NELSON.

New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator, Volume IV, Issue 336, 27 March 1844, Page 2

NELSON.

By the Star of China, from Sydney v& Nelson, we have received an Examiner of the ICth March.

Country Sections. —We understand that country lands have been sold at Nelson, some at two and some at five shillings per acre. We are happy to hear that they were purchased by au active and valuable settler.

" Nelson Survet. — The late Chief Surveyor of this settlement, F. Tuckett, Esq., has received the appointments of Chief Surveyor to the settlement of New Edinburgh, and New Zealand Company's Agent until the arrival of Mr. Rennie. Mr. Tuckett will explore this island from Banks' Peninsula to Milford Haven, and has full power to select for the site, the district which he finds best adapted for agricultural- purposes, although Port Cooper is the spot which Colonel Wakefield points out as the one most fitting from what is already known of the country. Mr. Tuckett will start in a few days, and will be accompanied by Mr. Symonds, the Assistant Police Magistrate for Cook's Straits, who will convey, on the part of the Government, authority to the natives to dispose of their lands. From Mr. Tuckett's experience in New Zealand, and h s known indefatigabili'.y the colonists of New Edinburgh may safely

rely that their -. true interests will be well cared for. ■ ...

" New Zealand Flax. — We have been kindly furnished with the following extract from a letter received by a merchant of this place from his London correspondent, dated October 28 :—: — . •

'It appears that some parcels (of New Zealand flax) have been sold as low as £15 or £16 the ton, while we cannot learn that any has brought more than £25. It is said to be only fit for certain purposes, and for these purposes it has to contend in the market with a similar article brought from Manilla. The consumption is said to be but limited a t any time, and it is asserted that a large /"quantity (say a couple of shiploads) would completely glut the market. All, however, seem to admit that, when a better system is adopted of- cleaning it and the whole of the vegetable matter carefully extracted previous to shipment, it will probably be found applicable to many purposes to which it now canuot be applied at all. The great waste that, takes place in working it up is much complained of by all that we have talked to on the subject. We think it right to add that no one believes the New Zealand flax can compete with that of Russia in its present wild state, while all seem of opinion that the country producing such an article indigenous to the soil would not fail of producing the best hemp or flax in the world, provided good seed and proper cultivation were attended to." '

" There is nothing in the letter from which this extract is taken to denote the particular shipment which is here spoken of. It may be that sent from Wellington in the Clydeside, or possibly some small quantities taken home at different times in whalers. We know that the few tons shipped in the above vessel were by no means a favourable sample, and that later shipments have been much better cleaned and packed. We do not consider the above account unsatisfactory ; for if it should turn out that flax/as now dressed, will realize £24 or £25 per ton, there can he little doubt that a brisk export will soon spring up. It is, however, of the utmost importance that inferior samples should not find their way into the market; as it can only result in the ruin of the parties concerned, and in bringing discredit upon the articlo itself.

" There is some talk of a Fldx Company in London. We do not understand its precise objects, but we are told that it has offered to treat with the owners of land for the privilege of cutting the plant growing wild on their sections.

Cricket. — A challenge has been forwarded from tbe Nelson club to the cricketers of Wellington. The first game to be played at one settlement and the return match at the other, giving the Wellingtonians the choice of ground for the first game."