NELSON.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 231, 16 September 1862, Page 5

NELSON.

(VROit OUU OWM CORRESKHIMSHT). , September 10,1802.

Thanks to the arrival of the steamship Rangatira from Sydney, we may hope tbat our interprovincial communication will bo more regular than heretofore. The Rangatira is a magnificent vessel of about 750 tous burden, and she has just made tlie passage fronti Sydney in a little over five days. She is a very lengthy but elegant looking craft, and has comfortable accommodation for nearly 300 passengers. This steamer is owned by the Australasian Steam Navigation Company, and is intended to run between Sydney, Nelson, Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago. Tliere is little doult, I think,of tho enterprise being successful"; and as the Company owita several other splendid steamers, it is hoped that the increasing trade on this coast will give profitable employment to many of them.

The last news from Otago has caused quite an excitement hero, and a regular rush has taken place. Some sixty have already left by the Mary and Storm Bird, and other sixty or seventy gi) by the Rangatira tbis evening. Next week we shall almost have a 'city .to let I Yet our diggings are not to be despised, for there arrived from the Buller last wetk some 443 ounces, including a nugget weighing lib., less ldwt, and another nugget weighing lib. I oz. 8 dwts. But the country is very difficult of access, and the diggers soon get disgusted with having to carry provisions for a long distance in such places; for our heads of Government are not remarkable for vigor or activity, and seem to think it no part of *the>r duty to encourage the development of wealth that must be beneficial to the whole colony. In fact, I believe they would be rather annoyed at feeing a rush of persons here, for it woul I put them out of their steady-going paces.

The steamer Tasmanian Maid, which went ashore at the Wairau river, has been got olf without damage, and brought up to Nelson. She hfis since been sold to an Auckland firm for L3OOO, and has proceeded thither for tho purpose, it is said, of being put into the trade between Auckland and Coromandel.

An attempt is being mule to get up a company for tlie purchase of two other steamers suitable for the coasting traffic ; and, as the Nelson Trust Funds possess-a sum of L3OOO or L4OOO, which the Trustees propose to lend for a term of years without interest, the formation of such a company should not be difficult. A public meeting was held at the Odd Pellow's HaU on Monday evening, when it was determined to form a company, in 2000 shares of LlO each, with limited liability. About 200 shares were applied for in the room, and it is hoped that, if properly marnaged, this proposed company will not dwindle away, and share the fate of so many promising schemes that have been started here. .We have heard ot tho safe arrival at the International Exhibition of the articles .sent .from Nelson | und it is siid that the gold from Otago and Nelson excites very great interest. It is also reported, in a private letter received here, tliat tbe wheat exhibited by Mr. 11. Redwood; of Nelson, is the best in the Exhibition, and has gained tho-firet prize. You will learn by the mail of the loss of the slcamer I/>rd Worsley, about twelve hours after leaving this port. The Examiner of yesterday and to-day contains a good account of the disaster, and an extract from Captain Muirhead's diary. Some of the passengers have returned to Nelson. They acknowledge that they were courteously treated by most of the natives; but their situation was getting most critical, —the natives were getting excited with drink, and a slight circumstance might have caused the whole party to be massacred. And this is a British colony! -