NELSON.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1728, 27 May 1862, Page 3

NELSON.

By the Storm Bird, we have received Nelson, papers up to the 23rd instant. The brig Lai I a Rookh is advertised in the " Colonist 1 ' of the 22nd instant, for Wellington, to sail on the 22nd instant.

At the request of a number of gentlemen, His Honor the Superintendent had convened a public meeting of the inhabitants of Nelson, for Wednesday, the 28th instant, to take into consideration what steps it is desirable to take in anticipation of the arrival of His Excellency Sir George Grey. Mr. Burnett, Colliery Engineer, had sent in a Report on the West Coast coal fields to the Provincial Government. The report is highly favourable, and proves the existence of exten sive and valuable coal fields, ou the West Coast. Mr. Burnett, in speaking of the Buller coalfield, remarks:— "Part of the iSuller coalfield is situated on the elevated table land to the north of Mount Rochfort. I say part of it, because at present I am not prepared to say how far it extends in auy direction ; but this I can say — that the whole of the table land (many thousand acres in extent) is a very rich coal-field, containing a great number of workable seams similar in qaality to the Grey coal, and which can be worked, I think, at less expense/ A tramway from the mine to the port is easy of construction, the length would be about twelve miles, and the difficulties are by no means so great as those overcome by the Dun Mountain Railway. The Buller harbour can be used by ordinary vessels of 200 tons, and by 300 ton vessels built for that purpose. We make the following extracts from the "Colonist":—

The Minstbkls.— We have attended one of the performances of the San Franciso Minstrels, and can with pleasure testify to the excellence of their enteitainment. The pure coin, coming so directly after the spurious, has doubtless led to more than ordinary scrutiny of their merits, and they have well withstood the test. Iv consequence of pressure of other matter we are uuable on this occasion to mention them as particularly as they deserve, but hope to do so in our next.

Permanent Building Society. — At the last meeting oi this society, on Monday, 19th May, 524 new shares were announced to have been taken up since the former meeting. The cash received was £751 165., and the sum of £900 was disposed of, at premiums averaging £1 13s. per share of £20. Fatal Accident.— About a fortnight sincea young man from Mariborougb, named Zacharia Bunn, was thrown from s horse near the Commercial Hotel, but, though he complained

of pain, did not seek medical aUL He went to Marlborough in the Tasmanian Maid, and staid at the Royal Hotel, where he became so ill that Dr. Home was called in j but fever having supervened, he died unexpectedly. At the coroner's inquest the jury returned the curious verdict of " natural death." The following is an abstract of the 'Probable Revenue of the Province of Nelson, for the year commencing: Ist April 1863.'

i " Importation of Sheep. — The ship Eli Whitney arrived last evening from Melbourne with 2,000 ewes. These sheep had been ordered, we believe, by OHe of our flockowners, to get a change of blood, and to improve generally the character of his flock. The Grey Coal. — By the last steamer from Auckland, a despatch was received by his Honour the Superintendent from Mr. Fox, the Colonial Secretary, enclosing 1 reports made by certain tradesmenMn Auckland upon a sample of the Grey coal which had been given them to test. Messrs. Vickery aud Mansfield, of the Albert Foundry, say— "We have taken every opportunity of trying the coal sent us, and find it to be of a very superior quality, and a good coal for getting steam. It gives a great heat where there is a proper draught, burns quick, and gives a clear and full fire, with little smoke. It leaves clean fire-bars, is free from clinkers, and does not require much stirring, burning to a white ash. " Mr. Davidson, coach-builder, horse-shoer, &c, says: — " I beg to inform you that I have given the Nelson coals, that you sent me a fair trial in my forges, and I consider them a good sample of smithy coals, and if they could be got at a reasonable price I have no doubt they would be in demand. Mr. Edward Wall says: — "I beg to state, for the information of the Colonial Secretary, that the sample of Nelson coal sent by him for trial is the best New Zealand coal which has come to my notice; the fault with them is that they are too light, but they do not leave any clinkers. I consider them to be better then any of the New South Wales coa^, with the exception of the Walls End coal."

Balance in Treasury at coin- £ s. d. rnencemetitoffinaucial year 4622 18 5 Customs 7600 0 0 Publicans' Licenses ... ... 1200 0 0 Auctioneers' Licenses ... 200 0 0 Education Rate 2000 0 0 Incidentals 1500 0 0 Proporton of Provincial Debt to be paid by Marl borough Province 603 12 6 Ditto of debt to Geneial Government to be paid by ditto , 800 0 O Land Revenue (exclusive of debt to General Government) 29,400 0 0 Goldfield's revenue ... 530 0 0 Total Estimated Revenue £48,456 10 10