NELSON.

Wellington Independent, Volume XV, Issue 1404, 10 February 1860, Page 3

NELSON.

We have papers from this Province to the 31st Inst," from which we have, made the foU lowing extracts : — . • Road to Canterbury by .Wai a at* Gobge. — We are glad to find our Government has , taken measures to improve f,he ro»d to Canter* bury by the Waitau Gorge ; a" party of twelve men, under the superintendence of Mr. Macgregor, with an ample supply of provisions, and all necessary tools, having started from Nelsun for that purpose.; Commencing at Tarndale» a good bridle track wiH be carried down 0:1 the right bank of the Acheron to its confluence with the Clarence, avoiding altogether the crossing of that river, so dangerous when in a swollen state, and thence up the right bank of the Clarence to Jollies Pass. The road over this Pass s.> rough in its present state, is to be improved, and a track across the Han filer Plain staked, so that travellers may avoid the stfuitops. Be*. -ttt«»ngLto_TarndaleAhe Joad_di£vyjiMJhe Gorge is to be improved by widening tbe~prEsCTrt-«ide cuttings on the faceof the cliffs along which they have been carried, and by cutting some of the steep banks in the wood at this end. A. sum of £1,000, voted last year by the Provin. cial Council, is the amount at present at the disposal of the Government for the above named work; and this will go far towards defraying the cost 5 but an additional- vote will, we'expect, be necessary to complete it properly. It will •be necessary, also, that a provision of some kind should be made to secure a safe crossing of the Waiau-na, or Dillon liver,, which could easily be done by an ordinary rowing boat, such as is used on the Waitanga, the largest and most vapid river in the island ; or still better by a bridge which could easily be thrown over the river, between* the Leslie and Montrose runs, »t a spot designed by nature foi the purpose, where the river is confined between, high- banks, and a large rock stauds in the centre. Almost opposite to this is a valley, by which the road could be carried in nearly a direct line across the Culverdon 1 run to the banks of the Hurunui, opposite the new road marked off by the Canterbury Government a* the trunk line to its northern boundary, by taking which, instead of following the track at present used, a saving of twenty two miles in distance would be effected. The expense necessary to accomplish this important saving would be but a trifle, and would principally consist in clearing a track through the manuka scrub on the north side of the Hurunui. A house of accommodation is now being erected near the road on the Canterbury side of the river, and the Government of that province would doubtless readily join with ours in estab* lishing a ferry there. These improvement* accomplished, it would only femain for our Government to take msujures t> get IW> accommodation houses erected on the road,, say one at Tarndale, and anpther near the ford at Clarence ; and-a journey from Nelson to Canterbury overland will then be less thought of than travel* ling. from Nelson ttf Wairau a few years ago, nor need it take, a greater length of time than was Usually occupied irt making^ the last named journey. " An overland mait*could then be established, which might reach the Hurunui in four or live dayV^fmost ; the social jxad political'advantages of Wh.icl), both* to the Province of Canterbury andio ourselves,.. would Qe very great. — Examiner, January, 25. Hat Spbinos on the HanmsbPlaw.— Few persons travelling everland betwee.n, Nelson and Canterbury fail to pay a visit to thesa-uemark-able springs, as they lie but a short distance off the track, and are in a olose proximity to Mr. W. Robinson's sheep station. The springs consist'of nine pools of a eupular form, grouped closelytogether, each from ten to fifteen ya:ds in circumference, and froja live to seven feet deep in the middle, lessening 10 eighteen inches or a foot at the sides. In each basin a number of jets bubble up above the surface, over which. a sulphurous vapour is seen to hang. The temperature of the water ia. highly .agreeable for a warm bath, and a swim in it a groat ktgury. We understand the Government will reserve the land adjacent to these springs, and lay it offin small allotments, for' there can be u» doubt that the place will, not long hence, be O ue of favourite resort, both by invalids and those who seek temporary relaxation from the toils of business. The beautiful Alpine stonety

in the neighbourhood would alone besufficiently attractive to draw visitors to the spot, if the loads were improved so as to render travelling more agreeable than it is at present. — Ibid. Spopting. — By the last steamer to Canterbury, Mr. H. Stafford took down, to run at the approaching races- there, three horses, namely, Namu, Ultima, and a three year old filly out of Princess, by St. Aunin. We have since heard that by the next steamer Mr. Redwood's filly Wetsail. is IjkeJy also to take her departure for the same destination ; bo that with the large number of horses tiaininjr on the spot, those which we are sending them, and those which arc expected from Wellington, the ensuing meeting at Canterbury bids fair to afford excel lent sport.— Ibid. The Roxana. — This vessel, which clears out at the Custom House this day for England, will lie the first wool ship from'lhe colony this season; Tie Roxana will take a large and valuable cargo of N Zealand produce, consisting o£9SO bales of wool, 1,100 mr res of gold, and six or seven bales of flax. The estimated value of- .this cargo is £24,140. The loading of the Roxana at Port Underwood has only occupied six weeks ; a fact that reflects highly on the excellent arrangements of the agents of the vessr I —Ibid. The Town Clock. — We are glad to anDouhc'e thai after a repose of several days the town, dork again maifcs the progress of time. The unpaid balance ot the flockmaker's account was said to be the cause cf the temporary stoppage ;♦ but toy the exertions of Mr. B. Crisp, the required aim unt was soon raised by voluntary contributions. It is now proposed, we believe, that the clock should be placed in cl-aige of the Board of Works; and certainly four or five pounds annually of the public money would be wel ha'pftlitd iv keeping the clock in proper order. ' Gas.— We learn that the necessary pipes, &c, ha.ye been ordered fiom Sydney; and that mall; probability a portion of the town will be lighted with gas in the course of next month. Meeting. — A meeting of the friends of Mr. A. Sauhdets took place last evening at the Trafalgar Hotel, Mr C. Parker, M P.C. in the chair, and a was embodied to His Excellency .the.Goveroor in hebtilf of Mr. Saunders with" a view to the liberation of that gentleman from-gnoi. • The meeting was numerously and respectably attended, amongst those present we noticed the Speaker of the Provincial Council, J.Pi, F. Kellinjj, Esq., : M.L.C , G. White. E^q J.P. and Messrs. Parker and Dodscn, M.PC.'s and many of the inhabitants of Nelson ; a deputation from Rivhmond was also present. After discus jvinn the preliminaries, themeetingunanimously adopted a memorial and called upon the Chairman, with Messrs. Barnicoat and Kellingto present it to His Honor, Mr. Justice John^tone this morning. The following names were proposed to form an Executive C< rr mittee MeKsTs^Situmotids and Dodson, M.P.C. W Bell, Eh ftoiider, Butler, Batey; Sheet, Baigent, M.PC, Reynolds Parker, M.P.C , MeKenzie, Ligbtbrand,. Webb, Jackson, Goodman, Harris and Wilkie. Nejk Discoveet or Gold — We are informed by an old M.tssiicie Bay digger, who hap been lately in the Awatere district on a shearing expedition, thai, gold has been discovered there. The account is as follows: — That, upon coming to a shepherd's hut he found the occupant employed in haiMiirrng out a piece of metal which the digger soon recognised as gold. It was a nugget of about 1 dwt. and a-half, and taken fiom a gully running from the direction of the Kaikoras, and near the boundaries of the runs of Messrs. Cross and Mowatt, and Charles Elliott. «■ ■ ■