NELSON.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 5, Issue 266, 31 October 1861, Page 4

NELSON.

West Coast Coal.— At length the money, voted by the Provincial Council in its session of 1860, is to be expended in testing the coal at the, river Grey district. An advertisement having been issued, calling for tenders from persons desirous of contracting to procure this coal, we hope that no unforeseen delay will prevent the speedy arrival of a cargo of it in Nelson. It has been spoken of so highly by Mr. Haast and others who have'seen it, that we feel naturally desirous that so valuable a mineral should be most fully and fairly tested.—Examiner. ■ : . . . - ,! Spouting. Our fellow-colonist, Mr. W. Robinson, of Amuri, is, we are glad to perceive, making further purchases for the stud of thoroughbred horses, which he contemplates forming'in this province. Bell's Life in London thus notices one of. his-purchases at the sale of the late Duke of Bedford’s stud on the 3rd of July • “ The possession of Diomedus, a Hesperus colt of good size, power, and substance, •was severely contested between Mr. Payne, Mr. Bevill, and Mr. Robinson, the latter coming off the victor for 310 sovs, and he goes, we beHev©, to< New Zealand. Diomedus is a two-year-old colt, by Hesperus, out of Diomedia, Hesperus by Bay Middleton, out of Plenary (sister to Plenipo), by Emilius. The colt was in training, and would probably be tried at Warwick races, for which, he was engaged, on the 10th of September.- — -Id. Thp- Thsmaniani n m rupnpg; aorain between this and' Blenheim* calling at Picton, and we trust to see this trade revive. We hear it rumoured that she will also go into her old trade to the diggings, and our friends at Collihgwood wflf not then have to complain of uncertain communications.— -.Ccspnisii Chifc hh. The Coliingwood gold fields are yield-, in" well. The Supply last night brought aome 400 or 500 ounces, we believe ; and the returns thence, seeing there sire only about 100 men at work there at present, give an average of over 100 ounces per week. The Wangapeka is quiet, the wet having intercepted commnnipations we expect better things during; the-sum-mer. The West Coast is at present so far off practically that the. news is very old. A vessel is hourly expected thence, and we fully expect will: tag; intelligence of some of the parties having got to. work.— ld.

SOUTHLAND. The Invercargill Town Board; held its first meeting on AYednesday - afternoon in the School-house. This ; being . a pafitoa* nary sitting, the attention of Board was chiefly devoted to a consideration of the powers conferred _ by the ordinance, and a conversation as to the means to be adopted to obtain possession of sufficient funds 'to enable , the Board to commence the work of town improvement as soon as possible. The first matter to. be-, taken m hand seemed generally agreed! to.be, the opening up of the bush sections by carry-

ing through one or other of the liiroad connecting with Tay-street ; * and the loan of £IOO voted by the: Provincial Council was regarded as sufficient to keep the Board going till such time as some of the municipal reserves were leased, and the Board had decided the principle and amount of rate to which it would be necessary to resort.. It was resolved, that a clerk to* the Board be appointed for six months (sosas to give time to see what duties lie would have to perform), at the rate of 40/ per annum. — Southern News. With the incoming of spring—and a spring that thus far has Been all that the sweet singer of the “ Seasons desired to inspire his muse, —there appears to be a general desire, among those of our male population who are not disposed to rust away their lives, to have the Invercargill Cricket Club revived. It would be well, therefore, if those who are most anxious about the matter were to request the late or standing committee to. announce a preliminary field day, with a view to ascertain the cricketing strength of poor ‘ destitute Southland,’ which Mr. Dick is so desirous to re-annex to Otago. We liave>ourselves no doubt that before the coming summer is over we should see a Murihiku Eleven sufficiently advanced to warrant them (without very much presumption) in challenging any Otago Eleven whom Mr. Dick can: bring into the field. — Id.