THE NELSON EXAMINER. Wednesday, September 22, 1858.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XVII, Issue 76, 22 September 1858, Page 2

THE NELSON EXAMINER. Wednesday, September 22, 1858.

Journal! become more necessary as raeD become more equal »nd individualism more to be feared • It would be to underrate their importance to tuppoie that the; serve only to secure liberty: they irminUiD civilization. Db TocaußViLLt, Of Democracy in America, vol. Y.,p. 230.

So much harm has been occasionally done by some who have allowed their imagination to outrun their judgment, and have taken for facts what they wished to come true, that we have had the necessity forced upon us of being very cautious in our statements ; and have even ,had this caution misunderstood and misinterpreted by the more sanguine and enthusiastic members of our community. When, therefore' we alluded in our last to our brightening coal prospects, it was not without good warrant that we did so ; nor without having seen, handled, and tested, the material of which we spoke so hopefully. Until very recently, -there were but two places, Motupipi and Pakawau,

both in Massacre Bay, where the presence of coal in large quantities had led to any effort for making it generally available ; and those efforts have hitherto been desultory, and such as not to involve any considerable outlay of capital ; their proprietors being satisfied to take what came to hand, without ascertaining the real extent or nature of the deposit. There were several good mercantile reasons for this. Money could be so safely and profitably employed in many other ways, that no one felt inclined to invest in what had more or less the character of a speculation ; the surface seams at Motupipi were contaminated by the presence of sulphur, and at Pakawau were mixed, more or less, with shale ; and supposing these objections to be got rid of, as some experienced persons affirmed would be the case, efther by mechanical means or at a greater depth -from the surface, there still did not appear to be such an immediate prospect of a demand as would justify or reward any large expenditure. Some months ago, however, among the hills immediately in the neighbourhood of Nelson a bed of coal was discovered, free from the sulphurous taint of the Motupipi and the shale of the Pakawau deposit ; but still of little specific gravity, and tender in its nature. It was " then suggested by competent persons, that a shaft should be sunk, to ascertain its extent and quality ; as, in all probability, the lower seams would be found of a much denser and more bituminous character. In pursuance of this, an adit had been made and driven into the hill about forty feet lower down, and has already reached coal of a kind which jnstifies the advice completely, being much more compact, and burning freely. We understand that a shaft is now to be sunk. "When that is done, we shall have the full information before us which is essential to form a just estimate of its real value to the community ; and we entertain very sanguine expectations as to the result.

Later still, indeed not "more than ten days ago, some fine specimens of coal were brought over from the Heads at the mouth of the Takaka river, where vessels of considerable burden may anchor almost close by. It is much like the Pakawau coal ; and its spirited proprietor is taking active measures to ascertain its probable extent and character. Now, in fact, that the establishment of Steam Communication between this and the other Colonies is no longer problemetical ; but a fact, we may depend upon having every exertion made to bring our coal into the market. A steady and la^ge^demand is certain ; and the stimulus of private advantage in supplying it will produce what we might have long and vainly looked for from the public spirit of individuals or the s&gaeity of our rulers ; that which we lately heard described rather satirically as the " festeriug care of a paternal Government." Once let this prime element of success and political importance be fairly developed, and our cause is won, we way then safely leave the question of what port the inter-colonial Steamers should first make without further advocacy. Although it might be at preqejjf; a little premature positively to vouch for the fact, we entertain very little doubt that in a short time we shall be able to enumerate the presence of good merchantable coal ajholding the first place amoug our mineral products, and as affording the most effectual and solid basis for permanent prosperity.