NELSON.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1733, 20 June 1862, Page 3

NELSON.

By the Lord Worsley, we have received Nelson papers up to the 12th inst. We extract the following from the monthly summary of the Examiner of the 12th Inst : —

Business during the past month, has been unusually dull in all branches. Stocks in first hands are heavy, with but few exceptions ; and the Knight Bruce, which may be expected from London about the beginning of text month, brings a full cargo. Tobacco has advanced to 3s. 3d. oi) negrobead ; and, as there are not any direct imports per Knight Bruce, a further advance may be looked for. Some articles in Oilman's Stores are wanted, but, upon the whole we may report the market as amply SHpplied, Bottled beer has given way slightly, owing to the large parcels to hand ex Adeucraig. The arrivals, since our last monthly summary have been the Lalla Rookh, from Melbourne, with a general cargo, on the 16th May ; the Eli Whitney, also from Melbourne, with sheep and Merchahdise, on the same date ; the Sword-Fish from Hobart Town, with a full general cargo, on the 24th ; the steamer Q jeen, from Melbourne, via the southern provinces, with a small cargo of merchandise, ou the 26th ; the Lord Worsley, with a full general cargo, on the Ist of June ; the St. Jean, from Otago ; aud the Cornelia from Cadiff, with a 1,007 tons of coal for the I.C R.M. Company, on the 7th June. Chrome continues to be brought into town in large parcels, and this article promises to become a perraiuent export of considerable value. It is much to be regretted that copper has uot, as yet been discjvered in any quantity of a payable character, but, from the indications, there is every reason to hope that it will yet be found. A small parcel of plumbago has come forward during the past month, aud we shall hope to see this added to our list of exports, although the value is not heavy. The quality of this, however, is said to be excellent, and we trust there will be sufficient margin of profit left to induce further operations.

The coal fields of the West Coast, we have some hope, ere long, to see opened to the public, when we trust to see them worked by companies, possessing capitals of sufficient amount to render thsir being worked in a proper manner a matter of certainty. With a production of the value of this coal, for which a large aud daily increasing demand exists both in N.ew Zealand, and also

in Melbourne and Adelaide, there is no doubt of a ready market being found for a large quantity. The gold-fields are, as Jar as we have heard from them of late, progressing favourably. From the West Coast we have had no news for some time past. The Supply brought upwards of 200 ounces from Collingwood on her last trip, and we hear the diggers on the Buller River are doing well.

The loss of our little local steamer, the Tasmauian Maid, on the bar of the Wairau river during the past month will be a severe blow to our trade with Marlborough and Oollingwood. We are of opinion that the bar of the Wairau river is far to dangerous ever to permit of a satisfactory trade being carried on with Blenheim direct, and it is hoped that the Provincial Government of Marlborough will come to the determination of making either a tramway or a good dray road between Picton and Blenheim as speedily as possible.

chrome. — The shipment of chrome ore during the past month has amounted to nearly 900 tons, namely, 65 tons by the Lord Worsley 162 tons by the Hebe, for Sydney, and 50 tons by the Lalla Rookb, and 600 tons by the Eli Whitney, for Melbourne. The ease with which this large quantity of ore has been brought from the mines and conveyed to the wharf in so short a space of time, at the very worst season of the year, is convincing proof of the advantage of the rail over common roads. But for their railway, it would have been impossible for the Dun Mountain Company to have shipped so large a quantity of ore in so short a space of time, and during such inclement weather. The quantity of chrome ore now on its way home is considerable, and, on its arrival in England, its value in the market will be fairly tested. gold. — The state of the weather during the last month has not been favourable to gold digging, nevertheless a large quantity of gold considering the small number of diggers at work, has reached town. The more we hear of our gold-fields, the higher is the opinion we form both of their richness and extent. All the diggers who have stuck to their work have done well, while many have amassed considerable wealth. That we shall yet see a very large population on our diggings we are quite satisfied. coal.— -The reports of Mr. Burnett on the western coal-Held, given in the present Summary, furnish some additional information on the extent and valueof thesefields. Mr.Burnett is stiil at the Buller, making further surveys of the district, so that we may expect to receive yet additional information from him. The report of Captain Clouston on the harbours of the Grey and Buller, also given in to-day's Summaiy, shows that the Buller is the more preferable river for shipping, and that, for vessels not drawing more than thirteen feet of water, the latter river furnishes a good harbour. There is also another called the Mokihinai, thirty-five miles north of the Buller, which furnishes a good harbour for vessels of a similar class, and where the coal can be worked with, perhaps, even greater facility than at the Buller or Grey. Samples of this co»l have been brought to Nelson, and a better fuel for all purposes cannot be desired. Engineers who have tried it declare that it is equal if not superior for steam purposes to any coal found in Great Britain, Several applications for mining leases in this latter district have been made to the Government, but, unless the coal be worked by capitalists no good result can be expected. The Superintendent received lately, from Auckland, a despatch from Colonial Secretary, inclosing reports on samples of the Grey coal tested in Auckland by various tradesmen. The followiug is the substance of these reports . — Messrs. Vickery and Mansfield of the Albert Foundry , say— 4 ' 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 tire-bars, is free from clinkers, and does not require much stirring, burning to a white ash." Mr. Davidson, coach-builder, shorse-shoev, &c, says-.— v I beg to inform you that I have given the Nelson coals, that you sent me, a fair trial in ray forges, and I consider them a good sample of smithy coals, and if they could be got at a reasonable priCd I have no doubt they would be in demand. Mr. Edward Wall says:—" I beg to state, for the information of of the Colonial Secretary, that the sample of Nelson coal sent by you 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 than any of the New South Wales ceal, with the exception of the Walls End coal. "