COLLING WOOD.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 220, 17 September 1870, Page 2

COLLING WOOD.

(prom a correspondent.) There are many speculations for capitalists here, among which are a water race to be brought into Bedstead Gully and over the rich hills in the neighborhood, and another water race for the quartz ranges, and then again a tramway with branches for conveying timber and firewood to Bedstead Gully and the claims already started and about to start in the vicinity. The little township is increasing steadily, and among the improvements may be named Mr. E. Solt's hotel, which promises to be a most commodious and comfortable building when finished, but as it was only commenced about a fortnight ago it will take a little time yet to complete. Then we have our bold American cousin Mr. Smith, who has erected a large-sized canvas covered building, and no doubt as times improve so will the substance of the building. Of course I do not mean to lose sight of the original Perseverance Hotel, kept by Mr. Valentine Bunkhili, whose was the pioneer house of the place, and from a mere shanty, has become a builing of considerable importance. There is a very good bakery kept by Mr. R. Scott, who has recently built a good house adjacent to the bakery, and whose window is adorned with rich cake, fancy bread, and other delicacies of the season. Mr. Watts of Pakawau, has built a blacksmith's shop, with forge adjacent, but has not yet commenced business. One cannot say much for our dray roads which ou rainy weather are sloughs of despond, whilst in fine, the clay is so stiff that you almost require a team of bullocks to draw your foot out. As to the claims, I have been able to gather the following information: — The Commercial. The contractors having finished their contract, are awaiting further orders from the directors in Nelson. They have now pierced the hill to a distance of 172 ft., or thereabouts, but though they have crossed two or three promising leaders they have not reached the main reef, which they expect will require a further drive of 30 or 40 ft., and it is hoped that there will be no hindrance to this being carried out. Mount Ophir — The contract for taking out 10 tons of the rich cement from two distinct places in this claim has been taken by two competent men, and a return of the crushing may be looked for in about a fortnight or three weeks, and should the result turn out according to the promising appearance of the stuff, a yield equal to that of the Perseverance may be expected. Coarse gold can now be seen plentifully sprinkled through the stuff. Decimal Claim — better known as Brace and Cook's, immediately adjoining the Perseverance, will be commenced within a week or so, and with every probability of

rich results as it is the same reef that runs through the Perseverance claim; the promoters have ensured sufficient water-power with 350 feet fall, and I believe that the machinery is already ordered, which will be worked by a turbine. The Perseverauce are really persevering well; the upper drive is in as far as the boundary, 4CO ft. more or less, where the reef is from 4 ft. to 5 ft. thick. The miners are now engaged in blocking out on each side of the drive what, in mining terms, are called upper and lower stopes, and there is no lack of the precious metal in the stuff coming out of this drive. The lower drive has reached to the distance of something over 230 ft., and the reef is here supposed to be 3 ft. thick, and is both above aud below the drive where the men. are at work equally rich with the upper drive. Pioneer — The contractors on thi3 claim are getting on well with their work having sunk about 5 or 6ft. below the former lead. The subscribers will be glad to hear that the specimens are as rich as ever, and another four or five weeks will prove its great value. The only information with regard to alluvial diggings is that there is a move in the direction of the Kaituaa where there are four or five parties now at work averaging from £2 to £4 per week per man. For remainder of News see Fourth page.

A Correspondent of the San Francisco Bulletin, whom that journal describes as "well-iuformed," contributes to it an. interesting letter on the " impetuous and constantly increasing tiJe of immigration which has beguu to direct its course to California from the cities and mines of Australia and New Zealand." If what he says, however, regarding the ill success of those who have left the Colonies for California is true, we should imagine that this "tide of immigration " will soon cease (o flow." We will let him speak for himself: — "The fortunes of the immigrants are various. Before the completion of the Central Pacific Railroad, most of those who came over from Auslralia and New Zealand found immediate employment at high rates of wages, but since then the aspect of things has entirely changed. The glowiug accounts sent over Ly the immigrants of a couple of years since, have had the effect of unsettling the ! minds of thousands ; since the beginning iof this year every ship that left Sydney has been obliged to turn away passengers. Over a thousand have arrived during that time, and these are the precursors of thousands more. The depression caused by the completion of the Central Pacific Railroad, the throwing of such numbers of laborers out of employment, and the consequent stagnation of business, has rendered the lot of many an immigrant a miserable one indeed. Enter one of the hotels in the lower part of the city, or the cheap boarding houses, and observe the air of listlessness or of despair settled on the brows of many of the loungers congregated there, the majority of whom, no doubt, are immigrants, and are fast approaching a state of impecuniosity, and ask yourself, is this the way in which the people of such a young and enterprising state should welcome such an army of able and willing workers, who could be made to contribute so largely to its wealth and advantage ? Many on the way settle down in Honolulu, which is a thriving, flourishing, little city. Those who come oa to San Francisco and have trades, generally get work, but some not more than half time, those who have been accustomed to quartz aud alluvial mining in Australia or New Zealand, or who have been there engaged on farms or stations succeed next best ; but professional men, clerks and laborers, are generally out of employment. Nearly all of these latter, who have had sufficient money, have gone back. Some who have wives are supported by them until they can find employment. The major part are simply spending what money they brought with them, and if things do not brighten up a little this summer, there will be plenty of misery, destitution, hunger and uakeduess, amongst them. In one house in Marketstreet, there are sixteen immigrants who have not done an hour's work since their landing two months ago, and this is but a sample of what may be found at many of the hotels and boarding houses throughout the City. Many of the proprietors of these establishments will never get a cent of large amounts owing to them, and thus what might be a source of prosperity to the State is, through the carelessness and inaction of those who ought to take the matter up, rapidly becoming a curse, as it is being converted into a source of pauperising one of the greatest evils that can affitct auy land.