NELSON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VII, Issue 436, 7 January 1857, Page 7

NELSON.

The Waikatt Races.—These races came off on Friday, December 26. The first race, The Maiden Plate, six entries, was easily Avon by Mr. Stafford's Potentate; Mr. Harris's Model, and Mr. Redwood's Printer's Devil, running second and third, with very little between them. The Wairau Jockey Club Plate of 40 soys., with a Sweepstakes of 5 soys. each, was won by Mr. Stafford's Flora; her sister, Mr. Redwood's Zoe, coming in second, at a couple of lengths, distancing Mr. Harris's Nun, and Mr. Robinson's Alma. Time, two miles in 3m. 59secs. The Hack k Stakes were won by Mr. Harris's Perdtia, five entries. The Handicap Stakes, 3 soys. each, 20 soys.. added, seven entries. Mr. Stafford's Flora was again a winner: Mr. Godfrey's Strop/second, and. Mr. Redwood's Frantic, third, with several lengths between: the rest nowhere. One mile and a-half in 3 mm. Consolation Stakes, 1 soy. each, 10 soys. added, six entries, won by Mr. Godfrey's Strop, followed by Mr. Redwood's Frantic, and Mr. Harris's Nun, a good race between these three, the rest nowhere. The Dun Mountain Copper Mine.—The following letter, ]dated December 26, throws some light upon the position of this undertaking. " To the Editor of the ' Nelson Examiner.' " Sir, —It is generally understood that owing to a doubt entertained by the London contributors to the Dun Mountain Copper Mine, all active operations are again deferred until further information shall have reached England. " The several small parcels of ore which had arrived in London at the date of the last advices, appear to have fully satisfied the contributors so far as the percentage of metal contained in them is concerned; but they require more conclusive evidence of the certainty of a plentiful and continuous yield of ore from the mine, before subscribing the large sum of money required to make the road and conduct the operations of the Company. " The statement of a discharged servant,who was engaged at the mine and has returned to England, appears to be the main and immediate cause of this unfortunate "'de^y; but I can't help thinking that our local managers are somewhat to blame for not having taken the precaution to furnish their friends in England with such full and authentic reports upon the mine—reports drawn, not by projectors or others . deeply interested, but by impartial' and thoroughly qualified persons —as would have effectually prevented any ignorant or malicious mis-statements of a discarded servant from producing the injurious effects which not only the shareholders in the Cook's Straits Mining Company but every settler in the province has to lament. What will now be done ?—will the local shareholders or their representatives be contented to meet the report which has done this mischief by angry contradictions from men who, well assured as we know them to be of the merits of the undertaking they are engaged in, are nevertheless too directly interested in the success of that undertaking to admit of their report being received as conclusive evidence of what may be termed their own cause ?

" In Auckland, I believe, if not in this province, there are to be found men competent to draw such a report as I have suggested—men known to be versed, theoretically and practically, in copper mining—men whose impartial judgment would be received with implicit reliance in London. " Let the attempt at least be made to procure evidence of this character, and that without delay; for unless some decisive step be taken to restore the now shaken confidence of the London "adventurers," to use a mining term, months, if not years, may yet be wasted in fruitless correspondence. " This course too would not be without its good effect, both directly and indirectly, even in Nelson itself, where the extreme absence of publicity in all affairs connected with the proceedings of the Cook's Strait Mining Company, is the subject of frequent remark, and the state of benighted ignorance consequently exhibited by those who allude to the matter in their letters to their English friends can scarcely have tended to inspire excessive confidence in the minds of men of business, or to indispose them for the reception of injurious reports, even from the mouth of a discharged servant. I am, &c, 0. C."

Croixelies Coppee Mines.—The manager of the works commenced in Croixelles Harbour, Mr. Marsden, has come up to Nelson with";the men under his orders to spend Christmas Day. An adit has already been driven to the extent of thirty-five fathoms, and Marsden calculates upon cutting the lode in about eight fathoms more .- he reports that appearances at the mine are in every way favourable, and expresses great confidence in the result. The party will resume their operations in a day or two, and in a very few weeks the directors expect to be in possession of decisive information, — Examiner, December 27,