NELSON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 398, 30 August 1856, Page 6

NELSON.

By the arrival of the " Spray" we have Nelson papers to the 16th inst. The " Examiner" of the 13th has the following paragraph referring to the Nelson Gold Fields. "A claim has been put in for the premium for the discovery of a workable gold field, by a party of iheu who have explored some of the upper tributaries to the Motueka "river. The claim was lodged by a man named Price, who states that he is one of a party of five who have been out prospecting for the last three months, and that their search was attended with little success until they reached a "valley called Wongapeka, the waters of which run into the river Motueka, where they found gold in larger quantities, and with such indications.as led them to to believe that a rich field exists there. Having little or no provisions, Price did not wait to see the field fully tested ; but with the first produce of their exertions (which, however, only amounted to 2 oz.) came off to Nelson to procure food for the party, and to lodge a claim for the premium. We tell the story as it has reached us, without venturing any opinion on the value of the said discovery. We hare seen the gold brought by Price, which is certainly of good quality, better we think than*any we have seen before; and provided it can be obtained in qnantitythe claim for the discovery of a workable gold field "may be well sustained. Discovery of a Bed of Alum.—Some large pieces of Alum were brought into town yesterday by the master of a small coaster, who had found.a bed of it somewhere on the coast; at no disUnce we believe from our harbour, but the spot has not been named to us. Breach of the Native Land Purchase Ordinance.-—On Thursday last, the master of the ' Ariel' schooner was summoned hy Mr. Sharp, the officer appointed to lay informations under the Native Land Purchase Ordinance, for cutting spars on D'Urville's Island, being land still in the possession of the natives, and which they have hitherto declined to sell. By the terms of the ordinance any persons who shall be found occupying, cultivating, cutting trees, &c, or getting minerals from such lands, are liable to a penalty of not less than five nor more than one hundred pounds. As in this instance the master had acted in ignorance of the ordinance, the lowest penalty was inflicted, —July 26th.