THE DUN MOUNTAIN COPPER MINING

Colonist, Issue 17, 18 December 1857, Page 2

THE DUN MOUNTAIN COPPER MINING

COMPANY. {From the Australian and New Zealand Gazette, July 25.) The first general meeting Qf the Dun Mountain Copper Mining Company was held at the London Tavern on Wednesday, 22nd July, Alexander Morrison, Esq., of Austin Friars, in the chair. The reports and accounts stated that a superintendent and manager of considerable experience and attainments had been engaged for three years, and Mr. Thomas Ridge Hacket, the gentleman in question, would sail in the screw steamer Istanboul, and should reach Nelson at the best season for commencing operations. Believing that the most practical as well as the cheapest road that can be made for the transport of the copper ore from the mines to-Nelson will be a light railroad not requiring locomotive power, the directors have ordered an adequate supply of tools, other materials, and a portion of rails, which will be immediately shipped to Nelson, to enable Mr. Hucket to proceed vigorously to work on his arrival. Orders have also preceded him to purchase a convenient piece of land whereon to erect storehouses, and also, when required, a shipping wharf. Every preliminary debt of the company is discharged and the sum of £23,000 remains on deposit in the hands of the Union Bdnk of London, in addition to the current balance of £1436 19s. There are 5000 shares to be paid for in New Zealand, and there is a reserve in London of 18,000 shares, which need only he issued in the event of further capital being ultimately required. The financial statement to June 30, 1857, showed that the amount of proprietors' capital was £75,000, of which £23,000 was reserved. The assets are" thus given:—By purchase of the interest of Cook's Strait Mining Company, and of the Londoli promoters as per prospectus, ,£26,000; preliminary expenses, certificates for shares, advertising and law expenses, £1394 55.; current expenses, rent, salaries to date, £151 Bs, 6d.; directors' remuneration, £73 10s.; office furniture, £158.175.- 6d.; cash at hankers, £1201 19s ; cash at interest on deposit, £23,000; interest on the same to this date, £235. Total, £24,436195. In answer to a question inquiring the prohable expense of making the proposed railway from the port of shipment to the mines ? The chairman

replied that they expected to" complete the ten miles for £10,000. It was stated that the company had already a bridle road, and had plenty of timber on the estate, which would considerably reduce the expense of construction. Orders had also been given to the manager to send horrie ore by every possible opopportunity, even if only a few tons at a time. The report was then unanimously adopted, and the retiring directors, with the addition of Messrs. Rogers, Piper, and Mr. Deputy Corney, unanimously elected. A vote of thanks was passed to the chairman, and the meeting separated. f Mr. Hacket, the superintendent and manager, ar- j rived here the first week in November from home, and the preparations for actively .commencing operations are in so complete a state that the shareholders may confidently anticipate a speedy return for their investment.] NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT AMENDMENT BILL. Mr. LABOucHEftE, on the 20th of July, moved for leave to bring in a bill to amend the act. for granting a representative constitutution to the colony of New Zeaiand. Leave given, and the bill brought in and read a first time. The bill was read a second time on the 27th of July, and on the 6th of August on the motion that the bill be committed, Mr. Labouchere said that'the bill contained some clauses which incidently referred to the bills that had just been read a second time, but its main object was to carry info effect resolutions which had been passed by the legislature of New Zealand, and to give to the central legislature authorities of that colony the power, with the consent' of the Crown, of rendering (as we understood) the second chamber elective. ...„, ",,.;. .i,,-, .; The House went into comniittee on the Bill. On clause 1, Sir J. Trelawny complained of the manner in which the natives were induced to part with land at low prices, and upon the faith of promises which were violated. Ho was informed, on the authority of a gentleman who had been employed by the Government that, within his knowledge, 1,909,000 acres of land, the greater portion of it worth 10s. an acre, had. been obtained for 3d. an acre, the natives having been induced to sell the land on promises that schools and hospitals should be built, and that they should receive other advantages, while those promises had never been fulfilled. He maintained that it wajs the duty of the. Government to protect the interests of the natives.. Mr. Labouchere felt the importance of acting with strict honour and good faith towards the native tribes. Whatever opinions might be entertained with regard to the treaty of Waitangi, its provisions, whether wise or unwise, ought to be strictly and faithfully observed. After careful inquiry he was satisfied, from the testimony of persons in New Zealand, ecclesiastical and lay, who had distinguished themselves hy their scrupulous regard for the welfare of the native population, that the extinction of tribal rights was most desirable, not only for the interests of the community at large, but especially for those of the native tribes themselves. The clause was agreed to, as were the remaining clauses of the bill. On the 7th of August the bill was read a third time and passed. POLICE COURT.—Wednesday, Dec. 16. . Befoke the Resident Magistrate. Hugh Martin wassummonedby one ofthe constables for allowing a horse to stray in the public streets of Nelson. Defendant admitted the charge. Fined 2s. 6d. and costs. Mason v. Duncan. —Plaintiff sued defendant, who did not appear, for a debt of £2 10s. An order was m«.de by the Court for payment, in default of which a distress warrant will be issued. Mr. Kingdon appeared for complainant. Harley v. Brewarton.—ln this case, the defendant, who was not present in Court, had received from Harley 10 gallons of ale at two different times, viz., 5 gallons on the 16th May, 18^5, and 5 on the 19th June of the same year. As ho attention was paid,by the defendant to bills sent in at various times, the plaintiff tried the effect Jof3 a summons. An orrler was made for payment. M'Call v Southwell.-—Complain mt stated that he let a house to a person by the name of Ann James, who was afterwards married to defendant. The amount sued for was £7 4s. In answer to a question from his Worship as to whether complainant could prove the marriage and .make defendant liable for the debt, he called into the witness box one of the constables, who stated upon his oath that a Mrs. T. Goodman, who was the bridesmaid (?) told him so, so she did. This evidence being a clincher, his Worship made an order for the amount. Court adjourned. The Gaol.—On Wednesday last a circumstance took place at the Gaol, which might have ended fatally, had not assistance been at hand. As Mr. A. G. Betts, who had business at the Gaol, was talking to one of the inmates, a madman, by the name of Francis Rush, who was placed there as a lunatic, came up, and, after speaking to Mr. Betts in a friendly manner, suddenly rushed upon him, seized him by the neckcloth, and nearly strangled him. Fortunately, assistance was at hand, and the man was confined to his cell. Something ought to be done by the authorities to remedy this evil. The lives of the inmates are now placed in jeopardy, and we should not at all be surprised to near some day of a fearful murder having been committed there, unless a place of safety for our lunatics be provided. ■ ._...' . Coromandkl Gold Fields.—We have been kindly favoured by Mr. D. Graham with the sight of some gold extracted by the crushing process from a small quantity of quartz obtained from the Coromanrlel district. By the Gertrude Mr. Graham received a small quartz-crushing machine, and, opportunity presenting, tested its powers on a piece of white quartz from Coromandel. The specimen was by no means of promising appearance: indeed if was with no idea of obtaining gold, but simply with the view of testing the power of the machine that it was submitted to the crushing process. The result, however,, proved something) more than was expected, for it not only tested sat- J isfactorily the power of the machine, but also brought to light the hidden, riches of the apparently worthless piece of quartz. We are unable to say what proportion the gold bears .to the quartz, in the specimen to which we refer,?;but it | is very great. We recommend those who are interested in the matter—and who is not ?—to satisfy themselves by personal inspection. Mr. Graham, we feel convinced, will be happy to satisfy curiosity so well directed. — Southern Cross, November 27..,,.,. Introduction op the Alpaca Sheep into Australia.—We find the following in a Hobart Town paper:—"Mr. T. Salt, the eminent manufacturer, of Saltaire, near Bradford, has succeeded in introducing the valuable Alpaca sheep into the colony of South Australia. The wool-growers of Australia have made many attempts to accomplish this object, but the jealousy of the Peruvian Government, in whose country the animal only is found, has hitherto opposed successful barriers to the project. Mr. Salt, who was the first to demonstrate that the wool of the Alpaca could be worked tip into a woven fabric, had succeeded in obtaining a small flock of the animals, and had naturalised them upon a farm near Bradford. Some months ago, Mr. Salt consigned a number to an agent at Port Lincoln, South Australia, and on the 15th of March they were all landed in prime condition at Adelaide, and were re-shipped from thence to Port Lincoln." A Novbi, Breed of Rats —«• Can you tell me, my Lord, which is the poorest of all rats P"" a.-ked a certain clerienl gentleman, who had bftpn some venrs- in on'e-s, nnd who still occupied the foot of the clerical ladder, of bis Diocesan, whom be met at, dinner during an Episcopal progress. The Bishop was no CE lipns. and failed fo »o'tb the ridd c. " Give it np, mj Lord ?* eontioupd the clerical riddler," then I'll ieil Jon; the Cn*rat, my Lori?/' We have Dot beard that he but* been guaetted to 'a oanonry myet. ■ -