Colonial.

Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 630, 20 November 1858, Page 5

Colonial.

NELSON. Tp GOLD FIELDS. , (From the ' Examiner's' Correspondent.) Collingwood, Oct. 30, 1858. I am glad to see by the letter of "Our Corespondent " and " A Correspondent," that, heir opinions of things here are the same as I lave always expressed; but all the writing eems to have little effect: for instance, how )ften has the" school question" been mooted, md yet nothing seems to be done in that natter ? Where does the fault lie ? Is it rith the committee here, or with that in Telson ? It is really too bad that the subject » not taken in hand by some one who will see : properly carried out; there is a schoolmaster ppointed and his salary ia going on, and yet *t'e have no school. • - - With regard to tho diggings there can bo no uestion about their success, as the returns for he winter months . show an average of more ;han oneounceporweokperman ; this,lamcredi•ly informed, ia as good aa at any othor dig•ings, with the advantage of a much finer limate than most.

But tho great thing we want i« " popnhtion." "'hrough the mtßwann^omont of tho Provincial lovernm'en't wo lost a large number of men ist year. Now is the time for the Government

to step out and do something. That part of the road in greatest use, namely, from Doctor's C.-eek to Waskbourne's Flat, Slate River, consists chiefly of very bad hills, which knocks up the working bullocks. Now, lam informed by a tradesman here, that a level road, about 12 ft. wide, with passing places for drays, can be properly made there at a cost of £5 per chain. As Wnshbourne's Flat will always be a sort of half-way store for the diggings, would it not be advisable to do this, more especi.ill3" as I know several persons are likely to purchase land all along the road, this present summer, if something of this sort is done. There ace several diggers gone to the Fitzroy from here, who will return if things are not so flourishing there as they expect, and no doubt they will bring more with them. Now it is to be hoped the diggers will not be driven away again through bad roads, as they were before. I am glad to hear that our Road Inspector, Mr. Higgins, has found a new track to Rocky River, which he can r^ach in four miles from Slate River. There are several matters, such as crossing creeks, &c, that might be done by the Government at a slight expense, and yet be of great benefit to the place. Before closing this letter, I must express a hope that some steps are being taken b}' the Executive towards having a bridge erected across the Slate River; thi* work has been po long expected that I am afraid it may be quiie forgotten. (From another Correspondent) November Ist, 1858. We have just heard of a man named Stephen Kirk finding a nuggett weighing Bozs. 14 dwts. This is an authenticated fact; and it is perhaps as well that it should be knoAvn, or some parties might imagine we were blowing a trumpet or getting a fanfaronade all about nothing, for the purpose of reviving the diggings, which are said by some people to have feebly died away. For the information of these parties, and doubtless their great disgust, we can affirm the diggings to be still in exi«tance, and are, at present either directly or indirectly mainaining a population of from 500 to 600 persons, (this includes the town of Collingwood.) Whether this is death or not, we will not pretend to say.