NOTES FROM NELSON.

Lyell Times and Central Buller Gazette, Volume VI, Issue 288, 28 August 1886, Page 2

NOTES FROM NELSON.

(from our own correspondent.) _ • The Champion Mine. The directors and promoters of the new Company are leaving no stone unturned to float it, but so far with very unsatisfactory results. Ido not think there is much chance of their having sufficient shares taken up to start it again ; and the probability is that the liquidation will be proceeded with, and the affair be sold. One of the arguments used by the pro moters is, that unless Nelson people take shares in the new Company that the benefit will depart from us. To my mind the benefit is doubtful, if dividends is what is meant. On the other hand, if outsiders buy the concern, they cannot work it either tor their own profit or loss without employing labour, &c M so that there will not be a deal of difference as far as the general public is concerned. Gingerbread Titles.

Among the distinguished beings from this Colony, who have been made the recipients of birthday honours, is Dr. (now) Sir Julius Yon Haast. This gentleman's career in the Colony shows how possible it is for a man labouring under the double disadvantage of being a foreigner, unable on his arrival to make himself understood, and deficient of any special training, can, by sheer perseverance, cheek, and confidence in himself, attain the dignity of a knighthood. It is now nearly 30 years ago since the learned scientist first set foot in Nelson. He was here when his great countryman Yon Hochstetter came, and Nelson being then in its infancy, and its people grateful for the important and reliable observations of the renowned geologist, were only too glad to show honour to his acquaintances, however humble they were. So it came about that during Dr. Hochstetter's stay the foundation stone of the Nelson Institute was laid by that gentleman, and the occasion was made a holiday by all. The procession, if not as brilliant or as numerous as could be got together in these days of progress and poverty, was at anyrate earnest and sympathetic. A programme was printed for the occasion, [and that of itself was looked Upon as a triumph in civilisation then], and it set forth the order of the day. I can well recollect reading in it before the start the line " distinguished foreigners." It took my boyish fancy, and in company with other youths we made up our minds that this item was to be the most remarkable "feature of the day's show. Up to that time I do not think a circus had visited Nelson, and we all had an idea that a " distinguished foreigner" was a remarkable object. But the reality was not equal to the anticipation. 'Tis so in all things in this mundane sphere. Julius Von Haast was the only animal in that part of the cavalcade, and we were sorely disappointed, for he was only like the rest of the people. Afterwards, Hochstetter gave a lecture on the geology of the Province, and his predictions have, as a rule, turned out remarkably correct. For instance, he said the country about the Dun Mountain and Aniseed Valley being of a serpentine formatian was not likely to hold any reliable lodes. En passant y the Champion Copper Mine Company has found this statement to be true. Then, Von Haast having picked up some geological inspiration from his countryman, aud a limited knowledge of our copious mother tongue from interviewing colonials, began to look about for , something to do. At that time the West

Coast was a terra incognita. Absolutely nothing was known of it. The settlers here were anxious to know what was behind the high forbidding mountains on the west. The occasion made the man, and Yon Haast having imbibed sufficient geology from bis compatriot to kuow an oyster shell from a blowfly, was sent out to explore. He went with a party; in due time returned and reported; and there was no one to question the learned report he sent in to the Provincial Government as to the variety and extent of the deposits made by nature in the oolitic and zoopliytic ages. It was apparently learned, and did all« was intended by the explorer. It gave him the entree to the Colony as a savant, and a cheque into the bargain. Just then the Province of Canterbury was developing its resources, and the savant went for the new pastures with his recent achievement as an explorer asj a recommendation. He was installed as the director of the museum. The Provincial Government then had a large land fund at their disposal, and right royally did they spend it; the museum coming in for large grants. The discovery of large deposits of huge moa bones was really tho making of the Christchurch museum what it now is: about the eighth in the world. For the bones as curiosities being so valuable, were readily exchanged for other curios with foreign museums, and thus the deceased big birds did more good after death than during life. In addition to these advantages there were several patriotic residents who liberally gave valuable statuary, pictures, &c., to enrich the institution, so that altogether the Christchurch museum had exceptional advantages. Dr. Yon Haast's reputation as a geologist clung to him, and many were the chunks of rock which found their way to him for inspection ; and the boys sometimes played heathenish tricks on the savant. At one period of my career I was engaged in boring for coal in the Malvern hills, and about a mile away a coal mine was at work, and there was a large fire-brick kiln in connection with the colliery. The owner was a

Highlandman, with more appreciation of humour than most of his country men. One day, when they wore cleaning up the kiln, I noticed some of the bricks iu the bottom had been distorted out of all shape by the intense heat, and as they had such a peculiar look about them I suggested that we should take one to the museum to see what Von Haast had to say about it. A few days after we went to town, and took the brick to the geologist and asked him what it was. He eyed it learnedly through his spectacles, and said it was undoubtedly a primary rock, aud after a little more investigation he said it was some crackjaw name which I now forget, but he wrote it down for us. We went home delighted with our success, aud for some weeks afterwaids there wasn't a miner from that district but sent or took him bricks enough to build another mnseum. Another Fancy Project. A Mr Hughes, erstwhile a Champion mine manager, tramway engineer, &c., has

presented the City Council with a plan of a road round the rocks to cost £3500 only. This road round the rocks is an alliterative poetical sort of fad which crops up in all sorts of unexpected ways. It was the subject of special legislation under the Roads and Bridges Act. It was a part and parcel of the great £SOOO loan authorised last year by the City corporation for the purpose of getting into hot water legislation and extermination of the ward system and some of the councillors. It was left out of that loan when raised because the balance could not be got out of the General Government, but it still crops up when other subjects fail, or when some body strikes a new idea regarding it. Now as Mr Hughes is a man of leisure, and has had some experience in tramways, [Carl Heinrich said he did'nt know much about them, but blamed Hughes for fooling away the Champion capital] proposes to make a tramway, a cart road, and a foot path built on wooden pillars for £3500, and to back up his statement the irrepressible Akersten again comes to the front and says it can be done for the money. He is a large hearted man is this Akersten. He came to Mr Climie's help in the same way a month or two ago, but such is the ingratitude of this wicked world, not a soul came to his help in his harbour board scheme where he proposed to do a million and a-half's worth of work for £IOO,OOO. Now I have as much faith in the road rottnd the rocks at that price as I have of Climie's mud flat reclamation, or Akersten's fancy harbour, and as Cr. | Webster very appositely pointed out at the last meeting—lf Akersten is a true prophet the rocks will in three years be all covered over with shingle and sand, so where is the need of a viaduct. But then this Webster is like Korari —Deficient in faith, and therefore to be avoided. Korari.