The Nelson Gold Fields.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XVII, Issue 51, 26 June 1858, Page 3

The Nelson Gold Fields.

COLLINGWOOD. [from: our correspondent.] June 22. The diggings are going on steadily ; but our population is, if anything, on the decrease, caused partly by the floods in the rivers, and the desire of some of the men to spend tho winter months in more comfortable quarters than the diggings afford. To-day I saw and weighed sozs. Odwts. 19grs. of gold, procured in one day, by three natives, from their claim in Rocky River, new rush. One nugget in this sample of gold weighed 13dwts., and three other piecrs together weighed loz. Two other men obtained 21bs. in a fortnight, in the same neighbourhood. A digger has in his hands a nugget weighing 3oz. 19dwts. llgrs., got at the new rush. Snow's rush is nearly deserted, as it is too cold to work there now. It is a thousand pities the diggings at these rushes were not discovered eight months ago ; had they been, we should have had five or six thousand men here now. Many seem confident that gold will yet bo found here as heavy as in Australia. Once encourage companies (whether of diggers, or capitalists who would employ diggers, is immaterial), by giving them leases of blocks of mineral lands, aud we should see a different state of affairs to that which at present exists. Mr. Brunncr has been here lately, and, I am happy to say, that lie and Mr. Lewis have found a track to Slate River tlirough Washbourne's bush, which will avoid the worst part of the present road, and shorten the distance through the bush at least one-third. The road party are now at work on the new line. The pack-bullock track to the new rush is in a fearful state ; and a few pounds judiciously expended in widening it, by cutting the manuka away for about thirty feet in width, would be a great boon to diggers, bullock-drivers, and the unfortunate bollocks. I noticed in your columns the report of a meeting held at Takaka 5 and, amongst other resolutions, saw one to this effect, that a respectful memorial, signed by the settlers and diggers (query, potato ?) at Takaka, be presented to his Honour the Superintendent, praying that one-half of the sum of one thousand pounds voted by the Provincial Government last year, for the purpose of making roads wherever available gold-fields be found to exist, be awarded to those districts (Motupipi and Takaka). Now I maintain, that the wholo amount (£1,000) ought to be expended on the Aorere diggings, also, half of the £2,000 voted for the construction of roads, bridges, ferries, &c, in Massacre Bay district; as an available gold-field does not. and never did exist m the Takaka valley. It is very fine to write letters with latin quotations, and reports about so many ri'noes of gold having bpen purchased by Skeet or Spit f al; the public should recollect that gold is the curre.it money of the digger, and when our men left Slate River for Anatoki, they took considerable quantities of gold with them, which they bought provisions with at Takaka; this, of course was shipped as Anatoki gold. No doubt a little gold was found there ; but, if we are to believe the Messrs. Lovol and Cann, and lots of other diggers who tried their luck there, not to speak of the unfortunate Frenchmen and the remnant who have lately come here, it was a thorough shicer ; and I feel confident that more gold has been procured from one claim in Slate River than from the whole of the Lower Anatoki and Takaka together. As to the Upper Anatoki, I will not speak, as heavy gold has been got there. That country can be reached more readily, and more digging country opened up, by a road from Slate River than from tho Takaka, as one line would connect Collingwood with the lower and upper forks, Snow's rush, and Anatoki ; therefore there cannot be the slightest excuse for expending money on a road to Anatoki from Takaka ; consequently that district has no claim to the money voted for making roads to gold fields. Moreover, the Takakaians and Motupipians ought to think themselves well off if they get £1,000 of the money voted for making roads, &c, in Massacre Bay, as they have nt the present time a road twenty or twenty- five miles in length up the Takaka Valley, which, if there is any digging country in it, can be reached by that road ; whereas we in the Aorere have a difficult country, covered with manuka scrub, to travel over, and no roads.