The Nelson Gold Fields.

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

The Nelson Gold Fields.

[tsom our own cobbespondent.]

Collingwood, 14th September, 1858. The weather has for some time past been very unfavourable for digging operations ; still, notwithstanding this and our reduced population, the yield of gold has been good. It appears, from the Customs returns, tkat nearly 1,000 ounces were shipped from here last month; of course, some went privately as well. Now this was procured by a digging population, including natives, of from 350 to 400. The general opinion is, that there will be a large population in theaetebbjburhood of Rocky river next summer, as many parcfes have done well there. Clark's party of three got upwards of 30 ounces last week, although stopped by the rain. Three natives left for Wellington, via Nelson, with five pounds weight of gold in their poaseasion, which they obtained in about .three weeks at Rocky river. Washbourne has started a sluicing party at the Quartz Ranges, and is doing very well ; they have brought the water a considerable distance to the site of their operations in Maori 6uUyIt is a common opinion that the sooner some GovernmeWsg;ulations f° r the working and management of the golcPßttld££re introduced the better, as, under the present system, no person can hold more than twenty, thirty, or fifty feet square of ground, however much trouble he may have been at in prospecting for or bringing water to his chum ; neither has he the slightest protection if he expends £50 or £100 in making water-ditches for the conveyance of water to his claim, as any other individual can commence working in the centre of his ditch, or can use for nothing the water procured by the labour of another, more industrious and skilful than himself. The track to Rocky river is in a fearful 9tate, and if it is not widened by cutting the manuka, so as to form a sort of road, there will not be a pack-bullock hi the country/able to go up. Nearly all the bullocks are knocked Mp now ; and it is questionable if in two weeks' time there will be two or three capable of travelling. Of course, if the road is not made, the diggings will come to an end, and consequently will save the Government a deal of trouble,, as they have never done any good to the Nelson Province (?).