NELSON.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 198, 5 July 1860, Page 3

NELSON.

We were beginning to see the sad necessity of retrenching our expenses, when our former ill-defined hopes.and shadowy prospects about the West Coast ail of a sudden assume form and consistency, and instead of continuing the occasional subject of vague speculation, pre sent something like solid foundation for inquiry with a view to practical results. The ~ concurrent testimony of those who have seen the country and traversed it sufficiently to form an opinion, entitles us to assume that we have a larger quantity of good agricultural land within its boundaries than in any other part of the province: and possibly greater than in all the other parts put together We have there in conjunction all the great an*l primary qualifications which are required to constitute a desirable locality for settlementgood water, good wood, and good land. The country is well watered by streams, one of which at least is navigable by boats for a considerable distance; it is. well supplied with wood, fit for both fuel and building purposes ; and yet with a sufficient amount of open arable land to render cultivation easy for the intending settler; who might otherwise be deterred by the labour and expense of clearing the bush. It has also, in quantities as yet unascertained, the prime element of future prosperity, coal — equal if not superior to any yet found in New Zealand. Mr. Haast, by the terms he uses, “coal measures,” and “coal fields,” is evidently under the impression that this mineral is not a mere casual deposit/ but/ that it is of considerable extent p ; and Mrv Brunnerppeaks of it in his journal as occurring in various localities, at considerable distances from each other. Should these anticipations be realized, and its quality he found equally good, it is difficult to over-rate its importance. "*■ With the ever increasing developmant of steam power, and the part it seems destined to play in the affairs of the world,' the district which contains it possesses a source of wealth, more sure than any other. In all such districts population is attracted, manufactures spring tip, and . commerce naturally follows in their train.— Examiner, 16th June.