The Nelson Evening Mail WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1870.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 276, 23 November 1870, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1870.

A Petition signed by twenty- six of the unemployed of Nelson was yesterday presented to the Superintendent, and at a meeting of the Executive held in the afternoon, it was decided to provide them with work on the Main South Road. Although we were unawaro that there were many persons in the town out of work, we are not surprised to hear it, as, were it not so, Nelson would prove a brilliant exception among the towns of New Zealand, for in many of the other provinces a very large amount of destitution exists. In Canterbury, particularly, considerable disBatisfaction has been expressed among the labouring classes at the difficulty experienced by them in finding work enough to keep them from starving, and meetings comprising as many as tliree hundred at a time, have been held for the purpose of impressing upon the Government the necessity of providiug employment for those who must otherwise become paupers, dependent upoa charitable aid for their daily bread. This state of things appears to have been brought about in that pro-

vince by excessive immigration, while at the same time uo adequate provision was made for supplying the new arrivals with employment. In Nelsou, however, no such charge cau be brought against the Government, who have loug since ceased to introduce immigrants, excepting on a very small scale, but as it seems that there are men here who have no opportunity of makiDg theiv living, the Executive have acted wisely in deciding upon employing the petitioners in some way that shall prove beneficial to the country. We understand that the work which is to be immediately taken in hand is a cutting ou the saddle between the Wai-iti aud Rae Valleys, which at present forms a formidable obstacle to drays bound for the Upper Buller and Matakitaki districts, and when this is dooe, aDd the contracts lately given out for aside cutting on what is known as " David Kerr's Hill," are completed, two of the greatest bugbears to carriers between Nelson and the Upper Buller will have been removed, aud the cost of conveying stores lo that part of the province will necessarily be reduced in a corresponding degree. The road through the Big Bush, which at one time was looked upon by travellers to the Wairau with dread, is now in capital order, and, indeed, forms the pleasautest part of the journey to the Bulle"; and when the necessary repairs have been executed inthe Black Valley, aud the track down the Buller River has been put in good order, as we hope to see done this summer, the miners in that part of the country will be able to obtain their provisions from Nelson with a degree of facility that will leave them nothing to complain of. We are glad to see that the Government are alive to the necessity of opening up the communication with this district, and trust that so soon as the Wangapeka has been thoroughly proved to be as rich as we all hope and believe to be the case, they will turn their attentiou to the roads that will be required for transporting machinery aud provisions to the mines that are there waiting to be developed. New English Church at Richmond. — A meeting of those interested in the Church of England was held yesterday, when the following resolutions were agreed to : — Moved by Mr. Barnicoat, seconded by Mr. Canning. " That immediate steps be taken for the erection of a new church in the village of Richmond, and a committee be formed to raise the necessary funds for tbat purpose, to consist of Rev. Mr. Rusz Captain Walmsley, Messrs. Canning, Muntz, Harrington, Mackay, Nicholas, Hall, Benfield, Pickering, aod the mover." A resolution was also moved by Mr. Canning, and agreed to. " That the ladies of the Church Congregation at Richmond be respectfully requested to assist in raisiug contributions towards the said church there, and this meeting expresses the hope that Mesdames Barnicoat, Canuing, Harrington, Wither, O'Loughlan, Muntz, Thompson, Spenser, Gapper, Mackay, and others, will allow themselves to be appoiated as a committee for tbat purpose. The Bishop, who presided, announced that he had received donations of £25 each from Mr. Barnicoat and Mr. Canning ; he himself intended to give £10 this year and £10 next, if- the Building Committee approved of the suggestion to extend the subscriptions over two years, and to begin the work without delay. £50 had been received from the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, and several promises of donations were announced. It is hoped that as Richmond is in so central a position many will contribute to it. The design approved is by the late Mr. Beatson, and will form one of the prettiest of our churches when carried out. From £450 to £500 is required. The present church is far too small for the congregation which has assembled there for the last six months, and is also much dilapidated. — Communicated.