THE NELSON EXAMINER. Nelson, November 15, 1851.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume X, Issue 506, 15 November 1851, Page 150

THE NELSON EXAMINER. Nelson, November 15, 1851.

.r.iV? a • 5".°, mo I . luorß necessary as meu become more eqttal and individualism more to be feared. It would be to underrate their importance to suppose that they lerve only to mcut« liberty : they maintain civilization. 7 Dl TocaUBVILLE, Of Democracy in America. toI. iy., p. 200.

A few weeks ago a notice appeared in the Government Gazette, appointing Colonel James Campbell a Land Commissioner for the Middle District of the Middle Island, under the several Ordinances which have been passed in the colony having relation to land. The boundary of the jurisdiction of the new Commissioner on the North, is the Kaikora Range, and the Snowy Ranges to the source of the Buller River, and this river to its mouth on the West coast ; and on the South, the mouth of the Waitangi River to its source, and a line thence across the island to Cascade Point. Within these boundaries is comprised one half of the available land of this island, including all the Nelson territory south of the Kaikora range, and extending, we believe, to the Otago block at the south ; but the Canterbury block is excluded, except for the purposes of the New Zealand Company's Land Claimants' Ordinance, Session xi., No. 15, and the Land Claims' Ordinance, Session i., No. 2. Colonel Campbell, therefore, has a nice journey before him, whenever he may think proper to visit the country which has been placed under his charge. But are there not some grave objections to Colonel Campbell's appointment as Commissioner over so large a tract of country ? and will not the public interests suffer from it? We make no personal objections to the Commissioner, although his " Official Notifications " are couched in very unofficial language, for it does not necessarily follow that a man is unfit for public employment because his language is a little inflated, and his sentences do not conform to the rules of Lindley Murray. Looking to the fact, that the whole of the pastoral territory on the Nelson side of the Kaikoras is now insufficient for the wants of this settlement, and that the only direction in which an outlet exists for our increasing flocks is op the other side of that bartier, as well as a field of enterprise for those who are constantly coming amongst us with the intention of following pastoral pursuits; — looking, we say, to this fact, and that the country lying between the Canterbury block and the present Nelson runs would, as we believe, be more rapidly stocked from this side than from Canterbury — the immense territory of which lies as yet nearly idle, as well as all the country to the south, as far as the Otago block — we are of opinion that the Commissioner having jurisdiction over the district we have named, should be resident in Nelson, instead of at Christchurch or Lyttelton.

This may seem a small matter to some persons, but in reality it is one of consequence to many here who are desirous of investing capital in stock, and to whom a communication with Colonel Campbell, at Canterbury, is not so easy an affair. The difficulty of communication between Nelson and the country in question has been, we are aware, represented as almost insuperable; but the evidence of Mr. Weld, the only gentleman who has ever passed into it through the Awatere, contradicts this ; and we believe that by the expenditure of the rental of the runs for two or three years, the Government would be able to establish a good bridle path the whole distance, while

for shipping off wool, or receiving supplies at the stations, it is probable the nearest point on the coast will be sought where a coaster can lie, and this we believe may be done at the Kaikora Peninsula ; where, moreover, a township is to be laid out, and land reserved for sale and settlement, as is also to be done on the southern side of Canterbury, in Timaru Bay. We copy from the Lyttelton Times, of the 18th and 25tb of October, so much of the Commissioner's Notice as relates to the application for licences for runs within his district: — Lieutenant- Colonel Campbell having arrived in the Middle District of the Middle Island, all communications intended for him are to be addressed to him, on her Majesty's service, at his office, Chistchurch. It is requested, in order to obviate delays in the adjustment of Land claims by the Commissioner, as well as in his attending to applications for bheep and cattle runs, or for rural lands, beyond the Canterbury block, that they should be transmitted through the proper channels ; and, in every instance, strict attention must be paid to what is prescribed in the Ordinances of the Legislative Council of New Zealand ; and thobe applications which have already been made for runs, and even advertized, and which are not in conformity to these Ordinances, should be renewed, whilst Nos. 5 and 6 of the Rules and Regulations must be carefully observed by applicants, particularly in Btating the number of sheep and cattle they now possess and intend for their runs, if granted, as also what they intend to place upon them within six months from the date of the applications.

Any Ordinance, as also printed forms of application for depasturing licenses, can be bad at Wellington and Auckland, and the former may be seen, and the latter got, at the Commissioner's Office, where also other information may be obtained.

When it can be done, the Maori names of objects, points, or rivers, &c, intended to define the boundaries of runs applied for, are to be used in preference to any other designations, which too often lead to confusion and disputes among the applicants ; and all persons are cautioned as to what they make themselves liable to under the Ordinances, for tresspass upon the Waste Lands of the Crown. It is to be observed, that the tract of country bounded by aline drawn from the northernmost point of Half-moon Bay, about seven miles north of Kaikora Peninsula, back to the southernmost high peak of Kaikora Range; thence by a line running at an average distance of eight miles from the coast ; thence striking the first river (about 5 miles south of the Atnuri Bluff) along its course to the sea, is not open to applications for sheep or cattle runs, but is so to applicants for aural land, according to Government Regulations, in the block above delineated.

Notice is hereby given, the the Peninsula of Kaikora, with a small but not yet defined portion of land adjoining it in Half-moon Bay, will, as soon as possible (along with some of the lands, the boundaries of which wsre given in the Notification of the 11th instant), be surveyed and laid out in Rural Sections of 50 (or more) acres, and in town sites of half an acre each. Good sized coasting vessels are quite safe in the small harbour of Kaikora ; and off it, in Half-moon Bay, the anchorage is good, except in North-westerly gales. A block of excellent land extending to a distance of five miles inland, and the same distance to the North and South of two yet undefined points in Tiraaru Bay (situated between the southern boundary of the Canterbury Block and the Waitangi river, will also be laid out in a similar manner ; the portion of land between the two above undefined points being that intended for town sites, and off which there is good anchorage, except during Southeasterly gales, when ships should stand out to eea until they subside. The above Rural Land Sections and Town Sites will be disposed of under the usual regulations, and Goverment Scrip will be taken in payment for them. And for the convenience and advantage of persons of moderate means, purchasers of Rural Section, within these two blocks (which are not open for sheep or cattle runs) will have the power of availing themselves of the undisposed-of portions of them, as commonage, under the charge of Wardens, according to Government regulations. For the present, the land around Motunau, to the south of Kaikora, to an as yet undefined but limited extent, is reserved.

Lt. Colonel Campbell intends to proceed in a few days to Akaroa, as Commissioner for the adjustment of land claims, &c; but any communications intended for him will be addressed, as usual, to his office at Christchurch.

Before, however, he gives up his attention to ths duties which will thus, for a time, devove upon him, he begs to assure all those who are desirons of obtaining sheep and cattle runs, even on the largest scale, and which the vast districts placed, by the Governor- in- Chief, under his charge, will amply afford, that he fully intends to deal most liberally as to the extent of excellent pasturage, which he is empowered to assign to them. But what can be more liberal than that which the New Zealand Government announces in the established rules & regulations for the issue of pasture licenses fur the occupation of the waste lands of the Crown outside hundreds.

It will be seen by advertisement that the Midlothian has taken the place of the Columbus, at the first wool'ship from Nelson. The exchange is farourable to shippers of

wool, as the Midlothian is ready at once to take in cargo, and will proceed to Port Underwood for that purpose in a few days. From the known sailing qualities of this vessel, she will be likely to be the favourite ship of the season ; and we have no doulit but that the flockmatters in the Wairau will prefer sending their wool home through our own port, rather than to shipping it from Wellington as heretofore.

The rumoured Gold Discovery. — The rumoured discovery of gold in the Fairfield Downs has turned out to be a mistake. It is true that a substance, bearing some resemblance to gold, was found there in great quantities, but it proved on examination to be sulphate of iron. A discovery of coal has however been made in the Awatere district, which, considering the scarcity of fuel there, is of great importance.