By an arrival from Sydney, yesterday, very favourable intelligence has
been received from Nelson, the New Zealand Company's youngest settlement. The following is an extract of a despatch by Captain Arthur Wakefield, the Company's agent there, dated 8th March-
" An opportunity just offers for England by way of Sydney ; I do not like to lose it, although I have lately written you a long letter through Wellington, " We had an accident on Sunday week : the Fifeshire, in going out, struck upon the rocks on the larboard hand of the harbour, and has become a wreck. She was attempting, under charge of a pilot, to get out, when the wind was not sufficient to keep the ship under command; and unfortunately she grounded amidships on a sharp ledge, and when the tide dell she broke her back : she is condemned, and the best is being made of her stores for the benefit of the underwriters. In spite of this accident, I still consider the harbour primticable for all the purposes of commerce. There will be occasionally delay for want of a wind to get out; steam will obviate that; and the harbour is, besidea, capable of great improvement at a small expense : at all events, there is an excellent anchorage outside the Arrow Rock, in seven fathoms, not three quarters of a mile from the Customhouse.
"I am happy to say the town is surveyed, and will be ready for distribution on the 2d April. "We have found coal and limestone about six hours sail from here, in.Coal Bay, at a place called Tata; which will be the making of us.
"Our population exceeds eight hundred; and all in excellent spirits, and well- pleased with the place. My brother arrived in the Brougham, on Sunday, and brought with him Mr. Thompson, our Police Magistrate; who is a gentleman, and I think will be liked. Ships in the harbour—Mary Ann Lord Auckland, Lloyds, Brougham, Abercrombie, 180 tons, Sisters, 120, Vanguard, 120, Cheer- ful, 120, Rory O'More, 20, Eliza, 6 tons. I expect all the Lord Auckland's to be out of the depot this week ; and we shall be able to stow away the Bolton's, the ship having arrived at Port Nicholson. We can only get twenty men for an indispensable road, of about a mile : the rest have got employment somehow or other. Hitherto, with the exception of the ships, we have had no occasion for the exercise of any authority. A party of explorers have set out to-day to go up the Waimea, and I hope they will return satisfied. Both settlers and emigrants have shown a very independent spirit in shifting for themselves and not relying upon the Company : many of the emigrants did not go to the depot at all, but pitched on the banks of the Maitai at once, and began to build. The Customhouse is established, and the port made one of entry."
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