NELSON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 81, 24 July 1852, Page 10

NELSON.

We have Nelson papers to the 3rd instant. The schooner " Mary," which left for this port towards the end. of May, was thrown on her beam ends on the sth of June in a squall off the Kaikoras, when her foremast was cut away to right her. After this disaster, and more foul weather, the " Mary" put into the Wairau, where she was fitted with new masts, and arrived in Port Victoria yesterday.

The Examiner of the 3rd instant devotes a long article to the Provincial Councils' Bill, and recommends its readers to register, " believing, that faulty as that measure is from containing the odious nominee principle, it will yet give the people for the first time the privilege of exercising electoral rights, and confer on the colony the first stage of Constitutional Government." In awarding this qualified praise, the Examiner adds that its opinion of the Ordinance has undergone no change.

The following is Mr. Wrey's report on the copper mines recently discovered in the neighbourhood of Nelson:—

Nelson, May 25, 1852,

Sir, —I have now the honour to report the result of a visit I have made within these few days past, to the district supposed to contain copper in this vicinity.

The position of the lode is in the immediate proximity of the '' Dun Mountain," which I find to be rendered arid by the presence of the mineral poisons, and partly to its being covered with large and loose masses of gneiss and other primitive rocks, subversive of vegetation The lode is visible in the daylight far up a mountain higher than the " Dun Mountain," it is of great width, but being only the outcrop, it is impossible, until trials are made, to say what its true thickness may be.

A casual observer would imagine there were several lodes, but the fact will, I expect, be found that at a little depth only they will all run into one strong lode. The entire region of this deposit is of a true mineralogical character, very much resembling the mining ground around Dartmoor, on each side in Cornwall and Devon, and I have no doubt but that other lodes exist, and will be brought to light hereafter in the immediate proximity of the one I am now speaking of. I have taken specimens from the lode, which I this day forward to Sir H. De La Beche, and also to Mr. Percival Johnson, who is one of the oldest and best assayists in England.

I have very great pleasure in being able to inform you that I believe the lode to contain very rich metal in very great abundance, and I can add I never saw any lode, anywhere, present such decided appearance t of"metal at its outcrop as at this spot. The country around its locality is very lofty, precipitous, and rugged, which, although it entails considerable expense and skill in laying out the line of transport to a shipping place, is in other respects advantageous, inasmuch as very extensive mining operations may be carried on for a long course of years without any necessity for pumps or steam engines. I beg also to bring under your Honor's notice the fact of having ascertained the existence of pure limestone in amazing abundance on the route between Nelson and the mine.

I beg to conclude this necessarily incomplete report, with the expression of my decided and firm belief that there are reasonable and sufficient grounds to expect we have a valuable article of export at our command.

I have the honour to be, Your Honor's obedient servant, „. „ T W. L. Wjbby. lo nis Honor the Superintendent.