The Nelson Golf Fields.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XVI, Issue XVI, 9 December 1857, Page 3

The Nelson Golf Field s.

We think it most unfortunate, thai; parties in Melbourne and Sydney should have judged us as they, ifappears, have reason to judge their own local journals:. We have not said much about our at present small gold-fields, because we have felt, that should an impression get abroad that we had large payable diggings, a rush would be made here, that might eventually do much damage to the stability of Nelson ; for if large parties arrive here before the country has been batter prospected, we are sure they will again return whence they came, and spread reports which would prevent a fresh migration of diggers, let what would be afterwards discovered here. It appears that our Melbourne and Sydney friends have fancied that, from the great success of parties now and again mentioned by U3, we have not stated the whole truth. This is not so :we will always honestly record the returns from the diggings, whether good or bad ; and it was with much regret we read in a recent number of our contemporary, although evidently a misprint, that the General Wool had taken thousands instead of hundreds of ounces of gold on freight, because this will, in all probability, cause a general rush here, only to end in disappointment to many. We believe that a large and payable field does exist, inviting only the prying energy of good exploring parties. But how is this to happen ? Men cannot be expected, at their own expense and risk, to explore a difficult country like the Quartz Eanges or the Wangapeka. If gold is to be found, and the colony is to derive the benefit of a large rich field lying almost at our feet, some steps should be taken by parties in authority to test where this auriferous bed may be. Some encouragement should be given to the adventurous digger, by opening the roads and smoothing some of tho more formidable difficulties, too expensive for private enterprise, and then, in a few days, or weeks, or months, we may be enabled to commence the records of gold returns from our diggings something like the following from the Argus of the 10th ultimo : —

" The escorts for the past week brought U3 47,313 ozs. lOdwt., of which Ararat sends 17,6G00z. lOdwfc., Balluarat 11,3340z. 10 dwt., Sandhurst 7,271 oz., and Castlemaine 5,853 oz. 10 dwt. The escorts for the several months of the year have brought— ozs. dwts. January . . 244,320 0 February . . 169,621 0 March . . 166,662 5 April . . 177,285 0 May. . . 222,840 10 June . . 178,176 0 July . . 231,361 10 August . . 208,988 10 September . 226,892 10 October . . 257,818 10 November . 47,343 10" 11 months 2,131,309 11