NELSON.

Auckland Chronicle and New Zealand Colonist, Volume 2, Issue 67, 14 November 1844, Page 3

NELSON.

By the kindness of a gentleman per "Victoria,'' we have been favoured with the Nelson Examiner, of October 5th. Our friends there, as well as at Wellington, proceed angrily to discuss the propriety of the Governor's proceedings at the Bay of Islands. "Tai hoa." and we doubt not the matter will be cousidered in a more temperate manner. We perceive by the above paper that the Supreme Court held its first sittings in that settlement on the 1st of October, last, there were only two criminal cases for trial. Frederick Berry, charged by Potahi, a native, with killing a pig, was acquitted. John Green, and Owen Connor, charged by Joshua Sigley with killing a bullock, of which they were found guilty and sentenced to ten years transportation. The only case on the civil side was Hutchinson v Beit, a libel case, the trial of which was postponed on motion made by Mr. Poynteron the part of the defendent, on the ground of the absence of a material witness. On the 28th September, a Mr. W. F. Hippisley, a farmer, and a Mr. J. Griffin, were drowned in crossing the Waimea, a Mr. Bolton, who was with them had a very narrow escape. The Jury on the inquest returned a verdict of "Accidental death," and urged upon the Coroner he should lay before the Governor the absolute want of a bridge. "We copy extract from the same paper: Oil Casks.—Commodore Berard, of the French corvette " Le Rhin," has sent the following communication respecting the method adopted at Akaroa for supplying oil casks :—"I caused a cask to be made thirteen English feet long, and rather more than three feet at its greatest diameter, and to hold about 714 gallons, and to contain a calf Whale. This cask has now been full of water for more than one month, and has not leaked a drop. The wood we have made use of is the kawia, or gowai. Mr. Clark, an English cooper, for some time established at Akaroa, is the person who pointed it out to me as the best for this purpose. He has already made, for the fisheries on this part of the coast, a great number of casks of this wood; and assures me they have answered perfectly well, inasmuch as no leakage of oil has taken place. The

kowai is a mimosa, common in the middle Island—the clianthus puniceus of the celebrated botanist Allan Cunningham. It grows, generally, near the sea shore, or on the banks of rivers, where it is found of great sixe : but those are not the best kinds, for it is remarked that the old trees of this species are nearly all rotten at the heart. This wood splits extremely well and very straight. Thus Mr. Clark obtains his staves with ease, by merely splitting the trunk. But for our cask, the staves of which are very long, we have found it impossible to use this cheap method, and have sawed the trees into planks about four inches wide, and \\ inch thick ; and, as we have used them at once, it has not been found necessary to heat them in order to bend them. Mr, Clark, however, informs me that to make smaller casks he used fire to render the staves flexible. In splitting the kowai, it is to be observed that there are two woods of different colours: one brownish red and the other yellow. The first is always the best and solidest; ,and, if possible, this only should be made use of. Nevertheless, a small portion of the yellow part may be left if it should be hard; otherwise, water, and much more oil, will filter through it. When it is necessary to use these mixed staves, attention should be paid to placing them in the upper bart of the cask (near the bande), for there the pressure of the liquid is less,"