THE NELSON EXAMINER. Nelson, October 22, 1853.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XII, Issue 607, 22 October 1853, Page 4

THE NELSON EXAMINER. Nelson, October 22, 1853.

Journals become more necer^ary as men become more equal and individualism more to be feared. It would be to underrate their importance to suppose that they serve oniy to iecure liberty: they maintain civilization. I)C ToCttUKVILLI. Of Democracy in America, vol. r., p. 230. Something at length is to be done with the coal fields in our neighbourhood, as the mines both at Motupipi and Pakawau are about to be worked with more spirit than they hitherto have ever

been. At the former place, the gentlemen who have lately carried on the operations there, have enoao-ed several additional hands, and put the works under the charge of Mr. Stoddart, a gentleman who we believe to have had considerable experience in coal mining m bcotland, and we sincerely hope, for the sake of the parties themselves, as well as for the public interest generally, that they will be able to turn out such a supply of fuel of a marketable character as will make the speculation a profitable one, and enable them to still further enlarge their operations, so that they may be commensurate to the public wants. The progressive improvement of the coal at Motupipi, as the works are extended, give every promise of the existence of more valuable beds in the same neighbourhood, while the quality at present worked is by no means so inferior as to render these coals unworthy of notice. If they could be procured in Nelson at a more reasonable price (and we despair of this until barges shall be built which shall be adapted to the traffic), they would take the place of wood as fuel. At the steam • flour-mill, and at both our breweries, they give, we may almost say, entire satisfaction — cost apart. At Pakawan, also, the mine is about being attempted to be worked. Mr. J. Watts, who it will be recollected has obtained from the Directors of the Nelson Mining Company a lease of their fields at Pakawau for twelve months, has started, or is about to start, with a strong body of men to work this coal. We have "little.-.doubt therefore that Pakawau coal will soon be in the market—that is, on the beach at Pakawau, for we fear that the want of suitable craft to convey this excellent fuel to Nelson and elsewhere, will operate very disadvantageous for those who propose to work it. The vessels we have are either too small to remove the coal in sufficient quantities to supply thp demand which exists for it, or they are too deeply built, and consequently will draw far too much water to admit of their crossing the mud-flats, except at peculiarly favourable stages of the tide. It is clear, then, that until barges suitable for the trade are built, dig out what coal they may, either at Motupipi or at Pakawau, it will be impossible to transport here the quantity which will be required. We hope, however, that the works now about to be begun by Mr. Watts, will prove that Pakawau is really the valuable coal field which many believe it to be^ and in that case, parties will not be long wanting with sufficient available capital, not alone ito work the coal, but to lay it down at some convenient spot at a reasonable cost, where the public can be supplied at all times with this necessary fuel, and where shipping like-* wise can obtain cargoes.

While thus wishing every success to the mines at Motupipi and Pakawau, our attention has been called to the discovery of a really excellent seam of coal much nearer home. About a week since a little boy, the son of Mr. J. Brown, of Brook Street Valley, acquainted his father that he had found coal in the bank of the river opposite to his house. On receiving this information Brown went and examined the spot, and finding the child's story correct, proceeded to remove a small quantity, which he brought into Nelson, where it was at once declared to be most excellent fuel. Other parties having satisfied themselves by inspecting the* seam, that a bed of coal really existed in Brook Street Valley, and having been equally satisfied of its very capital quality by testing it on their hearths, in producing gas in tobacco pipes, and in witnessing its use at two or three forges in the town, where sundry bars of iron of some thickness were welded with it, this important discovery (and important it is beyond even a gold mine, should it prove on further examination to be a really available coal field) sent half the town to examine the spot, and Brook Street Valley, during the past week, has probably been visited by more persons than it ever before re--ceived. Having now recorded the fact of the

discovery of this seam of coal, and stated what has been done by others to satisfy themselves of its value, it becomes necessary that we should make known our own impression of it. We found the seam cropping out on the bank of the stream, at the base of the mountain which stands at the top of the valley ; but at a glance it was evident that the piece of tible land, of which the bank forms a part, is a slip from the mountain in question. It was difficult to learn the thickness of the seam, as the superincumbent soil, of which there is ten or twelve feet, slips down and covers the face of the coal r as fast as it is cleared, but, as near as could be ascertained, it appeared to be about four or five feet quite free from shale. Our own fear is, that the seam exhibited will not be found to extend far, and that it will be likely to cease where the dislocation appears to have occurred. Still, the fact is proved, that coal of really firstrate quality exists there, and it may not be impossible to come upon the true seam, when some of the soil is cleared away, and the direction of the present seam can be better examined. We are inclined to think that this may be done, by observing the indications of coal elsewhere in the same neighbour-! hood, for on examining the bank higher up the stream, and where no landslips have [occurred,^ thin seams of coal and beds of shale may be noticed. We have no wish to excite any unreasonable expectations respecting this discovery, and have therefore purposely said as little as possible respecting it, as a few days will more " certainly determine its real value. Should the seam be worth working, there will be no difficulties of carriage, as a rough road already exists to the spot, and the distance from the town is not more than thrje miles.

Wesleyan Missionary Society. — Nelson Branch. — On Sunday the 9th, three Sermons, in aid of the funds of the above Society, were preached in the Wesleyan Chapel, Bridge Street ; in the morninsr by the Rev. T. D. Nicholson (Free Church), in the afternoon by the Rev. S. Ironside, and in the evening by the Rev. D. Dolamore (Baptist). On the folio wiug day a Tea Meeting was held in the same "place, when about 100 persons sat down to an excellent meal, provided by the ladies of the congregation, the whole of the admission fees contributing to increase the funds of the Society. After the tables were removed, a Public Meeting was held, presided over by J. W. Saxton, Esq., and excellent addresses were delivered by the above named ministers, and the Rev. F. H. Butt, and by Messrs. Hough, Sigley, Sewell, Burn, Wagg, Gardiner, and Riley. From the report of this branch of the Society it appears that the subscriptions, &c, for the past year, so far as ascertained, amounted to nearly £70; the most pleasing feature in the report was the amount contributed by children in the Sunday School, one little girl having procured £4 2s. 6d. in her missionary box during the past year; the total amount obtained from this source was £1 1 14s. 7d. We are glad to say all the services were well attended, and the congregation pledged itself to increased liberality towards the support of the ministry. Sale of Horses.— The cargo of i horses lately imported by the Spray J from Sydney, were disposed of last week by auction, and sold readily at prices varying from £30 to £60. They were chiefly adapted for the saddle, very few being [suitable for harness. Considering the stamp of horses, the price must have been highly satisfactory to the importers.

Markets. — Since our last notice of the markets there has been an advance in the price of wheat and flour, and the former cannot now be procured for less than 9s. a bushel, while £c 3 a ton may be given as the price of the latter. Barley is bringing 7s. for exportation, and as our brewers are understood to be supplied, it will probably suffer no fluctuation until harvest. Oats are becoming scarce, and Bs. to Bs. 6d. is given for good samples. In consequence of the fall which has taken place in the price of timber, both at Melbourne and I

Sydney, parties are not disposed to give more than 14s. to 15s. p.r 100 feet for exportation, and this we imagine will rule the price after the execution of present ordprs. Potatoes are still in request at £7 a ton. Butter is selling at Is. (id. per lb., cheese and bacon Is. to Is. 2d.

New Zealand Architecture. — | We have had the pleasure of inspecting | a coloured print, from a drawing by Mr. Barraud, of Wellington, of the interior of the recently erected native Church at Otaki. The engraving is well finished, and as the Church was built entirely by the voluntary labour of Maories, with the exception only of one English carpenter to direct and assist them, it forms an interesting and ornamental object. As may be seen by referring to our advertising columns, a few copies of the engraving are to be obtained in this settlement.