NELSON.

Otago Witness, Issue 21, 11 October 1851, Page 3

NELSON.

The subject of iufectious sheep, says the " Lyttelton Times," appeared to be causing no little agitation and caution ; perhaps the solicitude that had been awakened might be traced in some degree to the formation of a " Workiug Man's Sheep Association," the first meeting of shareholders in which was held in Nelson on the 30th June. From the resolutions at that meeting we learn that the capital is proposed at £1010, divided into 200 shares of £5, 4s. each, with power to increase the number of shares. No person was to be permitted to take more than five original shares. The shares were to be paid by weekly instalments of one shilling on each, and at the end of every six months the full amount of the then paid up capital was to be invested in the purchase of sheep. The usual staff of President, Directors,

&c, had been elected, as also a deputation to call public meetings for the purpose of laying the plans of the Association before the working men of the country. This is surely progress in the right direction, which is highly praiseworthy, and »may be classed with another step of the same kind that was taken some time since, also by our Nelson friends, in the formation of a "Working Man's Freehold Land Company," in which the capital' is £520, made up by 100 shares at £5, 4s. each, paid up by weekly instalments of one shilling per share, and to be laid out when entirely subscribed, in the purchase of a block of freehold land, which will be divided into lots, according to the numbel' of shares. We observe that many of those who manage the one are also connected with the other Association, and though unknown to us personally, we doubt not that they are meu earnestly seeking to benefit the classes below them, and we are sure they could take no more judicious and practicable means for so doing. We quote the following paragraph from the " Nelson Examiner,"' as shewing the colour of constituent representation which is attempted to be given to the farce of tiomineeism :—: — " There is one little incident in the proceedings of the Council, as they have reached us, which is worth noticing. A memorial was lately addressed to Sir George Grey by certain inhabitants of Nelson, praying that a bridge might be erected over the river Maitai, and another in favour of an additional expenditure on the roads of the settlement. The persons who affixed their names to these documents will see with some surprise that they have been handed by Hl3 Excellency over to Mr. Cautley, and by that gentleman have been presented to the Council. On the face of the transaction it thus appears as if Mr. Cautley was recognised in his legislative capacity by his brother settlers, ond that to him had been entrusted the advocacy of our wants ; while the fact is quite notorious that the people of Nelson repudiate ' altogether the acts of the present nominees, and to have memorialized the Council through one of these members would have been the last thing they would have thought of doing."