AN UNUSUAL VISITOR.

New Zealand Times, Volume LIV, Issue 9841, 23 February 1893, Page 2

AN UNUSUAL VISITOR.

U. PERRETT, TFTK RUSSIAN MINING

EXPERT.

MISTAKEN IN AUSTRALIA FOR A

RUSSIAN SPY

It may be within the recollection of our readers that a good many months since New Zealand, in common with the rest ■>£ the Australasian colonies, was considerably interested by the news that a Russian spy had been arrested by the police in Queens* land. A few days afterwards came the reassuring intelligence that the gentleman in question bad satisfied the authorities that they bad made a mistake, and that he had been set at liberty. After this little epierde his movements and doings ceased to engage the attention of toe purveyors of cablo sensations, and the oireum* stance was speedily dismissed from mind. The interest in bit personality will doubtless be revived whoa we state that he has recently completed a t ar of the South Island, that he has been sojourning for the last few days - at the Occidental Hotel, and that he leav.s Wellington by the Wairarapa train this morning en route for Auckland. His name is M, L4on Perrett, and be comes accredited from the Russian Government as a raining expert. Upon landing in New Zealand ho placed himself in communication with the Government, and as his credentials were vouched for by the Homo authorities, the Minister of Mines inatrnoied the Inspector of Mines in Otago to accompany him on bis tour through that district, and to afford him every facility for inspecting mining operations there. M. Perrett was very mnob struck with the river-dredging works v io Otago, and be procured plans of the dredges, and was also furnished with copies of reports thereon. He says there are rivers in Russia which be is sure would afford a profitable auriferous return for systematic -dredging during the summer months. He is also very grateful for the kindness of the Minister of Mines in detailing officers of h-'a department to accompany him la his rounds of inspection. M Perrett intends to visit Rotorua and Te Aroha, and the Inspector of Mines at the latter place has been instructed to meet M. Perrett on bis arrival and afford him what mining information he may require. Had the gentleman been really a cpy instead of a mining expert he has been so closely attended by the mining inspectors that their presence would have completely frustrated his purposes.