NELSON. [From The Nelson Examiner, July 22.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 317, 12 August 1848, Page 2

NELSON. [From The Nelson Examiner, July 22.]

The importation of stock which has taken place in this settlement for the last eight months, is worthy of greater notice than we have hitherto bestowed upon it, for it shows more forcibly than anything we can say, the progress which Nelson is making. We learn from Messrs. Fell and Co., auctioneers, that since the 25th November last, there have been 5500 sheep, 569 head of cattle, and 35 hordes imported and disposed of, and which have realised altogether the sum of £7981 12s. 9d. In addition to this, ten horses and a few head of cattle have been imported by individuals for their own use, to the value of about £400 ; and a sale of cattle belonging to the estate of the late Captain England, the produce of which was remitted to England, brought £500. This gives together, £8881 12s. 9d., invested in stock in Nelson within eight months. But further still, there is the importation of cattle and •heep made by Mr. Gouland, one of our settler*, at the Wairau, where the brig Bee has landed two cargoes. If we reckon these at only £750, it will give a total of upwards ot £9600. In comparing this importation with what may have taken place in other settlements, it must be remembered that nearly the whole of this stock is for the purpose of breeding, and has consisted principally of ewes, heifers, and mares ; and with the exception of Mr. Gouland's importation, and a small flock of 200 sheep belonging to a gentleman who arrived in the colony last summer, nearly the whole of this large sum has been invested by our original settlers. Here then is a capital of nearly £10,000 sunk in stock iv the. course of eight months, in a little community that does not number 3,000 souls. No small portion of this capital too, be it said, belonged to tbe labouring classes of the settlement. We were desirous of showing also the amount of produce which bad been exported from Nelson during the present year, but on applying at the Custom-house for permis&ion to look at the manifests of the vessels which have cleared out, we were told ihftt, in consequence of some late instructions from the Lieutenant-Governor, *no information of a statistical nature; could be given without -orders from the Colonial Secretary. We can therefore only state the number of vessels which have sailed coastwise, laden with flour, grain, beer, bacon, dairy produce, timber, &c, without specifying its value, and we find this to be thirty-four, which gives an increase of twenty over the same period of last year. These facts show a steady healthy progress ; and with additional labour, and the aid of steam navigation, tbe prosperity of the settlement would be ensured.