NELSON.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume II, Issue 97, 4 July 1846, Page 3

NELSON.

The natives residing at Massacre Bay, who refused to receive the sum of £290 from Mr. Commissioner Spain during his visit to Nelson in August 1844, as the final compensation for their land from the New Zealand Company, have now for some time manifested a desire to receive the_ money. From the difficulty of getting the whole of the natives interested in the la'td together in Nelson at one time, the police magistrate found it necessary to visit their district, and accordingly he started in the Erena for Massacre Bay on Wednesday evening, accompanied by Mr. Fox, the Company's agent, the Rev. C. L. Reay, the Rev. J. Aldred,, and the Government interpreter, Mr. Tinline. The magistrates of Nelson who, resigned their commissions when threatened with dismissal by Governor Fitzßoy for issuing a warrant for the apprehension of the Wairau murderers, have received a circular from Major Richmond, requesting to be informed whether they will now allow their names to be placed on the commission of the peace. A similar application has been made to the gentleman who was acting as Police Magistrate, and who received his dismissal at the same time for having a work of an " infidel" writer on his book-shelf. The liberality of Captain Grey in this matter will be appreciated by the Nelson settlers. j

Exploring. —A native from the West! Coast, who arrived lately at Massacre Bay, had met Messrs. Brunner and Heaphy some way down the coast. These gentlemen left Nelson about eleven weeks ago to explore the coast to the mouth of the river flowing from the Rotuiti and Roturoa lakes, and, if practicable, to the Matukituki valley, visited by them in 'company with Mr. Fox in February last. In addition to the native whom they took with them, they were accompanied, when seen, by two others whom they had picked up on their way. The late heavy rains will have increased the difficulties of their journey and delay their return, but should their stock of provisions be exhausted, they will find little difficulty in procuring abundance of. food by the aid of their native com- ' paniotis. We have extracted from a subsequent number of the Nelson Examiner the following letter from Mr. Heaphy, giving an account of his progress :—: — " 28th April, Tepuru, Cape Foulweather. " My dear Sir, —'Having an opportunity of communicating, I avail myself of it, to let you kn'nv our progress hitherto. We left Pakawea on the 27th ultimo, and Wanganui on the 30th, having experienced some interruption from Nga Niho, of that place, who endeavoured to prevent our proceeding. We passed Rocky Point on the 16th instant, reaching Karamea River (marked on the chart of Wyld's as 'Low coast') on the 20th. On the 22d rafted ourselves over, and reached this place lastnight, when we met the native Aperaeama, who takes this. The natives at Araura are anxious to see you. They especially desire baptism. We have had very unpropitious weather: eighteen wet days detaining us. Near Rocky Point we had some very bad walking for about six days, having to descend some fearful places in the cliff, where the ropes were rotten. At what is marked on Wyld's chart as ' Very steep coast, remarkable fissure,'we have just passed, and have at last some good walking on sand beaches in prospect. We are upon the projecting point of Cape Foulweather, the Three Steeples bearing W. by S., distant eighteen miles; or in latitude 41deg. 43min. The whole of the point before us is of fine, level, wooded land, with the Kawa-tiri river (that flowing from the lakes Roturoa and Rotuiti) passing through it to the coast, about a day's journey beyond us. The Araura is about ten days' journey farther and appears to be what is marked as ' River Rapid,' by Cook. The land we have passed has been mostly hilly and useless; at Karamea there is about eighty square miles of good, level land, all wooded, with a river navigable for boats: it lies directly behind the Motueka snowy- mountain, from Nelson, and the head of its river must approximate with that of the Takaka. We are in good health, but rather weakened by the want of vegetable food, not having had any.bread for a 'week; the flour falling short through the detentions caused by bad weather; we, however, have lOlb. left as a reserve. It is not probable that we go to Port Cooper, as I intimated, as it is reported that the inland rivers will be too much flooded. We intend staying about a week at Araura, and will probably be in Nelson by the middle of June. " I imagine there have been stirring times in Nelson with the Governor and the squadron, &c, and that all the good folks,hate been enjoying themselves rather more than we have, our trip thus far having.been rather of the uncomfortable order. " " I remain, my dear Sir, " Your's very truly, £* Rev. "C. L. Reay. " Cham,es Heafhy. I<* • —