COLLINGWOOD.

Colonist, Issue 26, 19 January 1858, Page 2

COLLINGWOOD.

[erom our own correspondent.] January 15th, 1858. 1 am glad to tell you we continue to hear good news from Golden Gully; everyone there is doing something; the washing stuff, commencing at 2 feet from the surface, is about 4 feet deep; experienced diggers tell you that it is only a false bottom, and if holes went down well slabbed something handsome would turn up. In the meanwhile things are going steadily on at the other diggings.; bricklayers, carpenters, and labourers have deserted this place for the gold regions. I regret to inform you that a digger was found in the Slate River some days since. It seems in a fit of delirium tremens he threw himself into the river and was drowned. Another digger, a fine young fellow, left Washbourne's Flat in company with one of his mates a few Sunday's since ; he had a small swag with him : he parted from his mate and did not reach home that evening; search was made but nothing was heard of him until a day or two since, when he also was found in the river in his shirt and boots* I believe particulars have been sent to the coroner in both instances.

The Gold Field, Regulations are affording the inhabitants some amusement. With our present population the expense of collection, &c, will equal the amount raised. The idea seems to be you should encourage people to come here by making roads and opening the country, and when there is a population, clap on the screw to some purpose. Referring to my letter of last.* week respecting the Custom House, there is a vessel in harbour from Wellington with bonded goods on board, as it was understood this was to he a port of entry from the Ist inst.; the shippers will have to pay freight back again, and we must, £ suppose, still be content to pay an extra price for-pur spirits, etc., on account of the unnecessary outlay i n , their ports. Really, w-hat with no. roads. and bad roads, absurd regulations for publicans, an inaccessible unoccupied Custom-house, and the Provincial Secretary's notion of disappointed diggers refusing 12s. per day, this must be a peculiar country. Would that Nelson had been Wellington, or Aorere Ahuriri, we should, as Dr. Monro says, have had a passable road through the country that has been " the salvation of the Province of Nelson." We are told better times are coming; so they are, but six or seven hundred persons have left the province or the diggings in the meantime. We cannot even get a petty hundred pounds for a school, although there are numbers of children running about acquiring anything but knowledge; it seems we must number so many adults, never mind how many children. I must cease grumbling this time; but I must tell you that your Nelson Government, or managers, or Council, or whatever you call them, are the representatives of the slowest, do-nothing people under the sun.