NELSON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IX, Issue 552, 17 February 1858, Page 5

NELSON.

We have papers to the 3rd instant. The Waste Lands Bill was read a third time and passed on the 22nd ult. We are unable to find a resume of its provisions in republications. An article in the ' Examiner' of the 27th ult. attacks the Genoial Government, especially the Governor and Colonial Secretaiy, very freely on the subject of steam communication and the administration of justice. Mr. Charles Elliott comes forward in proprid persond in the next issue to disavow the sentiments, and in a future

number a mildly compromising article is printed It does not appear how the public of Nelson think on the auestion.

The following paragraphs are interesting. Harvest.—Harvest is now progressing rapidly, the weather for it being very favourable In several instances, we regret to say, the heavy winds which have prevailed this summer have inflicted a good deal of damage on the cropsparticularly the violent wind which blew on Jmday last, which was only equalled by a similar gale at the same season, about ten years aeowhich, it may be remembered, shook out a considerable quantity of grain, the crops having then been suffered to stand too long The damage done on this occasion was not quite so great.— Examiner, Feb. 3. Sitting of the Supreme Coort.—His Honor the Judge would, it was expected, leave Wellington m the Taranaki, on Monday last, so that his arrival here may now be looked for hourly — Ibid. J' Extensive Fire at Spring Grove.—A most alarming and destructive fire occurred in this neighbourhood at about 10 o'clock on the morning of Friday last, caused by some sparks from a charcoal pit; the wind was blowing at the time from the S.W. The sparks having lighted some dry grass, the wind whirled the flames with almost lightning rapidity until they reached the premises of Mr. Ladley, which, together with outbuildings, stacks of grain, stackyard, and other property, were entirely consumed. We are informed that the loss will amount to from £300 jto .£4OO. The fire then crossed the road, destroying some fencing and a crop of wheat belonging to Mr. Haycock. Mr. C. White also lost a stack of hay, firewood, &c. The fencing around the Baptist Chapel was also burned, but the building, through the strenuous exertions of those present, was fortunately saved. When our informant left, the fire had not then been quite extinguished, but it was hoped, from the present favourable state of the weather, no further damage would accrue. It is with great regret we record so serious a calamity as that which has happened to Mr. Ladley, who is an old and much respected settler; however, a subscription will be immediately set on foot, the amount of which, we hope, will somewhat diminish his very great loss.— lbid. THE GOLD FIELDS. (From the Examiner.')

, We have had occasion more than once to express our regret that a large.number of persons should have been drawn to our gold fields at a season which, of all others, was the most unfavourable to test their real values. It was supposed that the spring of the year would be a favourable season for, the gold digger, forgetting that thisis the period in-New Zealand when the weather is most precarious, and that in such an Alpine country, every shower of rain must, at such a time flood all the rivers which have their sources in mountain ranges. It accordingly happened that the numerous diggers who nocked to the Aorere in the months of October and November last were unable to prosecute their work, and being unable to remain upon the ground, and-Vwait for-more favourable weather^ several hundreds of able and intelligent men, who had been attracted here by our auriferous wealth, were driven to leave the provin ;e, in some instances, we fear, less wealthy than when they arrived here. Then, again, our own rural population, who were induced to try their fortunes at gold-digging, and leave their farms last winter, after they had put their seed into the ground, have been compelled to return home to their harvest; so that now when the season has really arrived when the diggings can be worked to the greatest advantage, the number of diggers at work at the Aorere is comparatively small. The number of persons employed in gold-digging at this time is probably not more than 500, but we hear that all who are so engaged are doing exceedingly well, and whether their numbers are augmented or not from other places there is no doubt but that, after harvest, a large body of our own population will flock to the gold-fields. "We have not been able to ascertain the exact amount, but a large quantity of gold was brought across from the Aorere last week. We have heard of several instances of recent success at the diggings. One man, after an absence from Nelson of three months and four days, has just returned with 14ffis. 7ozs. of gold; and a party of four men have come across from the Aorere with 7olbs. of gold; and a man named Chapman, from Waimea, obtained in one day, in Golden Gully, 18 ounces of gold. Gold has also been found in the Riwaka valley, which shows that the metal is very widely disseminated.

A correspondent of the 'Examiner' writes as follows:— Collingwood, January 27, 1858. Since my last we have had the highest fresh yet experienced by the oldest inhabitant here, which has caused great havoc throughout the gold fields, carrying away dams, long toms, and tools of all descriptions. To give you some slight idea of this flood, I may state that the main river rose at the ferry by Salisbury's creek 28 feet, of course carrying away the boat supplied by Mr. Washbourne, and stopping all communication to the ranges by the new route for two days, in which time our energetic friend in that quarter had another boat built. With the exception of a slight rush to the Maori gully, the ranges have but comparatively few at work on them, owing to the scarcity of water there after a few dry days. lam surprised the diggers there do not take more precaution in preserving water for. their use when they have it so plentiful, which might easily be accomplished by simply damming it back. While writing about this quarter, I cannot help calling attention generally to the fact that 1 a beautifully modelled whale-boat about 30 ft. long has been built at the ranges, and in about a month from this time we niay expect to see it coming down the Aorere, and leaving the port for the North Island. What may we expect next ? At Salisbury Creek there are a few diggers doing well, and a large party (partly natives) diverting part of the river, which seems a favourite scheme just uom', as there is a mrty engaged in a similar operation at the Bouider iver, as well us several others on the Slate river.

There are a few still at work in Appoo's gully, who are getting some heavy samples of gold, but the great field of operation is Golden gully, where there are a large number of diggers and all seem to be doing well. The celebrated Slate River through the above rash is now nearly deserted; but there is still a good living to be obtained on almost any part of it, and I would recommend new comers to try their luck there until they hear of something better turning up. We hear also of gold being obtained now in a gully between the Half-way House and Appoo's Flat, but I will inform you more about this in my next. It Is a great pity, after all that has been written and talked of, that we have no Government road work to employ surplus labour on. If bullock drays could get from Slate River Perry to the Ferry at Salisbury's Creek, so that provisions &c, could be conveyed cheaper to the Ranges, I believe from what has already been done there, and from the appearance of that district generally, that it would prove a good payable gold field, and the road would run through a beautiful bush country, well watered, and in all ways well adapted for a settled digging population. Chamber op Commerce.—We are glad to perceive that a Chamber of Commerce is being established at Nelson of which Mr. Ridings is the Honorary Secretary.