NELSON PROVINCE.
[Image of page 310]
NELSON PROVINCE.
NELSON is the northern province of the Middle Island of New Zealand, and contains about 8,000,000 acres of land of very diversified character. It is about one-fourth the size of England and Wales; its length is nearly 160 miles, its breadth about 120, whilst the coast-line embraces a sweep of 500 miles. On the west, a range of lofty mountains, of bold and rugged outline, extends along the coast, here and there pierced by valleys of various widths, through which several rivers and streams find an outlet to the sea. On the south and east are the provinces of Canterbury and Marlborough; and the seaboard is indented with bays, creeks, and harbours, where vessels of considerable tonnage may find shelter in any weather. From the generally precipitous character of the coast range, the land available for tillage along the West Coast is of comparatively small extent, and is contained within the limits of various valleys which intersect the mountain chain. The valleys of the Karamea, the Buller, and the Grey are the largest, and contain respectively about 10,000, 60,000, and 150,000 acres of fertile level land, chiefly wooded. Towards the head of these and the parallel valleys the country, though rough and broken, is adapted for pasturage. At the Grey and the Buller are valuable and extensive gold-fields, and at both places coal, of most excellent quality and in immense quantity, has been discovered. Thanks to the enterprise of explorers, and to roads and tracks made by our local Government, these places can now be reached overland from Nelson. From the Grey also there is communication with Christchurch, per Cobb and Co.'s coaches, twice a week.
Along the western portion of the northern boundary of the province formed by Cook Strait, is Golden Bay (formerly named Massacre Bay,) containing about 60,000 acres of level or slightly undulating land, much of it, especially in the Collingwood, Takaka, and Motupipi Districts, is of a very fertile character.
Takaka is situated on the eastern side of Golden (or Massacre Bay,) and comprises the villages of Clifton, Motupipi, and Waitapu. It is between forty and fifty miles from Nelson by water, and between sixty and severity by land.
There are two coasters running regularly, one to Motupipi and the other to Waitapu.
The valley consists principally of timbered land, comprising red pine, white pine, rimu, totara, birch, and rata. The land is generally of good quality.
There are two trunk lines of road. running from the ports of Motupipi and Waitapu to near the head of the valley, fifteen or sixteen miles long.
The district can boast of two Public Libraries (one at Motupipi and the other at Waitapu,) three Public Schools (Government,) a Lodge of I. O. O. F., M. U., a Horticultural Society, a Singing Class, and last, but not least, there is a skilful doctor residing at Motupipi, but owing to the salubrity of the climate his professional duties are very light.
Standing on the margin of a snug harbour at the bottom of Blind Bay is the City of Nelson, the capital of the province, where, and in the adjoining districts of the Waimea, Moutere, Motueka, and the smaller valleys bordering the bay, enjoying a delicious climate, the principal amount of the settled population of the province is located; and flourishing
[Image of page 311]
and productive farms, yearly increasing in number and extent, have taken the place of the natural wilderness.
The General Government have established an Electric Telegraph through the Middle Island, and the five provinces of Nelson, Marlborough, Canterbury, Otago, and Southland are now brought into almost instantaneous communication with each other. With all the other provinces of New Zealand, Nelson has steam communication several times a month; and with Sydney and Melbourne fortnightly.
The harbour of Nelson is of easy access, and is well protected. It has a rise and fall of tide of about fourteen feet, and this renders it so suitable for the repair of shipping, that a cradle has been erected by the Wellington Steam Navigation Company. An Act has been passed by the Provincial Council to encourage the erection of a patent slip or dry dock.
The province abounds in minerals, including gold, chrome, coal, copper, iron, tin, plumbago, &c. Gold is very extensively disseminated throughout the soil, and payable diggings have been found in the Grey districts, Collingwood, Takaka, Wangapeka, Tadmor, Lyell and Buller.
With reference to the geology of the province, Dr. Hochstetter, in a work entitled, "The Voyage of the Novara," observes:--
"The geological field which is opened up on the Middle Island was entirely new as compared with the Northern Island, In the neighbourhood of Nelson, the Southern Alps send off outliers in the shape of mountain chains, 5000 and 6000 feet high (covered in winter with deep snow,) as far as Cook's Straits. The western chains are composed of primary crystalline rocks, granite, gneiss, micaceous and hornblend slate, quartz, and clay slate, whereas sedimentary sandstone, chalk, and almost vertical stratifications, constitute the chief formations observable in the eastern chain. Between these older formations, however, among the valleys and depressions, occur later stratifications, including brown coal or peat.
"Having a succession of fine weather, I prolonged my stay, and 1 was thus enabled to examine more minutely the various gold and coal-fields near Nelson, as also the copper mines on the Dun Mountain, at all events to represent on a chart the geological features of the northern part of the province.
"The results of the investigations into the mineral wealth of this province were on the whole eminently favourable. I could not indeed confirm the sanguine anticipations of some mining speculators, of the inexhaustible, though as yet unrevealed, treasures of copper in the Dun Mountain; although adjoining the rather meagre copper-bearing strata, there were instances of abundance of chromate of iron, which promised a considerable return. Above all, however, there still remained to be visited the gold-fields of the Aorere and Takaka Valleys at Golden Bay, the quantity already extracted from which, as well as its purity, satisfied me that capital might secure a splendid return here by a more extended and systematic mode of working, and that the discovery of this, the first of the New Zealand goldfields, is but the commencement of a series of such along the range of hills which traverses the Middle Island; discoveries which, though perhaps not on so extensive a scale as those of Australia and California, must nevertheless tend to raise higher and higher the rank of New Zealand among the gold-producing countries of the earth. Lastly, it was found that in the province of Nelson, side by side with the ordinary strata in which the brown coal occurs in the North Island, were beds of coal of a very superior quality. The excellent, but unfortunately very limited coal-fields of Pakawau give ground for anticipating that in other localities it may very probably be possible to discover larger and more easily worked beds; and my friend Haast has, in fact, since my first visit, discovered such on the Buller and the Grey rivers, on the western shore of the province of Nelson."
The recent gold discoveries on the West Coast have indeed corroborated Dr. Hochstetter's prognostications, when speaking of the dividing range between east and west; and we hope soon to hear of as brilliant prospects of a large gold-field on the eastern side of those mountains, as we have at present of the "far west." With respect to the coal-fields, immense beds of coal have been found at the Buller and the Grey of equal quality with any in the colonies, and, comparatively speaking, easy of access to the port of shipment. At the Grey the coal is largely worked, and supplies the different small steamers plying between Nelson and the West Coast Gold-fields. An Australian company have also obtained a lease of a portion of the ground, and will soon commence working. We hope that other capitalists will take the opening up of
[Image of page 312]
these coal-fields into consideration, so that we may be enabled to obtain coal from our own province, for the use of the steamers running between Nelson and the different ports north and south, and also for home consumption, instead of supplying by importation, thereby creating an additional means by which the commerce of Nelson may be increased.
There are commodious, and in some instances, elegant, places of worship for almost every denomination; a literary institute and museum, an excellent college, a bishop's school, and numerous private and public schools, the latter being open freely to all children. An amateur musical society holds its practices weekly, and gives quarterly concerts; the Nelson races are renowned throughout the colony; and a quarterly cattle-fair in conjunction with an agricultural society, are tending to improve the system of farming and stock-breeding in the province. Omnibuses and cars run between the town and port; coaches run between Nelson and Fox Hill, a distance of thirty-five miles, daily; and a passenger-van, conveying the mails, goes to Motueka and back twice a week. The Buller, the Grey, and Hokitika, and other portions of the province, as well as the neighbouring ports of Havelock, Picton, and Wairau, are reached by coasting steamers.
But to turn to the affairs of Nelson, en passant, we may notice their local manufactures. They have a manufactory of cloth, which is unequalled on this side of the world for quality and durability; they have tanneries which produce an article very superior to any importation, in consequence of the use of black birch bark in the production of that generally-used commodity; they have an iron-foundry, qualified to meet all the requirements of the province.
They grow their own hops, and the Nelson ales are proverbially the best in Australasia; their home-demand for this item is not only well supplied, but every province of New Zealand acknowledges the superiority of Nelson ales, by the manner in which they encourage their production.
TOTAL VALUE OF IMPORTS AND EXPORTS FOREIGN, AT THE PORT OF NELSON, FROM OCTOBER 1, 1864, TO SEPTEMBER 30, 1865.
United Kingdom--Imports therefrom, £141,436; exports thereto, £11,322. British colonies, viz.:--New South Wales, imports therefrom, £123,119; exports thereto, £124,951; Victoria, imports therefrom, £59,467; £4406; South Australia, imports therefrom, £10,630; Tasmania, imports therefrom, £1743. Foreign countries, viz. ---Chili, £14,522. Total--Imports, £350,917; exports, £140,679.
APPROXIMATE VALUE OF IMPORTS AND EXPORTS COASTWISE, AT THE PORT OF NELSON, FROM OCTOBER 1, 1864, TO SEPTEMBER 30, 1865.
British and Foreign Produce--Imports, £136,170; exports, £200,658. New Zealand Produce--Imports, £112,179; exports, £54,228. Total--Imports, £248,319; exports, £254,886.
GENERAL GOVERNMENT OFFICERS, NELSON.
Resident Magistrates. ---Nelson, J. Poynter; Aorere, H. W. Turnell; Grey, T. A. S. Kynnersley; A. Mackay (Native.) Sub-Treasurer--J. Poynter.
Receiver of Land Revenue--J. T. Catley. Sheriff--B. Walmsley. Deputy do. vacant.)
Clerk to Resident Magistrate, Nelson--J. Sharp. Assistant do. --J. Harley.
Registrar of Deeds--J. Poynter. Clerk--R. Pickett. Assistant Clerks--W. Lane and J. Firth.
Bailiff--A. Helps, Milton-street.
Clerk to Magistrates, Richmond --R. Wallis.
Clerk to Resident Magistrate, Collingwood--D. Johnston, jun.
Deputy Commissioner and Collector of Customs and Registrar of Shipping--D. Rough.
Chief Clerk and Warehouse-keeper--James Hackworth.
Second do. ---H. B. Farquhar.
Third do. ---J. Woolley.
First Landing Waiter--W. J. Rodgerson.
Second do. ---E. W. Pasley.
Locker--F. J. Hill.
Customs Tidewaiters--Mach, and ---. Blundell; Messenger, --- Edmonston.
Emigration Officer--W. J. Rodgerson
Chief Postmaster--B, Walmsley.
POSTMASTERS OF SUB-OFFICES IN THE PROVINCE OF NELSON.
Stoke--E. Austin.
Richmond--R. Wallis.
Hope--W. Jessop.
Waimea West--L. Dron.
Spring Grove--J. Andrews.
Wakefield--J. Squire.
[Image of page 313]
Fox Hill--F. Holder.
Tadmor--C. Orchard.
Appleby--J. J. Chamberlain.
Upper Moutere--W. Cook.
Lower Moutere--W. Chamberlain.
Motueka--J. Macdonald.
Riwaka--W. Askew.
Motupipi--J. Tilby.
Takaka--G. Taylor.
Collingwood--D. Johnston.
Wakapuaka--R. Edmunds.
Amuri--J. W, Morris.
Cobden--J. Wilkie.
Buller River--J. Martin.
Slate River--T. Heywood.
Registrar of Supreme Court--J. Sharp.
Registrar of Marriages, Nelson -- J. Poynter; Deputy do., R. Pickett.
Registrar of Births and Deaths, Nelson --R. Pickett.
Registrars of Births, Marriages and Deaths--Moteuka, A. Le G. Campbell; Takaka, J. Tilby; Aorere, D. Johnston, jun.
Commissioner of Native Reserves--A. Mackay; Secretary, J. T. Catley.
Revising Officer-.
Principal Returning Officer--J. Sharp. Deputy do., A. Greenfield.
Returning Officers--For Nelson and surrounding districts, J. Sharp; Motueka, &c., A. Le Grand Campbell; Massacre Bay, H. W. Turned.
Registrar under "Joint Stock Companies Act"--J. Poynter.
Revising Officer under "Building Societies Act"--H. Adams.
Health Officer at Nelson--F. L. Vickerman.
Adjutant of Militia--J. Lockett. Drill Instructor, W. Alborough.
Licensing Officers under "Arms Act" --Nelson, D. Rough; Collingwood, D. Johnston, jun.
Coroner--W. W. Squires, M. D.
PROVINCE OF NELSON.
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT.
Superintendent--Alfred Saunders. Executive Council--H. Adams, J. Poynter, A. Greenfield, H. Redwood, jun.
Provincial Secretary--A. Greenfield. Clerk--G. Hodgson.
Provincial Treasurer--J. Poynter.
Provincial Solicitor--H. Adams.
Commissioner of Crown Lands--H. C. Daniell.
Clerk--J. T. Catley.
Provincial Engineer-- J. Blackett.
Chief Surveyor--T. Brunner.
Assistant Surveyors--H. Lewis, A. D. Austin.
Cadet--H. Trent.
Draughtsman--J. Gully.
Immigration Officer at Nelson--A. Greenfield.
Hospital Surgeons--S. A. Cusack, M. D. F. L. Vickerman.
Hospital Attendant--J. Barton.
Keeper of Lunatic Asylum--R. Crawford.
Gaoler--W. Rodgerson.
Sergeant-Major of Police--R. Shallcrass.
Sergeants--E. Edwards and J. Nash.
Harbour Master and Pilot--J. S. Cross. Second Pilot-- J. P. Lowe.
Lighthouse-keeper--J. Kidston. Signalman--M. Gibbs.
Scab Inspectors--Chief Inspector, F. Nairn; Deputy Inspectors, T. Newton, R. C. Paisley, Thomas Hunt, James Grove.
Inspector of Diseased Cattle -- T. Newton.
Visiting Justice of Goal--W. Wells.
Inspector of Hackney Carriages. ---H. Clouston.
Wardens of South-west Gold-fields--J. A. S. Kynnersley, A. Greenfield, G. W. Lightband.
Inspector of Weights and Measures--R. Shallcrass.
Provincial Auditor--H. D. Jackson; Deputy, J. Percy.
Meteorological Registrar--H. Clouston.
MEMBERS OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
Legislative Council -- M. Richmond, C. B., T. Renwick, M. D.
MEMBERS OF PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
City of Nelson--H. Adams, A. Greenfield, S. Kingdon, O. Curtis, R. Burn, W. Akersten.
Suburban North--T. Dodson.
Waimea East--J. W. Barnicoat, T. J. Thomson, H. Beitt, F. Kelling.
Waimea South--E. Baigent, J. Simmonds, A. R. Oliver.
Takaka--J. G. Sparrow.
Collingwood--W. Gibbs.
Waimea West--H. Redwood, jun.
Motueka--B. M'Mahon, C. Parker.
Moutera--C. Kelling,
Amuri--G. Rutherford.
Speaker--.
Clerk to Council--G. White.
Assistant Clerk to Council--J. Percy.
INSURANCE COMPANIES.
Liverpool, London, and Globe Fire and Life--N. Edwards and Co., agents.
[Image of page 314]
Victoria Life, Fire and Marine--T. R. Fisher, agent.
Australasian Fire, Life and Marine--J. Levien and Co., agents.
New South Wales Marine--N. Edwards and Co., agents.
New Zealand Fire and Marine--Curtis Brothers, agents.
Australian Mutual Provident Society--J. Levien and Co., agents.
Imperial Fire and Life--D. Moore, agent.
Northern Fire and Life--A. W. Scaife, agent.
North British and Mercantile Fire and Life--W. C. Hodgson, agent.
PUBLIC CONVEYANCES.
Between town and port--Railway omnibus, J. Weeding and Co.'s omnibuses, J. Barton, J. Stockwell, G. Thomas, A. Brown, --- Rowley.
Potter's omnibuses--Flower and Taylor.
Disher's Melbourne cars--Carter.
COACHES.
Between Nelson and Foxhill, daily--Francis Holder.
Waimea West and Nelson, every Wednesday and Saturday--L. Dron.
To Nelson and Motueka, every Monday and Thursday, returning Tuesday and Friday--G. Lynne.
Wakefield--Parcel van to and from, twice a week, --- Fairall.
PUBLIC WORKS.
Nelson Board of Works--J. Bentley, chairman; R. Carter, R. Burn, D. Burn, William Rout, W. Wright, T. Watts. R. Pollock. Secretary; W. Jennings, Overseer; Donald Stewart, Inspector of Nuisances.
EDUCATION.
Nelson College--Head-Master, Rev. C. L. Maclean, B. A.; Second Master, J. Mackay, M. A.; Music and Drawing, C. W. Man by.
Bishop's School--Head-Master, R. Lee; Assistant, G. Cotterell.
St. Mary's School--Master, C. Richards.
Private Schools--Rev. E. Thomas, Mrs. Rentoul, Mrs. Palmer, Miss Thomas, Miss Biggs, Miss Daniell, Mrs. Passmore, Miss Lucas, Mrs. Wilcox, Miss A. Daniell.
Central Board of Education--D. Sinclair, Chairman; J. W. Barnicoat, J. Batey, C. Dencker, E. Austen, E. Baigent, E. Wastney, D. Burn, W. Gardiner, D. Jennings, James Grove. Secretary, W. C. Hodgson.
Inspector of Schools--W. C. Hodgson. Public Schools. Boys' School--Head Master, John Smith; Second Master, J. B. Sadd. Girls' School--First Division, Mrs. Sait; Second Division, Miss Darby. Infant School--Mrs. Cooke. Auxiliary School--Master J. Hodgson.
Town School Committee--Messrs. H. Drew, Percy, Luckie, Sinclair, Daniell, R. Burn, and I. M. Hill.
PUBLIC OFFICES, SOCIETIES, ETC.
Acclimatisation Society--F. Huddleston, Secretary.
Union Bank--P. McTavish, Manager.
Bank of New Zealand--J. Watkins, Manager.
Bank of New South Wales--H. Goulston, Acting Manager.
Building Societies--No. 1 meets first Monday in each month, at Fleece Hotel; J. Percy, Secretary. No. 2 (Permanent), meets second Monday in each month, at Fleece Hotel; J. Percy, Secretary. No. 3 (Permanent,) meets third Monday in each month, at Temperance Hall; W. Rout, Secretary.
Chamber of Commerce--O. Curtis, Chairman; lion. Secretary, now vacant.
Dun Mountain Copper Mining Company--J. Cock, Manager of Works.
Freemasons--Southern Star Lodge, No. 735; Secretary, M. M. Webster.
Harmonic Society--Hon. Secretary, J. T. Catley; Conductor, W. Manby.
Licensed Victuallers' Society--R. Aitken, Secretary,
Lloyds' Agents--Curtis Brothers.
Nelson Institute (combines Reading-room, Library, Museum, &c.; subscription, 20s. per annum.--President, H. Adams; Secretary, J. Percy; Librarian, L. Nattrass.
Nelson Trust Funds--Secretary, H. C. Daniell.
Nelson College--Governors, J. W. Barnicoat, H. Adams, A Saunders, W. Adams, Dr. Cusack, D. Sinclair, W. C. Hodson; Secretary, R. Pollock. (Two vacancies.) Office, Nelson Institute.
New Zealand Steam Navigation Company--Curtis Brothers, agents.
M. U. I. O. O. F. ---Nelson District, six lodges, viz.:--Nelson and Howard held in the City of Nelson Travellers' Rest; Richmond, in Mechanics' Institute; General Cameron, Bridge Hotel, Waimea East; Mansion of Peace, Wakefield Arms, Wakefield; also in same district.
Picton Lodge, Picton--Provincial C. S., Henry Edwards.
[Image of page 315]
Ancient Order of Foresters--six courts, and about 300 members. Nelson District --Court Robin Hood, Young Men's Christian Association Rooms; Court Perseverance, Swan Inn, from Motueka; Court Pride of the Forest, Hill Side School House, Suburban North; Court Concord, Jones' Refreshment Rooms, Haven-road; Court Taranaki, Taranaki; Court Hand-in-Hand, Picton. E. F. Jones, D. Secretary.
Panama, New Zealand, and Australian Royal Mail Company (limited)--T. Cawthron, agent.
City of Nelson Public Cemetery Trustees--R. Burn, H. Goodman, W. C. Hodgson, S. Kingdon, and R. Pollock.
Savings' Bank -- H. D. Jackson, Manager.
Turf Club--C. Elliott, Secretary.
Young Men's Christian Association (Library and Reading-room; subscription, 6s. per annum.)--Haddow, Hon. Sec.
Inter-Colonial Steam Navigation Company--D. Little, agent.
Otago Steamship Company--N. Edwards and Co., agents.
