NELSON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume I, Issue 48, 6 December 1851, Page 6

NELSON.

His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief has paid us his contemplated visit this week; but although Sir George arrived here only on Thursday morning, it is his intention to leave again to-morrow evening. The short stay of his Excellency is attributable, we believe, to the circumstance that he expects despatches from England will be awaiting him in Wellington. For the two clear days which his Excellency has been able to devote to business, the greater part of his time has been taken up in giving interviews on public, as well as on private affairs. As far as we are acquainted with the pirticulars, we shall briefly notice the result of those which concern the public. Yesterday a large deputation waited on his Excellency to ascertain his views in respect of Steam Communication for the colony, and whether his Excellency was favourable to the objects of the proposed Steam Company. The result was as satisfactory as could be wished ; his Excellency promising generally his support to the undertaking, and expressing a willingness to give as full.powers and privileges by charter to the Company, as are given to similar companies at home, His Excellency suggested that the heads of the charter required should be submitted to him, and promised to give the matter immediate consideration. The subject of fuel, so intimately connected with that of steam, led the same deputation to represent to his Excellency, how desirable it was that the Native title should be extinguished to the land in Massacre Bay, where the very excellent coal, which has lately been exhibited in Nelson, is found. The governor said that within a very short time, he hoped not exceeding two months, he should be able to extinguish the native title to the whole of the land within the Nelson Settlement; but observed that if it would tend to any practical benefit, he would endeavour to hasten the purchase of the Massacre Bay district. This morning a deputation waited on his Excellency, to learn generally his views with regard to incorporating the settlement of Nelson into a municipality, and what endowments the Government would be willing to bestow on such a corporation, if formed. As we presume the gentlemen who formed the deputation will call a public meeting to make known his Excellency's replies, we do not think it necessary on this occasion to go into particulars. The subject of opening the country beyond the present runs in the Awatere, so as to enable persons taking runs in'the Fairfield and Middlehurst Downs to reach their stations witk a draft or at least, with pack bullocks, was then brought under his Excellency's notice. It was suggested that funds to construct a road might be raised by applicants for runs paying three years in advance their contributions'for licenses and head money. To this the Governor objected, but stated that the Government would be willing to open the country with its own funds, provided it could be shewn that it would be re-imbursed in a few years by the contributions of stockowners; and particularly as the road, if maiiCi would give an inland communication between Nelson and Port Cooper. PI is Excellency premised that the valley of the Awatere, and the country beyond, should be explored, and the practicability of a road reported upon. The following particulars of the melancholy accident, attended with the loss of two lives, wln^ 1 occurred outside the mouth of Nelson harbour,

on Wednesday the 19th hist., are taken from the Nelson Examiner of November 22nd:— About nine o'clock, the gig belonging to the barque Lady Nugent, lying in the outer roads, was on her way to the shore with the captain, the second mate, two lads, (one named Parsons, the son of the late commander of the ship,) a constable named Fagan, and a young man from the shove named Druet. The wind had blown fresh during the night, and had left a considerable swell, and the gig, by keeping too close to $he shore, was struck by a heavy sea as she approached the harbour, and capsized. The captain, the mate, and Druet, and one of the lads, succeeded in getting hold of the keel of the boat, from which, however, they were constantly washed as she was struck and rolled over by successive seas, while Fagan, who was unable to swim, secured the mast of the boat, or some similar piece of wood, to which he firmly kept hold. The lad Parsons was thrown at some distance from the boat, and not succeeding in getting any support, although an oar was pushed towards him by one of his companions, he very soon sank; but before doing so got sufficiently near to Fagan to seize him by the body, which he relinquished as life left him. By the exertions of Capt. Taylor of the Mary, a coasting vessel, the three who clung to the boat were saved, and Cross the Pilot succeeded in rescuing Fagan, but we are sorry to add that Captain Melville and Parsons were both drowned." The Nelson Examiner censures very highly the conduct of the chief-constable Cawte in connexion with this affair, and imputes great blame to Captain Holton of the Columbus for not affording assistance, but in a postscript retracts the charges against the latter on the authority of Mr. Porter, an eye witness, who stated that Captain Holton and his crew incurved considerable danger in their efforts to rescue the drowning men, and did all that men could do in attempting, but ineffectually, to render them assistance.