NELSON.

Otago Witness, Issue 654, 11 June 1864, Page 21

NELSON.

(fbom thb daily times correspohdbnt.) NblsoNj 2nd June, 1864. The diggings go on very quietly. No new ground has yet been opened if I except that, in "paddocking" the Wakamarina River, some good results have been obtained. The " Nelson Examiner" of this day very correstly says :— " It appears that one party who were what is called i • paddocking' at the foot of a spur leading to the river a little above the Big Creek, on bottoming their hole took out 60oi ot gold. Such news is of course most cheering, but we would suggest the expedi«ncy of awaiting further information." The Provincial Council was opened yesterday by the Superintendent. Tne speech contained the following among many other observations : " 1. In reviewing the past twelve months, and endeavouring to anticipate the coming portion of the current year co far as may be necessary to stake estimates and devise plans, there appears to me, more than ever, occasion to notice around us, and particularly within our own province, the fluctuations of trads and population that attend gold seeking. " At the opening of your last ordinary session, I built no calculations on the hopes created by the influx of diggers during the autumn preceding and there was no chance therefore of our being involved in difficulties by the partial way in which those hopes have been fulfilled. Business, during part of the past year, has been to some extent depressed, and a lareje portion of the trading public shared in the depression. New discoveries nave changed the tone of things, and, taking the year throughout, we have reason to call it one of fair prosperity. " 3. The development of our gold fields during the past year, has not indeed equalled the common expectation, but the movement of diggers towards the south-western districts, and the efforts made by the (iovernment to keep pace with it, have not been fruitless. The valley of the Boiler is no longer a land known only to a few explorers. It is open to all, and many are now able to judge from their own observation of its capabilities tind resources.

4. With a reasonable confidence in the re sources of the Province, we need not be eager foi a torrent of population, bringing much wealth indeed, but much misery in its train, and leaving certain collapse when the flood retires. The proviace, from end to end, possesses gold deposits which- may perhaps never prove the cause of intense excitement, like that we have just witnessed in n neighboring province, but which will give fair wages to steady labor for many years, and become more attractive whenever settlement shall spread into the vaileye of the western and other auriferous districts.

Under circumstances like tho e e of the goldbearing colonies, a sudden rise of Customs revenue is not a certain symptom of sound prosperity, and our moderate advances in this respect need not be viewed with despondency. The gradual extension of permanent industry over the face of the country, and the steady growth of revenue that follows the increase of settled population, are the objects of wise hope. Although the land revenue of last year fell short of my estimate and your expectation, the examination of the sources and particulars of this deficiency gives evidence of a healthy advance in the province. 5. The gross Custom receipts, exclusive of gold duty, for the year ended 31st March last, amounted to L 25.752 7s Od, of which the Provincial Treasurer has received L11,'273 14s lid, being L 1278 14s lid in excess of my estimate • and m addition to this, the sura of L 1627 10s 5d has been received from the General Government, as surplus revenue. The gold duty for the same period amounted to LIO2B 2s 2d.

6. The land fund was estimated at L 30.000, which, as about the average of nine previous years' receipts, might be supposed a reasonable conjecture. The amount actually received was, however, little more than half this estimate, being L 15,127, net, and showed a startling decrease of 144,267, or nearly seventy-five per cent. upon the receipts of the previous year - 159 394. 16. The influx of men from other parts of the colony, many of them in a destitute condition, wflL I doubt; not, engage your consideration, and laduceyou to hasten your decisions respecting such necessary public works as may give temporary employment and relief to snch persons and the means of returning, if they choose, to their former places of abode. At the same time, especial regard must be had to the condition of the provincial revenne, which evidently will not warrant any great amount of expenditure in that direction ; nor, withjjustice to the claims of settled labor in the Province, can it be expected that either permanent or highly-paid employment can b8 provided by the Government for koy large number of strangers. 17. In connection with this subject you win, I nave no doubt, consider the question, whether the present liv» stock in the Frovince are likely to be sufficient for the supply of any probable rush to this part ot the country. You are aware that pleuro-pneomonia has found its wny to Otago aad Auckland. The Government of Canterbury hay* dosed their boundary against cattle hh XK < I llwrK) T ! ?? B',8 ',. a 8 reeil> 8' n°wever, to «cept Neltoo and Marlborough on condition of ttwrcloaiß* their porta against the cattle of the Northern Island. The proceeding baa, I regret to tay, inconvenienced the eettlera of the Amuri ; neverthebsa I have sot at the present juncture thought it right to relieve this inconvenience at the cost of closing the market that has supplied na to some extent Mr Justice Johnston, i Visitor of Nelsoa College, has held his visitation ; and while he thought that the proper amount of diligent activity had not been shown by the Governors of the Colleire. he.certataJy exonerated them from all blame so »r as regarded the charges pretty freely inanuated against their honour. The Visitor said ne regretted that men of so high honour and «*wcter should have been exposed to a-xiety ana vexation and unjust insinuations. Lock, the ooudemaed criminal, has had his ttnteneeof d«ath>espited to one of imprisonment tor lite.

Ne&bo Hbboisk.— A letter from Washington, North Carolina, tells the story of a brave negro who lost his life during th« siege :—" A flat B ,withafewnegroes,attemptedto tad at Redman's Point, but were repulseiby a tenible fire of rebel bullets-all tumbling into the i£ *2? y" l * a{ to escape being shot MeanWMe the boat Btuck fast on the shore, when this noble African said : * Somebody's got to die to rit ftr^fAr ditma y *»well Te me ' ge ISSSf B^, 80 * S"* «? d P»** boatoft, MjfeQ into it, pierced by flvo bu«eto.»-.Bostoß