NELSON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume I, Issue 11, 22 March 1851, Page 7

NELSON.

Grants from the Crown are immediately to be given to the purchasers of land in the Neison settlement. This will be highly satisfactory information to all who are interested in the land question. We learn that the Governor has given instructions for cutting a survey line immediately between Nelson and the Wairau, by the Pelorus and Kaituna, and that Mr. Barnicoat will proceed immediately with the work. His Excellency has stated that he will take instant measures to purchase these districts of the natives. Dinner to F. D. Bell, Esq.—A dinner given to this gentleman on Thursday last, on the cessation of his labours as the New Zealand Company's agent, brought together a highly respectable and numerous body of settlers. We cannot report the proceedings this week, but will do so in our next. The visit of his Excellency the Governor to Nelson, has been regarded by all classes as a general holiday. He has made himself very agreeable, kind, and affable in his demeanour; particular in his enquiries into our state ; hastening to bestow on us all the substantial benefits that lay in his power, such as the road through the Pelorus river into our pasture lands at Wairau, and the acquiring of the intermediate lands containing many thousand acres of rich alluvial soil. All opposition to his measures appears to be silenced. His explanations to the deputation appointed to confer with him as to his Provincial Councils Bill were very satisfactory. To those who had the pleasure of being present on the occasion, the surprise was great, when one after another explanation was made. He did not think that any industrious settler should be deprived of the franchise. He thought that the members of both Chambers should be elected. The general impression of tlie deputation as they retired was, that nobody could speak fairer. Yesterday was a grand gala day for scholars and their parents and teachers. His Excellency was evidently pleased with the shew. The Hon. Mr. Dillon, Chairman, and Messrs. Bell, Monro, Travers, &c, assisted the Ministers present with examination of the children in various branches of knowledge. But the singing was the chef cVcsuvre, his Excellency was highly delighted with it. His Excellency's address to all of us at the close of the day's proceedings, was replete with sentiments of catholicity and good will.

Some of his friends gave him a dinner last night at Sullivan's, and from all accounts it was very numerously and respectfully attended. About 150, I am told, sat down to dinner, and the various, speeches, toasts, &c, afterwards were all they ought to be. Nothing, I am told, could exceed the manner in which his Excellency's health was drunk—the enthusiastic cheering was as Dominie Sampson would say, prodigious, and lasted for some minutes. What has become of the opposition? This enquiry is raised on all hands. We have had a plentiful harvest, all safely housed in the fine dry weather of the last five or six Aveeks, and we are ready for a good soaking shower or two, as our gardens and paddocks about town and country are getting burnt up. All sorts of farmer's produce will fetch fair remunerating prices this year; and we have, as settlers, very little to grumble about. Unless somebody should tread on our coat, we shall not be able to get up a row.