New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK’S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, November 29, 1851.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 660, 29 November 1851, Page 3

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK’S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, November 29, 1851.

ITtg — — J,* vuv *-• vr »v» *iv»i - *i>-Oi*ki.l *'C—turned on Wednesday evening from Nelson in the Government Brig, after a quick passage of twenty-four hours. Our extracts from the Nelson Examiner shew that* during his short visit to Nelson, his Excellency, in his replys to the different deputations that waited upon him, has been desirous of doing all in his power to promote the interests and wishes of the settlers, particularly with regard to local steam communication, and the opening of the country for the occupation of stock. The Examiner cnnta

jds a report of an alleged discovery of >old in the Fairfield downs, which on subsequent examination proved to be a mistake, he supposed gold being sulphate of iron. We may, however, congratulate our fellow settlers at Nelson on the possession of what, n our opinion, is much belter than gold, ind about which there is no mistake, the liscovery namely in the Massacre Bay district of copper ore, the specimens of which yield seventy-five per cent, of metal, in the vicinity of a fine vein of coal •yhich, by all accounts, is not only superior to any yet discovered in New Zealand, but superior even to New South Wales coal. It is impossible to over estimate the value of this last discovery, especially at this time, when we appear to be on the eve of obtaining what we believe will prove the greatest advantage that can be conferred on New Zealand, the advantage of local steam communication. Of the value of the coal however our readers mav judge for themselves, as through the kindness of his Excellency, samples (which have been brought over in the Government Brig) have been sent to our office for general inspection.

While on the subject of mineral discoveries we may allude to the report which was generally circulated in Wellington yesterday an alleged discovery of gold in the Upper These specimens, as well as those Awarded from Otago have been subjected to a careful examination by Dr. Ralph the secretary of the New Zealand Society, and ln neither was he able to detect the slightest of the precious metal. But we hope 0 furnish a more detailed account of the Xa mination of both specimens in our next k°^ Cr ’ in the report of the proceedings of e New Zealand Society.

have this week to record the death, at the advanced age of 82 years, of Mr. Adam Reid, one of the first colonists of this settlement. Mr. Reid arrived in Wellington the earl y part of 1840, in the Bengal Merchant, one of the ships which brought out the first body of settlers, and was a land purchaser in the Wanganui district.