NELSON.

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

NELSON.

The latest intelligence from England is of a mixed character, as far as it affects the interests of New Zealand. We learn that the negotiations for settling definitely the question of our Trust Funds, and which it was thought likely would be brought to an early conclusion, have for the present been suspended, in consequence of the Government and the Company disagreeing about the debt °f £268,000 claimed by the latter body. What can be the nature of this difference? We have no authority for saying what it is; yet we believe we could hazard a guess, without being far wrong. In the winding up of affairs between these parties, the Government has learnt that the Company, instead of compensating its land purchasers in the colony out of its own estate, has very largely appropriated the public estate for that purpose, and the Government therefore seem to think that, to the extent of the loss which the colony has thereby sustained, the Company should be made responsible out of its promised £268,000. No one can deny the justice of this; and although we cannot assert positively that the Government will insist on the Company paying its own debts, we believe that it has some intention of doing so. As straws determine the current, so much may be learnt from trifles, when properly regarded. We heard the other day that the Directors of the Company were using all their influence with Earl Grey to upset the Nelson compensation awards. How is it wa never heard of their disapproval of the conditions of the land settlement before ? While they believed they were paying off the claims against them with public property, they were perfectly easy and saw nothing wrong in the proceeding, but if they got a hint that the Government would not suffer Peter to be robbed to pay Paul, they would be very likely to speedily change their views. Let us hope that the Government will deal justly by the colony, and not sacrifice its interests to the cupidity of half adozen of its parliamentary supporters. —Nelson Examiner, November 8. His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief has paid us his contemplated visit this week; but although Sir George arrived here only on Thursday morning, it is his intention to leave again to-morrow evening. The short stay of his Excellency is attributable, we believe, to the circumstance that he expects despatches from England will be awaiting him in Wellington. For the two clear days which his Excellency has been able to devote to business, the greater part of his time has been taken up in giving interviews on public, as well as on private affairs. As far as we are acquainted with the particulars, we shall briefly notice the result of those which concern the public. Yesterday, a large deputation waited on his Excellency to ascertain his views in respect of Steam Communication for the colony, and whether his Excellency was favourable to the objects of the proposed Steam Company. The result was as satisfactory as could be wished ; his Excellency promising generally his support to the undertaking, and expressing a willingness to give as full power and privileges by charter to the Company, as is given to similar companies at home. His Excellency suggested that the heads of the charter required should be submitted to him, and promised to give the matter immediate consideration.

The subject of fuel, so intimately connected with that of steam, led the same deputation to represent to his Excellency how desirable it was that the Native title should be extinguished to the land in Massacre Bay where the very excellent coal, which has lately been exhibited in Nelson, is found. The Governor said that withiu a very short time, he hoped not exceeding two months, he should be able to extinguish the native title to the whole of the land within the Nelson settlement ; but observed that if it wo’dd teud to any practical benefit, he would endeavour to hasten the purchase of the Massacre Bay district.

This morning, a deputation waited on his Excellency, to learn generally his views with regard to incorporating the settlement of Nelson into a municipality, and what endowments the Government would bo willing to bestow on such a corporation, if formed.

As we presume the gentlemen who formed the deputation will call a public meeting to make known his Excellency’s replies, we do not think it necessary on this occasion to go into particulars.

The subject of opening the country beyond the present runs in the Awatere, so as to enable persons taking runs in the Fairfield and Middlehurst Downs to reach their stations with a dray, or at least, with pack bullocks, was then brought under his Excellency’s notice. It was suggested that funds to construct a road might be raised by applicants for runs paying three years in advance their contributions for licenses and head money. To this the Governor objected, but stated that the Government would be willing to open the country with its own funds, provided it could be shown that it would be re-imbursed in a few years by the contributions of stockowners ; and particularly, as the road, if made, would give an inland communication between Nelson and .Port Cooper. His Excellency promised that the valley of the Awatere, and the country beyond, should be explored, and the practicability of road reported upon, —lbid, November 22.

The following particulars of a melancholy accident, attended with the loss of two lives, which occurred outside the mouth of Nelson harbour on Wednesday, the 19th inst., are taken from the Nelson Examiner of 22nd November:—

“ About nine o’clock, the gig belonging to the barque Lady Nugent, lying in the outer roads, was on her way to the shore with the captain, the second mate, two lads (one named Parsons, the son of the late commander of the ship), a constable named Fagan, and a young man from the shore named Druet. The wind had blown fresh during the night, and had left a considerable swell, and the gig, by keeping too close to the shore, was struck by a heavy sea as she approached the harbour, and capsised. The captain, the mate, Druet, and one of the lads, succeeded in getting hold of the keel of the boat, from which, however, they were constantly washed as she was struck and rolled over by successive seas, while Fagan, who was unable to swim, secured the mast of the boat, or some similar piece of wood, to which be firmly kept hold. The lad Parsons was thrown at some distance from the boat, and not succeeding in getting any support, although an oar was pushed towards him by one of his companions, he very soon sank ; but before doing so got sufficiently near to Fagan to seize him by the body, which he relinquished as life left him. By the exertions of Captain Taylor of the Mary, a coasting vessel, the three who clnng .to the boat were saved, and Cross the Pilot succeeded in re> cuing Fagan, but we are sorry to add that Captain Melville and Parsons were both drowned.”

The Nelson Examiner censures very highly the conduct of the chief Constable Cawte in connexion with this affair, and imputes great blame to Capt. Holton of the Columbus for not affording assistance, but in a postscript retracts the charges again the latter on the authority of Mr. Porter, an eye witness, who stated that Capt. Holton and his crew incurred considerable danger in their efforts to rescue the drowning men, and did all that men could do in attempting, but ineffectually, to render them assistance.