MINES IN AUSTRALIA. [From the Mining Journal.]

New Zealander, Volume 1, Issue 24, 15 November 1845, Page 4

MINES IN AUSTRALIA. [From the Mining Journal.]

We have on several occasion?, adverted to the mineral products of South Australia, and felt some surprise that they should not have earlier attracted the attention of the capitalists, more especially when the investment in foreign and home railways and other piojects are so rife. The information acquired from numerous sources including the reports received by the South Australian Company, the communications from residents, with specimens of the ore, and the publications more particularly directed to that colony, have fully satisfied us that the prospects which that country piesents, are such as will fully warrant the outlay of capital, while the ad--vantage derived by settlers is incalculable. If we alone consider the demand for labour, the return freight, the increase of means in a pecuniary point of view, afforded by the developement of the mineral districts of South Australia, ! as yielding riches Horn the •' bowels of the earth,' we can well undo stand the iinpoitance to be attached to the working of the mines, and the formation of a company for this object, the prospectus of which has already appeared, is a natural — though not unexpected result, on our part. It may be well, on the piesent occasion, briefly to review the objects of the company, the prospects, which present themselves, and to note the discoveries already made. From a statement put forward by the " Land Office " at Adelaide, it appears that twenty mines containing copper ore have been discoveied, the principal of which are in the Adelaide and Light counties, there are also ten lead mines, which, with one exception are in the former count) ; and four producing manganese, of which three are situate in Adelaide,— thus it will be seen this couutiy takes the lead, and the specimens in our possession oi lead oies evidently indicate a strong lode, and of good produce. Antimony and quicksilver have been discovered, but not in any quantity to call for notice. Iron ore is found in all its varieties as sulphurets and oxides, which, if in conjunction with coal or wood for fuel, would bo of the lii it advantage to the colony. In a late number we adverted to some of the discoveries in those districts to which iitleiition had been directed,—the operations, at which, however, as might naturally be supposed, weie of a confined natuie, and alone the result of individual enterprise. At the Glen Osmond, and Wheal Gawler lead mines, which are distinct establishments, situate in the locality of the port or city of Adelaide, several lodes have been opened upon, the ore produced fiom which is rich in quality, some of the lodes >ielding a fair proportion of silver. As legards the copper mines discoveied, that of Kapnnda, situate about foity-live miles from Adelaide, commenced working in Februan, 1844, and in the first eight or nine months pi oduced 320 tons, the first parcel ; and if we remember rightly, realized at Swansea 21/., a ton; the workings are near the surface, the greatest depth being ten fathoms. At Montacube, which is about fifteen miles distant fiom Adelaide, about 400 tons of oi e have been raised since the commencement of its woilnng. which was in February, 1544 ; and here w e may obseive that the latest advices we have received from the colony, are dated early in December, and consequently, we may well imagine a considei able pi ogress has since been made. The ore raised in this mine yields 22£ per cent, the sett, we under, stand, does not extend over more than eighty acres, the purchase money of which from tteh c Government was, we helieve, ,£ 1,500, Ther c ate several lead mines v\ I i^h have b e i pal t. ally worked, to which wfc may have occasion heie after to refer. From the prospectus of the Australian Mining Compuiv, it would appear that difficulties present themselves as regard* m orking mines, fiom the citenmstance that the unsurvejed wasto lands cannot be damanded and obtained hi bl< cks of more than 20,000 acres, but arrangements are contemplated, whereby this difficulty will fee overcome. T.ie company under notice propose to raise a capital of £400,000, divided into £20,000 shares, of which 17.000 are to be appropriated to parties in this country, 2000 being reseiv d for those interested in the colony, and the remaining 1000 being appropriated fiee of all payment to the ptojectors of the company. The* high standing ot the several gentlemen founing the provisional direction will have weight, and at the same time, insure to the propnetots the due application of the funds placed at their disposal,— while, as an additional assulance of the opinion thej themselves entertain, as also the peispective advantages attendant on the operations of the company, — they receive no emolument 'until the mines )ield a net profit ol 5 per centon the capital emplo)ed. It is liberal on the part of the dnectois, and perhaps this course is taken to evince their confidence in the undertaking, at the same time, we must say, we are by no mean* advocates for unpaid services. If time and attention be devoted for the interest of others, it should be paid for,— while in the absence of payment, the shareholder have not the right, as they would otherwise possess, of claiming fiom ilieir dneclois a steady and careful attention to their inteiests.

The Tow hr.— Upwards of one hundred of (lie military are daily employed, in addition to the ordinary labourers, in_ pioceedin^ with the works of this ancient, fortress. The site of the old armoury has neai ly bevn exvivated, and com -rcte laid for the foundation of the new barnn ks. The earth taken out of the latter has been thrown over the Tower into the moat to till it up, and it is not now intended to make it into a plantation, but into an exeicise ground for the military, and a promenade for the inhabitants of the fort) ess.

" Tins 19 the Way iiik Money dors." — Tn the jeir 1843, ei^ht itiiU'ioiis one thousand tour hundied au4 tm t\ -nine pounds one shilling and iourp^uce was spent by the people of Pngland inlohcictol A uLr.ible round sum to "end in smoke" If the weed luul been wurked into pig-tail, rather more tuni an inch thick, it would have Joined a Una 99,470 miles — long enough to £o nearly five tunes round ill*: WOlld 1