NELSON.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 203, 10 July 1847, Page 3

NELSON.

. ; - [From the Nelson Examiner, June 26.] We are glad to welcome back from Wanganui Mr. Bell, wbo r with his family and the Wreck of his property, has come down in the Hero. The Star of China, with eighteen or twenty head of cattle, which he obtained by purchasing them back from t!-e natives, was to foHow m *- fevr day s, as soju «*s the tide tose sufficient to allow- her to come over the bar, and we may theti expect to see some other Wanganui settlers. Mr. Bell's name it well known to the readers of Mr. Wakefield's " Adventures in New Zealand," as the pioneer of the Wanganui sett'ement, and indeed the only European there who ever succeeded in getting permission from the natives to break up more land than would be considered necessary for a good-sized garden. The perseverance and tact which he then displayed is most amusingly related by the writer in question, in an extract which we printed at the time the book first reached the colony. Mr. Bell, after visiting Nelson a few weeks ago, and arranging for a fifty-acre section of land with the Company's Agent, went back to Wanganui, satisfied that there was one spot in New Zealand where the hopes which led him to the colony might yet be realized ; for, had he not found ihac he could make a home here, it was his intention to return to South Australia, which he had formerly visited. Mr. Bell found, on returning to Wanganui, that during bis absence his corn had given subsistence to the enemy ; that his remaining ricks, together with his house,, had been hurned down ; that his cattle had been slaughtered or driven away ; and, to make the matter better, was told bythe Governor that there was but small hopes of his receiving any compensation from Government. This was- enough to break the sprits of. most n}en ; but no one, to see the old laird iiere, "would fancy that he was the man who .had just witnessed the destruction of so much of the fruit of the toils of a long life. His indomitable spirit seems superior to all difficulties ; and he looks confidently forward to a couple of years to retrive, in some measure, his misfortunes. We think it scarcely necessary to suggest to our settlers, that here is an excellent opportunity of showing their readiness, in this distant country, to stand by one another in misfortune. We understand Mr. Bell has had about a dozen acres of land cleared during his absence. Where are the dozen, or two dozen ploughs to break it up for him, that he may not lose the crop of next season ? One or two da s 1 ploughing from a few of his brother settlers, would make the commencement of his labours light. We understand that the labours of the committee of landowners and agents, held last week, has terminated very satisfactorily, and that there is every probability that an arrangement will be effected with the New Zealand Company, that shall be agreeable to all parties. As the report of the committee will be made to the whole body of landowners next week, when it will undergo a general discussion, it is not necessary that we should now farther allude to it.