NELSON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1589, 16 January 1866, Page 3

NELSON.

By the Airedale we have files to Jan. 13. We take the following extracts from the Nelson Examiner"

Steam Fkurt Boat for tub West Coast Rivers. The Bar won, on her la«t arrival here from Melbourne, had on board a boat somewhat larger than an ordinary waterman's boat, fitted up with a small steam engine, and a screw propeller. The boat is intended, we believe, for a ferry boat on the Hokitika, and is about being sent down there in one of our coasting steamers. She is calculated to carry about la passengers, and if the power she possesses is sufficient to stem the current in the Hokitika, she may be a useful boat. The space occupied by the machinery appears however to be very small. Bat Cattlk.—We understand that Mr. Johnson, a gentleman who recently imported here a can go of fat cattle from Queensland in the barque Kate Waters, intends to supply our market regularly with similar stock, and has taken paddocks inside the Wairnea river, where the cattle will be kept on being landed. By havi.ig a supply of fat beasts always on hand in Nelson, the markets at the Grey and Hokitika will be able to be kept supplied with good and wholesome meat wUh something approaching regularity, as it will be worth while to procure steamers suitable to convey stock hence to the West Coast ports. Pakawau Coal Mine.—We are happy to learn that the energy and perseverance which have been bestowed on the development of the coal-field at Pakawau, in the teeth of discouragements of all kinds, are at length likely to meet with success. An engineer, Mr. Arthur Dobson, was selected by the Pakawau Committee to report to them on the real nature of the coal-seam, as Mr. Wiesenhavern might be considered by the public as an interested witness. Mr. Dobson finds, by boring, that,-at the depth stated (about fifty feet) there is beyond doubt a bona fide seam of excellant coal, four feet four inches thick. He considers that a water-wheel placed in the creek close to the mine, will afford a cheap means of draining it, and perhaps of raising the coal as well; and when the peculiar facilities for economical transport and shipping of coal which the place affords are also considered, it seems reasonable to expect that the company about to be formed will be able to command the market. Nelson Races.—The Nelson Turf Club has just issued its programme for the next race meeting, which has been fixed for the 20th and 21st of March. The object, we understand, in selecting the days named, was with the view of allowing persons from other provinces desirous of witnessing our races, to do so with the smallest possible loss of time. Visitors from either North or South may reach Nelson by steamers on the morning of the 20th of March, witness the sport of both days, and return home on the 22nd. The programme is a very attractive one, and conceived in thß most liberal spirit, as it allows horses to run for the Maiden Plate, which may have been winners, provided they were maidens ot the time they entered. From the horses we are likely to have, the meeting promises to be the best we have had for several years. Town of Westport.—A considerable demand for town allotments at Westport. the township at the mouth of the Buller, has sprung up within the last fortnight, near y eighty quarter-acre allotments having been sold by the Government within that time. Rooks for Nelson.—The Water Nymph brings with her three pairs of rooks, the survirors of four pairs which were shipped in England. The rook is a steady foe to the grubs, and if we can increase the breed in New Zealand, it will have ample opportunity of doing good in our fields and gardens, where the slug is a great and growing pest. How will the rook and the kaka agree ? Both are pugnacious birds ; but the kaka has much the stronger beak and sharper claws. Bird of a New Species.—" Last week," remarks the Crooked River Chronicle, " Mr. Whitelaw brought into Grant a bird, of a species which has not yet been seen in this district. It is about the size of a canary, and full-fledged, bat could not fly more than a few yards at a time. Its colour is pure white. It was caught between the Dargo aud the Crooked river."

The Maori Prisoners at Wellington.— It is said that the Maori prisoners placed on board the Manukau hulk in Wellington harbour by the late Government, cost the colony £60 a month. The number was about 130, so that these lazy fellows who do nothing in return, are costing us something like £8000 a yeJtr! Mr Stafford offered them to Otago for gaol or public works, but Otago does not see how their employment could be made payable, and declined the offer. Colonist, Jan 12.