Colonial.

Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 598, 28 July 1858, Page 3

Colonial.

NELSON.

• Our m dates from this province are to the 14th mst. ihe following extracts of local intelligence are from the 'Examiner,' of that date — Chamber op Combieuce. —At the half-yearly general meeting: of the Chamber of Commerce, held in the Freemasons' Hall, on baturday last, A. Fell, Esq., president, in the chair, the following resolution, in reference to the inter-colonial steam service, was unanimously adopted:—"That the secretary be requested to acknowledge the receipt of the Colonial Secretary's; letter of the 30th April, and, in answer to the question respecting the most central port in the colony for the arrival and departure of the mails, to state that it is the opinion of this chamber, that, looking to the general . accessibility of the port of Nelson to vessels coming from the westward, the mails for the northern ports would receive a far earlier delU very from Nelson, than if distributed from any! other port in Cook's Strait. Also, that the secretary be further requested to point out to the: General Government the advantages which Nelson affords to steamers for coaling and cleaning,; and for the landing and shipping of goods ands passengers." The meeting was then adjourned until the. 22nd instant, to receive the report of a special committee om some questions relative to; the operation ot the present tariff. Vacancy in the Provincial Council.—We understand that previous to 'his departure from Nelson last week, W. R. Nicholson, Esq., resigned his seat in the Provincial Council, for the district of Massacre Bay. ■ We presume, therefore, that a writ for the election of a member for the district will shortly be issued. The Messrs. Red-wood.—We are happy to congratulate these gentlemen on their safe return to Nelson, by the Emma, which arrived on Saturday evening. The spirit which induced, and the success which attended, the experiment of taking up his horses to compete with the best blood in Australia, redounds greatly to Mr. Redwood's credit, and is also a source of much satisfaction to his fellow colonists. After having shipped Chevalier to bring him back to Nelson, the colt was purchased by a gentleman for £500, and had therefore to be re-landed. Mr. Redwood has brought down with him a valuable cart colt—a Suffolk punch.

Chrome Ore.—lnformation has been received from London, that the chrome ore, of which samples were sent to Englaud, has been valued at a price which would yield a considerable margin for profit; and that, although there is but " a limited demand " in England, the quantity to which it is limited implies considerably more than would ballast all the wool ships sent from this island. The products from this mineral are very extensively used as dyes and colours, and can- also be used in bleaching. The method of treating the ore is to calcine it with an admixture of saltpetre, or more economically, with a proportionate quantity of-potash, by which the insoluble chrome.iron : is decomposed into a chromate of potash, which is solved in water and crystalized, forming the chromate of potash of commerce: from this salt the other preparations of chrome are formed, viz.. chromate of lead, bichromate of lead, chromic acid, and oxide of chrome ;^ the former being the principal product; and is both used in dyeing, as also as a pigment. It yields a variety-of shades of colours, varying from canary yellew to ,deep orange. A beautiful pigment is also obtained from chrome for colouring porcelain. "We understand that a patent was-lately granted to Mr. Watson for an improvement in the use of this article. A pamphlet was also published by him, on " Electrical Illumination," upon the strength of which a company was formed to manufacture colours on this principle, of which colours an endless variety are enumerated. The company, however, failed, probably from a want of the raw material.

The Overland Route to Canterbury.— A party" of travellers, who arrived in town on Friday night last, after having travelled from Canterbury by the inland route, appear to have' suffered very severely on the journey, owing to the inclemency of the weather. We believe the facts to be as follows: —Mr. W. Robinson, of the Cheviot Hills; Mr. T. Wilson and Mr. M'Dpnald, of Glengarry; and Mr. Capper, met by appointment at the Leslie Hills, on Wednesday the 30th June, in order to proceed in company to Nelson; and, although the weather was most unfavourable, as it was snowing heavily at. the time, they unwisely took the road over Jollies pass, and through Tarndale, instead of going by the coast,, which, although a much longer route, is never rendered difficult by snow. On reaching the Hanmer plain, the party met Mr. Augarde, of Quail valley, who had" been down to Canterbury with sheep, and who had started alone on his return home, but finding the weather so bad he turned back. On meeting other travellers bound to Nelson, however, he turned his horse's head homeward, and sought to keep company with ■ Mr. Robinson's party. On gaining the summit I of Jollies pass, which is fifteen hundred feet • above the Haumer plain, the snow fell very < heavily, and more resembled a shower of particles of ice than an ordinary snow storm, and covering the ground several feet deep. Instead of being able to reach an unoccupied hut near the junction of the Clarence and the Acheron, which would have afforded shelter to the party, travelling was so difficult that they were compelled to lay down in the snow, in which they were all buried about three feet deep, as it continued to fall heavily all night. The next day the hut above mentioned was reached, but, to their disappointment, one side of the hut was down, and here our two travellers remained two nights ; but although thus sheltered themselves their poor horses were all the time without food, as every blade of grass was literally buried beneath the snow, which was fully three feet deep. Proceeding at length on their journey (for to turn back was now next to impossible), the valley of the Acheron was found to resemble that of the Clarence, the snow increasing in deptli as they proceeded; and so severe was the cold, that the river was frozen over for two thirds of its width, and in some places completely over, and the ice was sufficiently strong to carry horses and men even to the very edge of the river.

Owing to the want of a little Government expenditure, the river had to be crossed a great number of times, and as the -water had fallen several inches below the ice, it was a matter of peculiar difficulty and danger to get off and on these ice ledges. With such impediments to travelling (the snow being in places from three to five feet deep), the party were only able to to make a journey of about twelve miles, and ■were compelled to camp oh the Acheron, where they were totally destitute of firewood. The next day, Mr. Saxton's station, at the head of Tarnhale was reached, where the horses were obliged to be put in the yard on account of the snow. This was the fifth consecutive night that the horses had been kept without food, aad here the party were all suffering severely from the frost, Mr. Kobinson alone having escaped. The western branch of the Wairau was passed on the following day, and at night the party (except Mr. Augarde, who had been left behind) camped about half-way to the Top house. It snowed all night and the following day, during which they journeyed on, and reached the Top-house about three in the afternoon, when the travellers were supplied with food and rest, and received every attention from Mrs. Gould. The trials of the journey, however, have been severely felt by all the party, who, with the exception of Mr. JRobinson, were crippled both in the feet and hands by the frost; and there is some doubt whether they will even regain their use. Mr. Augarde, who had kept up with the party until they had got through the dangerous part of the Wairau Gorge, then fell behind, and so totally exhausted and crippled were all the other travellers, that they were unable to give him any assistance until their arrival at the Top House, having been obliged to abandon their luggage, and two of Mr. Wilson's horses which were knocked up. A man was despatched the next morning to Mr. Augarde's assistance, with a supply of food and other necessaries. The party also called at Mr. David Kerr's, who promised to go to Mr. Augarde's assistance without loss of time. We have heard since that Mr. Augarde had reached the Top House, the man who was sent to his assistance having met him riding one of the horses left by Mr. Wilson. Mr. Augarde's feet and hands are in a fearful state, but otherwise he is not severely injured. ■ Accident.—The arrival of the steamer from Massacre Bay, on Saturday evening, brought the news that Mr. H. Stafford had met with an -accident at the Aorere, while exploring one of the caves, and had. broken his leg. Some of his friends at once chartered the steamer, for the purpose o£.taking;Dr. Uenwick over, and of bringing ■'-JVlr.' Stafford down if he was in a position to be moved. The steamer therefore left Nelson on: Sunday morning, and on reaching Collingwood in the evening, the doctor, in company with some friends at once proceeded to Slate Eiver, where Mr. Stafford was lying. It was then ascertained that, on the previous Friday, Mr. Stafford, in- company with Messrs. H. Adams and Hey ward, had. been exploring the stalactitic cavern near Slate River, and that, when separated ' from his companions, Mr. Stafford's light was accidentally extinguished, and being thus completely; in the dark, he fell, and fractured the small bone of his leg between two masses of rock. His companions, finding that he was not following them, instituted a search

for him, and, after a considerable time, they succeeded in finding him, and with great difficulty conveyed him to.ihe Slate Eiver flat,-where his leg w;is set by a digger who had. formerly been in practice; and when Dr. Kenvick reached the patient he was in good spirits and progressing so favorably that it was considered unwise to remove him.

Van Diemen's Land Horses.—Contrary to the original intention of ;the owner, the horses brought down by the Firefly have been landed, and will be offered for sale by public auction by Messrs. N. Edwards and Co. this day. Those not sold will be driven overland to Canterbury.