larger area, to obtain leases for seven years of ten-acre sections on those portions of the Tuapeka gold-field wherein the titles of the runholders have been extinguished. The rental has been fixed at five shillings per acre, and anxious land is expressly exempted from the operation of the leasing regulations. A township named Laurence has been laid out at Gabriels, and another, named Havelock, at Waitahuna, and the first sales of these will be held in November. Ample opportunity is therefore now afforded for settlement.

Climate

The climate of the older gold-fields has been a serious obstacle to their progress. Waipori and the Highlay district are both at a high elevation, and consequently subject to snow-storms and severe frosts; and even in the comparatively milder region of the Tuapeka, several days occurred during the past season when mining operations were, of necessity, almost at a standstill. It is only fair to state that the winter of 1862 was far more severe than that of the preceding year, when (as I am assured on undoubted authority) with the slight exception of two or three days, the miners were not prevented by the weather from working during the entire season. To the Australian miners, accustomed to a burning climate, the mere prospect of enduring the rigours of winter was sufficient to send them away from our shores. But at the Dunstan, a winter digging has been assured for the future. Although surrounded by snow-clad mountains, rain rarely falls there. Hartley and Reilly state that, during their secret operations—from May to August—on only three days were they prevented from working. The valley of the Manuherikia is warm and salubrious; and the district of the Upper Clutha, in the neighbourhood of the Lakes, also possesses the advantage of fine dry weather.

Of the Nokomai country little is yet known, but that little is very favourable. I am assured by the Chief Surveyor that the climate is exceeding fine and dry, resembling that of the Clutha and Manuherikia Valley.

I subjoin a “Summary of the Weather at Dunedin, Otago, for the year ending 30th June, 1861, and its results, as compared with the nine preceding years,” compiled from valuable tables published in the Government Gazette by the Rev. Dr. Burns, Minister of the first Church of Otago.

Results of the year...

Timber and Fuel

Amongst the difficulties enumerated as attendant on mining in Otago, in the Proclamation of September, 1861, was “a scarcity of wood for fuel and slabbing purposes.” Subsequent discoveries have, in a great degree, obviated this inconvenience. I have already referred to the forests at the head of the Clutha, whence timber is rafted down to the Dunstan gold-field. On the banks of that river, and in the very heart of the workings, a large bed of brown coal, or lignite, has been found. At the Nokomai timber is abundant. At Tuapeka Proper (Gabriel’s District) there are valuable deposits of lignite in Wetherstone’s Flat, and also near the township of Lawrence. At the latter place a seam, eight feet in thickness, is known to extend over an area of more than 25 acres. Fine timber for the use of this field can be obtained from the “Remarkable Patch,” at the...