The Nelson Gold Fields.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XVI, 14 November 1857, Page 2

The Nelson Gold Fields.

AORERE. [»BOM X COBBESPONDEKT.] Slate River, Nov. 6th, 1857. Tbe summer appears to have set in at last j and the consequence is that all the diggers having claims are busy working them, and very few were to be seen about this fast week, except new comers : this gives the Diggings an appearance of dullness, which does not exist. Most of the diggers are doing well on their claims, and new creeks containing gold are daily being found ; but the richness of Slateriver has rather raised our expectations, and has caused disappointment to many who have found sufficient only for good wages, but who from reports had expected to make a " pile " quickly. New chums come and go- again in great numbers: they leave mostly from having formed exaggerated notions of the gold-dig-gings, and that the gold has only to be dug for; forgetting that it is necessary to find where to dig ; and that, though there may be plenty of gold in the country, it is quite possible to dig within a few inches of it without finding it. Nevertheless, gold comes in more plentifully now the fine weather has set in, and every one appears in good spirits. Half a claim in Slate River was sold the other day for 56400. On the whole, our Diggings appear now to be thoroughly established,, and although we hear and read long accounts* of gold being found in other districts, we do> not find a single fact that goes to prove a degree of wealth in gold existing in any other place equal to the Aorere. There was a slight misunderstanding occurred on the Ranges between some Maories and a party of white men respecting a claim, but which was very amicably settled by a little explanation. Indeed, the Regulations made by the diggers answer exceedingly well, and have hitherto been carried out in a friendly and quiet mauner, despite of the conflicting interests that ha*e to be adjusted by them : the mutual protection which they afford to all seems to give great satisfaction. I'he Superintendent was here this week, and took the very wise plan of judging for himself by walking to the Quartz Ranges, and it is understood that he saw the necessity of immediately opening a main road up the valley to the Quartz Ranges,, as well as mending and opening temporary roads to carry on with while the main road is in progress. This, if carried out, will be a great boon to these diggings, and will remove the principal difficulty to the proper development of our gold-fields.