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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4273, 30 November 1874, Page 2

The English journals notice with satisfaction the growing demand from the colonies for railway iron. Month by month, they remark—speaking with the._.returns-. o£. the Board of Trade before them—the demand has become larger and larger. In the month of August the quantity required was not less than 10,031 tons, as against 2295 tons in the corresponding month of 1873, and 1993 tons in August 1872. In the eight months of the year ending with August last, the quantity shipped for Australasia was 55,252 tons, compared with 13,304 tons in the corresponding period of 1873, and 14,577 tons in August 1872. The demand has not fallen off since, and is more likely to increase than to grow less. It is a pity that some portion of the iron required could not be manufactured locally.

A special settlement is being formed by the provincial authorities of Nelson on the river Karamea, on the West Coast. The river enters the sea at a spot about fifty miles to the northward of Westport, and though the harbor is not a good one, it is practicable. The Wallace entered it on Thursday morning last, with settlers from among the immigrants who have lately arrived in Nelson, and landed them on the left bank of the river. There is excellent coal at Karamea, samples of which have been brought to market, and abundance of superior timber, for which there is now so great a demand, so that a saw-mill should be one of the first things set agoing by or for the settlers. Three thousand acres are set apart on the bank of the river for the purpose o£ this special settlement. Thirty famihes are to be placed upon it at first, and the head of each family is to be employed for the first month on public works at 6s. per day, and afterwards three days per week, at Bs. per day, for six months certain. Rations are to be issued at cost price for the full seven months. An allotment of fifty acres, and also one of five acres, is to be letsed to each head of a family for fourteen jears at a rental of two shillings per acre, a Crown grant to be issued, free of further payment, to each head of a family for his allotment, at the end of that.period. The lands are to be parcelled out by lot, and assistance in the form of seed potatoes and oats, or rye, to be given to each family, that they may plant early, so as to make provision for winter use. The terms of settlement, which are issued by Mr. Rout, for the Provincial Secretary, are practical, but not over liberal.