Local Intelligence.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XVI, 25 November 1857, Page 2

Local Intelligence.

Our Gold Fields. — Almost every week our population receives a considerable addition by immigrants from the other provinces of New Zealand, and from the Australian colonies, who come to try their fortune at the Nelson diggings. And it is a pleasing fact that while, on her trips from Nelson to Collingwood, the steamer generally takes a full complement of passengers, she has lately brought back very few diggers. The quantity of rain which has fallen, and the melting snow of the mountains, still keep the rivers so high that many of the best claims cannot be worked, but it is to be hoped that the weather will soon become settled, so that all may have a chance of securing a share of that golden hoard, of the existence of which there has been shown such undoubted proof. Many diggers who had only looked at the place and had resolved to return to Melbourne last week, were so well pleased with the reports of some of their comrades who had been working on the Quartz Ranges, that they abandoned their intended departure, and have gone across the Bay once more. No news has been received from the Wangapeka lately, but we hear that several parties are at work there. In addition to these well-known place 3, prospecting expeditions have started, and others are preparing shortly to start, to the Maitai, the Motueka, and the Moutere districts ; and a party of diggers are encamped in one of the gullies branching out of Brook-street valley. We wish them all success, and trust that fine and settled weather will soon aid them in developing this rich mineral resource of our province. Robbery. — On the evening of Friday last a robbery was committed at a house situate not many miles from the centre of the town. A cash box containing 3620 was the bait that tickled the fingers of the successful thief. The police, we believe, are in possession of some trace by which the delinquent will be discovered. It behoves the whole of the inhabitants of Nelson to look sharply after their movable property now that so many strangers are arriving among us; not that we would suggest dishonesty against our visitors, only in mixed assemblages some dishonest men will generally be found ; and of this at least we are certain, that small crimes are becoming more abundant now that we have so great a moving unsettled population.

The Supreme Court. — The month of October has passed and we are approaching the end of November, and yet the October sitting of the Supreme Court has not been held. This is the more to be regretted, as there are at present no less than 1 7 criminal cases for trial ; and although several of the committed prisioners are out on bail, the gaol is very crowded, and it behoves the General Government to do all in their power to remedy the delay which the continued illness of one of the judges, and the temporary ailment of the other, has caused.

Chamber of Commerce. — We hear that j it is the intention of some of our merchants to establish a Chamber of Commerce in Nelson. The importance and number of mercantile transactions involved by the increased trade of the province render the establishment of such a Chamber most desirable.