RANGITOTO SILVER MINES.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 556, 30 March 1876, Page 3

RANGITOTO SILVER MINES.

The West Coast Times says :—" There are many already anxious to know what steps the owners of the Rangitotosilver mine intend to take with regard to the efficient working of the mine : whether it is their intention to ic tain and work it on their own account, or to form a joint stock company. We are in a position to stale that for a little time at least no steps will be taken in either direction. Although the owners themselves and any on a who may have visited the mine, are perfectly satisfied that the ore is there in abundance, and though they may be equally certain that the rich quality of the metal is indisputable, they rightly prefer, prior to their launching any scheme before the public, that other tests should be obtained, in order that the favorable result of the assay already received from one of the best authorities on the subject in Victoria may be confirmed by other experienced assayers or analysts in this colony. The Superintendent of Canterbury, when in Hokitika, took away several specimens of the ore, and even after a cursory glance at the metal ex pressed his opinion to the Superintendent here that no time should be lost by the province in making a road to the mine. The Superintendent of Westland has al?o forwarded to the Hon Mr Mantell a small box containing a number of specimens which, doubtless, will be immediately tested by the Government in Wellington. Other samples have been forwarded to competent experts with a similar object, and many weeks will not be allowed to pass before the public will be in possession of the result of other tests than that received some days ago from Mr Kirkland, of Melbourne. Should these tests be corroborative of the first analysis obtained, there need be no doubt but that a company can be easily floated to work the mine in a permanent and proper manner. We believe the required capital will be at once forthcoming should the holders of the lease desire merely, as is alleged, to retain an interest 'n the paid-up capital in place of seeking to dispose of their lease for so much hard cash. The lessees have such good reason to be sanguine of the success'of the enterprise that it is not at all likely they will attempt to dispose of the whole. They are more likely to ask the public to join them only to such an extent as will enable the mine to be developed and the work proceeded with on a scale sufficiently large at first to ensure success without the chance of embarrassment."