The Nelson Gold Fields.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XVII, Issue 78, 29 September 1858, Page 2

The Nelson Gold Fields.

[from oub correspondent.] Collingwood, September 23rd, 1858. Having noticed in the Examiner of the 11th instant, under the head of " Local Intelligence," that the number of actual diggers here is estimated at from 160 to 300, I beg to hand you something like a correct census of that population, which is as follows, namely— Rocky River 147 From Moonlight Flat to Devil's Hill . . 56 Golden and other Gullies in that neighbourhood 60 Parapara, Appoo's, and Lightband's Gullies . 30 Manrope to Washbourne's Flat ... 20 Quartz Ranges 19 Doctor's Creek ...... 6 Total . . .338 This is as near a 6 it is sveil possible to arrive at the matter, although, if anything, it is rather under than over the mark. The number of natives comprised in the above estimate will be 70 at the Rocky River and 10 at the Parapara. The number of men, who are all diggers, at present at work on the Government road, is 40, and there are 12 or 15 engaged at other works, such as sawing, splitting rails, &c. Thus you will observe that the present number is just about 400. Having taken some slight trouble to settle this matter, which few here have been lately able to agree upon, you may depend upon its accuracy. The general diggings here are in a very satisfactory state, although the weather is quite the reverse, being just such as I used to write you about twelve months since. The Rocky River has turned out very well, and still continues to do so when weather permits. The Manrope party (which is diverted into two parties now) are averaging at least an ounce per man a-week. At the Quartz Ranges there are two small sluicing parties, besides Mr. Washbourne's party of eleven, who all seem perfectly satisfied ; and there is a new gully lately found near Golden Gully, which, I hear, is yielding a very good harvest. The sluicing operations on the old ground at Lightband's Gully turn out very well where there is water enough to work ; and at the celebrated Appoo's Gully all seem satisfied. Thus you will see that they look healthy ; and, in the course of six weoks, when fine weather may be looked for, I fully expect to see some four or five hundred old faces back hero again.

But we must have something done in the shape of new tracks or roads to the new rushes, such as Snow's Rush, Rocky River, &c, or there will be another repetition of our losing our population as before, when, through the same shameful neglect, we dwindled down from 2,000 to 500. I will just give you one instance, as we stand now. Two storekeepers at Rocky River, out of the three there, have the whole of their working bullocks knocked up through the abominable state of the road. Surely a few men might be taken off their present roadwork for a week or two, to improve this road, where half the present population are settled, and are likely to be for a long time, as the banks are turning out firstrate, as well as the riger bed. The fact is, that if something is not done at ence, there will be a shortness of food there, and endless rows and squabbles, through men having to leave their claims for two or three days to fetch provisions from the port themselves. As Washbourne is engaged at the Quartz Ranges, he cannot spare time to run about looking after new tracks, as he did j although I hear he was offered Bs. per day by the Superintendent, if he liked to do so.

I wrote to you some four months ago, about having a school built here ; but I see very little chance of our having one this side of Christmas at least, as I do not hear of the timber having been ordered yet. This is too bad, as there are from fifty to sixty children with nothing to do but run about the street, learning the English tongue indeed, but in its most vulgar sense. I think likewise that in any other part of the Christian world there would have been a church or chapel erected, after 600 inhabitants had been Bettled for upwards of twelve months. Our legislators should think of these things, especially at the time the Judge charges the grand jury at each sitting of the Supreme Court, with respect to the increasing drunkenness and crime.

Since writing the above, tho School Committee have appointed Mr. John Nearae master, but no further stops have been taken towards erecting the school.

You will ? ee by an advertisement, that it is intended to have some races here. There are three events ilrcady settled, namely, a Diggers' Gold Cup, Innkeepers' Purse, and the Storekeepers' Plate. The lino will partly depend on the convenience of those gentlemen who may bo inclined to enter horses for the ibove.

Shockiho Accident.— An inquest was held, on ho 21st instant, at the Parapara, before H. G-. ioiTLAND, Esq., coroner, to inquire into the cause of i fire, through which a large ward was burnt and two ives were lost, those of an old blind man and a female ;liild, both natives. On the jury visiting the scene of the disaster, there appeared a circle of tinder or

ashes, which was the remains of two blankets burnt off the poor old man, whose remains were found where he was last seen alive, with the flame 3 raging over him. Tho bodies presented a frightful spectacle, being almost burnt to a cinder. Alter a careful inquiry, the jury returned a verdict of Accidental Death.