NELSON.

Wellington Independent, Volume I, Issue 49, 4 February 1846, Page 1

NELSON.

[From the Nelson Examiner, January 24.] We have delayed our publication to announce the arrival of the Mary Catherine, from England, having left the Downs on the 27$a,of September. We have intelligence that the negotiations between the Government and the New Zealand Com. pany have been brought to a satisfactory conclusion. The loan of £150,000' has been agreed to, and a portion of it paid. The settlement at Otago is to go forward immediately. and Mr, Kettle, formerly of New Plymouth, [Wellington,] is to be chief surveyor, and has arrived in the Mary Catherine; Mr. Reunie is, we believe, not coming out. The Caledonia had not arrived when the Mary Catherine sailed. The htest news from New Zealand was to the beginning of A pril. Another vessel wou!d, it was expected, be despatched about the 10th of December. The Mary Catherine ha< a large quantity 0 f Government stores and ammunition on board, which she takes on to Auckland. The following paraeraph is from the New Zealand Journs.l of September 13. The Mary Catherine. — This vessel leaves Gravesend this morning, and we expect will make a quick run out, bein? in fine sailing order. Her first advertised date of departure has been strictly adhered to ; as she shut her hatches en the afternoon of the 10th, and lefc the docks before business hours on the 11th. It gives us pleasure to inform onr readers that the Government have given an earnest of lheir wish to co-operate with the Company, by shipping a large quantity of stores in this vessel, in fact, nearly half tbe cargo ; and taking in i part of these has been the cause of her detention at j Gravesend. They consist of cannon and mil tary ! stores, the arrival of which will, we trust, put the settlers in good spirits, showing, as it does, the determination of her M»jesty's Government to protect them efficiently for the future. She takes *even cabin passengers, and five adults and six children io the steerage. Among the former, is Mr. Kettle, a gentleman who has already resided for some time in New Zealand, and is now, we understand, sent out by the Company, for the purpose of making surveys at Otago, preliminary to further steps no w about being taken with reirard to tbe establishment of the New Edinburgh settlement." Wrf.cs of the Brig Guide. — Intelligence reached town on Thursday afternoon that the brig Guide, from Sydney, had been wrecked during the previous night near ths pah at Wakapuaka, about fifteen miles from Nelson, on the eastern shore of the Bay. The Collector of Customs, and Cross, the pilot, accompanied by two or three gentlemen, immediately proceeded to the spot; and on the following morning, at sir o'clock, about thirty of the militia, who had volunteered for the purpose, went went down by land, accompanied by the Captain Commandant, Lieutenant Bell, and the Rev. C. L. Reay. The return of the first party this day enables ns to give the following particulars;— The brig Guide was anchored in Taranaki roadstead on Wednesday, and her owner on shore. In the afternoon, the weather wearing a threatening aspect, captain determined to come on to Nelson, as he had cargo for this and accordingly set all possible sail, and ran for Blind Bay. At midnight he took in sail and hove to, as he believed himself to be well down and in the middle of the bay; as the vessel had steered badly, be was mistaken in the last supposition. About two o'clock a cry of land was given, but *he wind, which was now blowing a heavy gale from tbe north, made it impossible to get sail on the ve-sel, nor could such an old cranky ship stand against it. An opening was seen in the hills, which the captain believed to be either the French Pass or Croixelles, and he had therefore, as he states, no alternative but to clap on sail and run in. The vessel was carried safely by a high sea over the b*r into Wakapuaka harbour, and beached within a hundred yards of the pah, where at low water she is high and dry. When the first party from town reached her on Thursday evening, neither ship nor. cargo had taken any damage; but the slight bumping the received, as the tide rose during the night, loosened several seams, and she now makes a few feet of water at each tide, which leaves her again at low water. Had the vessel been of ordinary strength, this would- not have occurred; instead of which, she is well known as being old and scarcely seaworthy, requiring the constant use of the pumps all the time she is at sea. The greater part of the cargo has been landed safely and placed in the pah, from which it will be removed in coasters to this place. The cattle have been driven into the Happy Valley, but the sheep were too weak to accompany them. Messrs. Brit and Sons, the consignees, are exerting themselves in repairing the ship, that an attempt may be made at the next spring tides to get her off and bring her to Nelson, where, we suppose, she will undergo a survey. The nutnbrr of cattle and sheep shipped was, of the former, 43, and 34 of tbe latter. Of those, 35 head of cattle were landed, and 26 sheep. The cargo consists mostly of flour, sugar, rice, manu-

fcctored goods, and general merchandize. Tbe ord r am W age bdl " c ' *"*"* *»*« amount It is perhaps a fortunate circumstance that one of the resident chief, at the pah, Parramatta weH hTr £ tafbU!en i Characte 'ia from W fr He might have caused tome trouble. The natives present there exerted themselves in the most praiseworthy manner in assisting to unload the veaiel and m taxing care of the cargo. T.MBER.-Jhere is likely to be a considerable denund immediately for sawn timber for shipment to the neighbouring colonies, and sawyers will therefe c do well to get a stock by them, as more will be required than can be possibly got ready Debentures.-We are given to understand that a number of persons rf small means are holders of debentures for amounts varying f rom £i tQ £ 5> which of course are utterly useless to them It has been suggested that persons so circumstanced should club together, and if possible make up the amount required by Government to entitle holders to claim part payment in cash, and the residue in a new debenture including the interest. TU« could doubtless be sold, and the proc- eds shared in due proportions. Mr. Rankin, in Bridge-street, has undertaken to collect the names of persons desirous of joinin* in such an arrangement. 3 Tanning.—We understand that preparations are being made for the commencement of tanninom this settlement on an extensive scale. A bark mill is shor Iy expected from England, upon the arrival of which operations will be commenced. Ihe person to whom the busl ess will be iVrusted is a thoroughly practical man, who has for some time been directing his attention to the subject by testing the qualities of the various barks to be'obtam.d here, and has satisfied himself that the black birch is admirably suited for the purpose.