LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Colonist, Issue 2, 27 October 1857, Page 2

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Among the flowers in. bloom this month, we have the cowslip, primrose, violet, and daisy. Surely, none of us, not even those who have not seen the green lanes and verdant meadows of the old country these 16 years past, can forget these delightful little flowers of our childhood. They are flowers that have through life an Indelible impression upon the memory, which time cannot efface, and which, hi after life, call-forth many pleasing and may be profitable reflections. Of what do they remind us but of the sunny days of youth, when, in joyous company we gambolled on nature's carpet, thoughtless of the fleeting pfesertt, arid free from anticipation, without a thought upon the future ? Age may creep upon us early settlers, but our mem6rjr is good ? and never will we forget our lovely favorite flowers. What is it tempts us to revisit the land of our .birth ? Can it be the improvements of the age: of which we read with a degree of wonder and respect ? No! "We have lived too long amid the hills and streams of this wild but KealtKy country again to mix with pleasure among the sons of science, arts, and literature. Is it that there are those bright companions of our youth, the friends of our maturer life, or near and dear relations we have left behind us. No, no. Those bright companions are settled the wide world over, or sleeping with the majority of our friends and relatives, the sleep of death. What then recalls us " home ? " Why, when with fond recollection we ate musing o'er the past, 'tis the scenes of our childhood—in a word, old England's rural beauty, amongst which, though types of modesty, stand pre-eminent the violet, the primrose, the and the daisy. The Maories.—The condition of the few natives who live in Blind Bay; the Pelorus River and Queen Charlotte's Soundf which are the principal locations.of the natives visiting Nelson, is much improved as regards their outward appearance in clothing. How seldom is a Maori now seen stalking about with his blanket adjusted over his shoulder, and the fag-end trailing behind him "like Troy's protid dames, whose garments sweep the ground." European dress is what the Maories generally wear. They are evidently lessened in number since the third or fourth year of the Settlement, when they abundantly supplied the settlers with fish, pigs, and potatoes, and their tangis and Tcoreros used to relieve the dulness of Auckland Point residency. From Queen Cha'i'Iptte's Sound a few substantial boats arrived lately, built after the style of whaleboats, but. much larger, of which Maories are the owners. To whatever causes we may attribute their decrease, the use of intoxicating beverages cannot be assigned as having any great prominence. We should like to hear the opinions of some of those long resident in Nelson, and conversant with the natives upon this point. The Season.—At this period of the year, when Spring has considerably advanced, the weattier is unusually cold; Old settlers say they never have, since their arrival, experienced such an inclement atmosphere, after'winter has passed, as they have felfc during the last few weeks. The crops are rather backward—grass grown for hay being light; and the wheat tenderj though looking well. Oats have shot up to a good height, and look promising; H6avy sluw.erS'of rain fell during the whole of Sunday last, which may have the effect of making the air warmer and more genial. The sowing of barley is still going on, and the crop already up'has a favorable appearance; , ;,

Our Gold Fields. —Appoos Flat Aorere.— Deep sinking ha* commended in this district. One hundred ounces' of gold were brought from Collingwood by the l Tasmanian? Maid' on Thursday last. . The communication oWigingly_furnish6rrtous by a passenger of the Supply we find slightly incorrect in matters of detail' from Captain Walker's statement, which we believfeto be the correct one. The West Coast. —The attention of the readers •of the Colonist is speeislly requested to ari advertisement appearing in this niorniug's issue, inviting parties of an enterprising spirit to join the gentleman advertising in an exploring expedition to' the West Coast. The benefits resulting to the country, should good tracts of land be discovered,, need, not be commented upon, as the settlers generally know that most of the good available land about Nelson v already taken up. The discovery of fresh land in the Middle Island must be interesting and important; and to those who are not apprehensive of hardships, and desire a change of their mode of life for a time, the novelty of the scenes and the adventures to be experienced,, would,- we should think, be a sufficient inducement for their joining the proposed party. . Nelson Trust Funds Act • —As this is the month' for registering votes under the1 " Trust Funds Act," we have to remind our readers who have a claim and have not yet registered, that only a few days, remain in which they can do so. The claims must be given in at the Court House before the close of this month. Underneath is the form of registration ;— Form of Claim for Registering Voters under Nel-' son Trust Funds Act.

o PS a> oq si .2 S -S 'I Ij I _■§ 3 3 h || 2 S ? ? * *- | X I I I I I I I y A PM O t> & !*5 O I hereby claim to have my name inserted on th'o List of Voters for the election of Trustees and Auditors under the " Nelson Trust Funds Act." To the Resident Magistrate, Kelson.