CHAMPION COPPER LODE.

Kumara Times, Issue 2089, 11 May 1883, Page 2

CHAMPION COPPER LODE.

[From the Nelson Mail.] Among the many mining operations that are being carried on in the Nelson district is that of opening up the Champion Copper Lode in Aniseed "Valley, from which there is good reason to look for the most satisfactory results. The Company’s property comprises an area of 800 acres which are held under a mineral lease for 21 years, the rent being sixpence per acre for the first two years, 2s per acre for the next three years, and 5s per acre for the remainder of the term, with a royalty of l-50th of the mineral raised, the latter, however, being allowed as a set-off against the rent, so that if the present anticipations are anything like realised, the rent beyond the royalty will form no part of the Company’s expenditure. There are at present five men 'regularly engaged, and two more will shortly be put on, the work being carried on under the supervision of the mine manager, Mr Gilbert, a gentleman who has had large experience in copper mining in Cornwall, South Australia, and San Domingo. At present there is no road to the mine 3 but by a rough track pack horses can be taken within a couple of miles of it. As a result of the recent and present workings the Company intend in the course of two or three months to ship to Newcastle some thirty tons of dressed ore which is expected to realise a very high percentage, and in addition to this they' have taken out several tons which, it is believed, will average 30 per cent, of copper. A main tunnel has been started and is already in ten feet, showing a strong lode six feet wide, carrying native copper, and red and grey oxide. Another satisfactory feature is that the lode has been picked up across the'creek at a distance of fully 500 feet, showing that it is of large extent. In the course of working, some large lumps of pure native copper have been taken out, one weighing over half a ton, and another, a later find, 1751b5. On the whole, the prospects of the Company, with regard to both the extent and the richness of the lode, are most encouraging. [lt will be seen in our telegrams that shares in this venture changed hands yesterday from 7s 6d paid up to £2 per share.— Ed. K. T.]