NELSON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 621, 20 October 1858, Page 3

NELSON.

We have papers to the 9th October. Coal.—A company was being formed to work a Coal Mine, in the immediate neighbourhood of the Town, on land the property of Mr. A. G. Jenkins. The Coal is spoken of as being superior to any yet discovered in New Zealand, and suitable for both domestic and steam purposes. Mr. Campbell, and Mr. Henderson had tried it in mills, and Mr.

-TOifclson in his brewery, and all speak approviii o 'ly. Mr. VVrey on the other hand says, " his first impression of the coal was, that it bid fair to become a good household coal, and § some -^persons thought it might do for steam engines. From what he had seen of the coal then burning in the stove in the room, he was convinced that it would not do for steam purposes, since as soon as the lumps were poked they crumbled into small particles, whioh would choke the bars of a furnace. The coal was_of the species called lignite, and he was of opinion that all the coal in New Zealand was of the same species." Public Holiday.—A day had been set apart by his Honor the Superintendent as a public holiday in honour of the Princess Royal's marriage, it was duly observed as such, The Government and public offices and most of the shops were closed, and several pleasure parties availed themselves of the opportunity to visit the Rabbit Island, the Boulder Bank, and other places. In the evening a ball took place in the Masonic Hall, which was #aily decorated for the occasion, and a party of sixty or seventy enjoyed themselves, to the utmost of their expectation. A sr.iall illumination (tie first oE the kind in Nelson,) was successfully carried out by Mr. Winterburn, and -consisted of the letters P. R. and a star, illuminated with various coloured lamps, being fixed over the front of the Hall. This attracted •a good deal of attention ; while the juveniles were determined to play their part and celebrate the event by a large bonfire on the mud flat. Nelson Coa.l Miking Company.—We understand that upwards of 1,300 shares have been already taken in this company, and as the share list will remain open for only a short time longer, it will be well for those who coh•template investing their capital in this undertaking to lose no time in applying for shares. Good coal has been found at Auckland; we have every reason to believe that equally good coal exists here.; and it will perhaps be not alto- j .gether inappropriate, if on this occasion we quote, with a slight alteration, the words of an immortal hero and say, " Nelson expects every man to do his duty." THE GOLD FISLDS. The following letters are from the correspondent of the " Examiner " : — Collingwood, Sept. 23,1558. Having noticed in the 'Examiner' of the 11th instant, under the head of " Local Intelligence," that the number of actua\<diggers here is estimated at from 160 to 300,1 beg to hand you «omething like a correct census of that population, which is as follows, namely— Rocky River........ 147 From Moonlight Flat to Devil's Hi 11...... 56 Golden and other Gullies in that neighbourhood ..." 60 Parapara, Appoo's, and Lightband's Gullies 30 Manrope to Washbourne's Flat 20 •Quartz Ranges... 19 doctor's Creek........ 6

Total 338 This is as near as it is well possible to arrive at the matter, although, if anything, it is rather under than over the mark. The number of natives comprised in the above estimate will be 70 at'the. Kooky River and 10 at the Parapara. The number of men, who are all diggers, at present at work on the Government road is 40, and there are 12 or 15 engaged at other works, such as sawing, splitting rails, &c. Thus you will observe that the present number is just about 400. Having taken some slight trouble to settle this matter, which few here have been lately able to agree upon, you may depend upon its accuracy. The general diggings here are in a very satisfactory state, although Ihe weather is quite the reverse, being just such as I used to write •you about twelve months since. The Rocky lliver has turned out very well, and still continues to do so when weather permits. The Jfanrope party (which is diverted into two parties now) are averaging at least an ounce per man a week. At the Quartz Ranges there are two small sluicing parties, besides Mr. Wash-

bourne's party of eleven, who all seem perfectly -satisfied : and there is a new gully lately found -near Gola.?n Gully, which, 1 hear, is yielding .a very good harvest. The sluicing operations ■on "the old ground at Lightband's Gully turn ■out very -well where there is water enough tc work ; arid at the celebrated Appoo's Gully all seem satisfied. Thus you will see that they look healthy-; and, in the course of six week.*, when fine weather may be looked for, I fully expect -to see some four or five hundred old ■faces'back here again. • - But we must have something done in the shape of new -tracks or roa'fls to the r.ew rushes, fluch as Snow's Rush, Rocky River, &c,, or there will ho another repetition of our losing our popur-ilion as before, when, -through the same sh.imaful neglect, we dwindled down'from 2000 to 500. I will just give you one instance, us we stand now. Two storekeepers at Uocky Rsvcr,-oat of the three there, have the whole of their working bullocks knocked up through the abominable state of the road. Surely a-few men '.-night'be taken off their present roadwork for a week or two,- to improve this road, where half the present population are settled, and are. likely to be fora long time, as the bank* are turning out first-rate,- a« well as the river bed. Tiifi fact is, that if.something is not ■ done at once, t\\*-.re. will be a shortness of food there, and endless vows s\m\ squabbles, through men having to leave their chums ibr two- or ihvea days -to fetch provisions from the. port t!>e?njH»]vfi.i'. -iAs'TrVafihbourne is engaged at the ■QtiHvtz KftngpH, ho cannot aparo time to run ■ .aback-looking- after .new trucks, as he did;

although I hear he was offered Bs. por day by the Superintendent, if he liked to do so.

I wrote'-to you some four months ago, about having a school built here; but I see very litfcle chance of our having one this side of Christinas at least, as I do not hear of the timber having been ordered yet. This is too bad, as there are from fifty to sixty children with nothing to do but run about the street, learning the English tongue indeed, but hi its most vulgar sense. I think likewise that in any other part of the Christian world there would have been a church or chapel erected, after 600 inhabitants had been settled for upwards of twelve months. Our legislators should think of these things, especially at the time the Judge charges the grand jury at each sittiug of the Supreme Court, with respect to the increasing drunkenness and crime. You will see by an advertisement, that it is intended to have some races Jiere. There are three events already settled, namely, a Diggers' Gold Cup, Innkeepers' Purse, and the Storekeepers' Plate. The time will partly depend on the convenience of those geutlemen who may be inclined to enter horses for the above.

Collingwood, September 30, 1858. In my last I mentioned the probable chance of there being a shortness of provisions at the new rush, i. c.. Rocky River, through the shameful neglect of the proper authorities in not seeing that something like passable roads were maintained. This has already proved too true, as last Sunday the stores there were short of the principal necessaries, viz.. flour, tea, and sugar; and were it not for the extraordinary exertions of the three storekeepers there, the majority of the diggers would be driven away. It doe? seam paradoxical, that a bonus should jbe offered for the discovery of a gold-field, and when found that no effort should be made to keep it. The same thing will happen again when fine weather sets in, if we have, as all expect, a great increase in the digging population; tho rushes will be to the second forks of the Slate River, and Snow's Rush. Now is the time for some arrangement to be made with regard to tracks there. If this were aseparate province, you.-would see a very different state of things, and why should it not be seen to now? Abmt four good men would make a great and satisfactory alteration in these bullock tracks in a few weeks, which slight expense would probably cause the setr tling of a great number here. Afc the Slate River crossing, the want of a bridge is greatly felt, ferry boats are of no use; although I hear that Mr. Hornby, a storekeeper, offered to keep on one constantly, for the privilege of having a free licence, which is equal to £20. But, as I said before, a bridge is wanted. Our Superintendent, Snd most of the great men of Nelson have seen this place, and know the necessiry of it, and it ought to have been done for the last month or two. All who have crossed there hare done so at the risk of their lives, Is this right? I expect that until the General i Government take the matter entirely into their own hands, we shall have nothing done that is wanted. -. . . . -