Colonial.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IX, Issue 580, 26 May 1858, Page 4

Colonial.

NELSON".

In the absence of later communications, we continue bur gleanings from our Provincial exchanges formerly noticed. The following extracts are from the 'Nelson Examiner':-

Dux Mountain Railway Bill. —The "Bill to empower the Dun Mountain Copper Mining Company to construct a Railway, for the Transport of the Ores and Produce arising from the Mines and Lands of the Company, and for other purposes connected with the said Company," is now under discussion by the Provincial Council. The great length of the bill prevents our giving more than a brief summary of its provisions. The Company is empowed to construct a railway along^ public roads in the Brook-street and Maitai districts, and along certain streets in the town of Nelson, and to use the same without any rent or toll. The town streets which it is proposed so to use are Molesworth-street. Nile-street east, Tory-street, and Milton-street. The railway is not to be higher than the general level of the roads and streets; is only to be 5 feet in. breadth, and having a siding of 6 feet; and is to be placed so as not to interfere with or interrupt the traffic on any such road or streets. The centre line of railway on the streets is io be subject to the approval of the Superintendent;; and the Company are empow--ered to make use of portion of the waste lands of" the Crown for-the purpose of constructing the railway thereon, for the erection,of workmen's cottages; and for . obtaining material. Power is also given to the Company to pur-. chase land for-the use of the railway; and where persons refuse to treat for the sale of any land required for the purposes of the railway, the matter is to be referred to a special jury, whose verdict is to be final, and who are empowered to assess the value and recompense to be paid by the Company in respect of such I land. The Company are also required to make j good all damage done to any road or street, and to erect accommodation gates for the convenience of the owners or occupiers of land adjoining the railway; and. the owners^ and occupiers of property intersected by the railway are at all times allowed freely to cross the same with carriages, horses, or other animals. After the bill had been read a first time in the Council, it was referred to a select committee, who have added several new clauses and considerably amended others. The new clauses provide that the railway, is. hot to be more than 8 feet wide in the Town of Nelson; give power to other companies and persons to use the railway on payment of tolls, and to owners of adjoining land to use the railway for the improvement of their land at the lowest rate of toll; provide for the erection of station houses, warehouses, &c., and the payment of tolls for conveyance of goods on the railway; and give power to the Company, in case they should desire it at any time, to abandon the railway, and to remove the rails and all other machinery for their own use. . - ■ . Nelson Chamber of Commeece.-—At an adjourned meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, the following memorial to the Governor, in favour of the existing tariff, was adopted:— To his Excellency Colonel Thomas Gore Browne, Companion of the most Honourable Order of the Bath, Governor and Commander-m-Chief in and over the Islands of New Zealand, and Vice-Admiral of the same: The humble Memorial of the Members of the Nelson Chamber of Commerce, Sheweth, - That your memorialists, feeling that it would be highly desirable that the customs revenue_of the colony should be collected by fixed duties only, have recently carefully considered whether an "increase in the rates charged upon the articles on which fixed duties are now imposed would produce an amount equivalent to the wants of the colony, with, reference more especially to the Province of Nelson. That your memorialists have been guided in their conclusions on the subject by the following tables, copies of which are annexed:— 1. A table, showing the amount of revenue collected at this port during the year 1857, specifying the different heads under which it was received.

2. A table, sifowing the amount which would have been raised had a tariff similar to that of the colony of Victoria been in operation. 3. A table, showing the amount which would have been produced by a tariff the same as that of Victoria, with the exception of increased duties upon coffee and wine. That your memorialists have ascertained from a comparison of these tables, that, had such a tariff as that supposed in Table No. 3 been in existence during the year 1857, the revenue of this province would have been less than the amount which was collected by nearly one-fifth. Your memorialists, are, therefore, obliged to conclude that it would be inexpedient to adopt a scale of fixed duties exclusively at present, and therefore pray that the existing tariff may be continued in operation, as the best suited to the requirements of the colony. And your memorialists will ever pray. Coppee FKOM the Aokebe.-—We were shown yesterday (April 14) a most beautiful specimen of copper ore that had been found in the Aorere river, not far from its confluence with the sea. -The specimen, although small, is exceedingly rich, the metal cropping out over almost the entire surface. Although it has evidently been washed down by the river, this piece of ore cannot have travelled very far, as is evidenced by the sharpness of the edges; and if the result of an effort to discover its source proves the quantity and practicability^ working to be as satisfactory as the quality of the specimen we have seen, it will be an important addition to the mineral wealth of the province. The Diggings.—The news from the Takaka diggings is improving. We learn from a reliable source that James Main and a party; of three others obtained in two days, with a single tin dish, 5 ounces of gold at the Upper Anatoki, and that this party are so pleased with their success that a portion of them have taken up their tools and set to work to saw timber and make other preparations for carrying on extensive sluicing pperations ; the remainder of the party in the meantime carrying up a stock of provisions. Many other parties are reported to be doing well. The road from the Lower to the Upper Anatdki is now so far complete that the foot-track is passable all the way. Mr. SpittaU brought over this week upwards of 20 ounces of gold of a very heavy character, some of the specs being of the value of 9s. In the absence of any direct reports from the diggings since bur last, we may mention the following items of interest. The steamer sailed for the Aorere with a few passengers, but her decks were literally crowded with sheep and other cargo, and even the ladies' cabin was crammed full of. flour. The cutter Supply, Captain Walker, arrived from Massacre Bay yesterdajv bringing upwards of 160 ounces of gold. The first fact proves that the diggings •till afford a good market for our colonial produce; while the comparatively large quantities of gold continually arriving are sufficient evidence that all are not unsuccessful in thensearch for the precious metal. Since the above was in type, the steamer has arrived with 120 ounces of gold ,in the possession of one party. -There has been' a new rush to the Parapara, respecting which we have heard some astounding reports, but defer giving any particulars until wfehave received further information. — April 17. Govebnmbnt Land Sale.—At the Government land sale, on Saturday last, about 11,000 acres of land, in the Amuri district, were bought by Mr. W. Robinson, by whose request the land had been put up for sale. The sale realized between £2,000 and £3,000, and their was no competition for any of the lots.—April 21. Coal'AT the Pobt.—The existence of indications of coal on the beach adjoining the port road has long been known, and we nnder stand that a party of gentlemen have commenced operations with a view of testing whether a deposit of coal does really exist m that part. We trust that we may soon be enabled to announce that their efforts have been crowned with success..—-May 1.