PIONEER COMPANY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 262, 8 November 1870, Page 2

PIONEER COMPANY.

0 A meeting of the shareholders of this compauy was held at the Trafalgar Hotel, on Wednesday evening last, Mr. Drew in the chair. The cash statement, showing a balance of £63 19s. in addition to £56 of unpaid calls, was unanimously adopted, as was the report of the Provisional Directors, by whom the following suggestions were submitted to the meeting: — "Your Provisional Committee have had under their consideration the future development of your property. The course laid out by the inspector of the mine, Captain Cook, is beyond the resources of your committee, aud can only be done by raising new capital by the issue of fresh shares. Your committee would suggest the passing of some resolution, binding upon you individually, to empower the committee to make some arrangements with persons either in the Australian or other colonies, or in England, giving them power to write, offering and making such conditions as they may think necessary or advisable under the circumstances for your interests, but at the same time restricting them by some stringent clause not to incur any further liability, except so far as the funds that they have in hand, and accruing from the last call, will permit. Owing to the departure of your Secretary from Nelson, it will be necessary to elect some one in his place, and your committee would bear tes.nnouy tohis indefatigable zeal and care := >r your interests during bis term of office." On the motion of Mr. H. E. Curtis, seconded by Mr. James Lucas, it was resolved — " That this meeting authorise the Provisional Committee to enter into preliminary negotiations with capitalists in Australia, England, or elsewhere, with a view to the formation of a company for the working of the company's mine, and any offer which they may deem eligible to be submitted to the shareholders. Proposed by Mr. Wilson, and Beconded by Mr. Harley, and carried unanimously — "That in consequence of Mr. M'lntosh stating his intention of leaving the Province, and thereby retiring from the Directory, Mr. H. E. Curtis be appointed to fill the vacancy when it takes place. After passing votes of thanks to Mr. MTntosk, Captain Cock, and the Chairman, the meeting separated. ' The following is Captain Cock's report : To the Directors of the Pioneer Coppermining Company. Gentlemen — When I inspected and reported on your mine about five months ago, your shaft had been sunk 30 feet, and at that depth the lode was cut through, showing a thickness of about 11 feet. Of

the condition of your property up to that point of your operations I havo already spoken. Since then, the sinking has been continued, making the whole depth of the shaft 60 feet. The part of the lodo— about 4 feet of its width — that has been explored iv the last 30 feet of sinking shows a steady improvement. This improvement is not so much in its productiveness as in its general character. It is very regular in its dip, has a well-defined foot wall, and copper ore of good quality is disseminated throughout. Before a lode of this character can be considered to b.ive been efficiently tried, the shaft must be sunk to a depth of at least 30 feet, and levels extended upon the lode, and also crosscuts put through it in mauy places. Iv order to carry out this work of prosecuting the mine to a greater depth, it is quite evident that pumping machinery of some sort will be required — a pump worked by horsepower would probably answer the purpose. From the general indications of the lode opened upon, I am of opinion that your mine, if properly developed, offers a fair chance of success. I am, &c, J. Cock.

New Zealand Butter in England. — The New Zealand butter introduced by Mr. D, Tallermau was all sold, and realised 84s. per cwt , a higher price than hitherto lias been obtained for the colonial article in this market. An aprceablo feature of the transaction is that all the buyers have registered orders for more from the next shipment to arrive. Ti-ie Dunediu riflemen have at last met their match in the shape of a team of Greymouth Volunteers. A match was fired ihe other day between ten of the Dunedin Naval Brigade and ten of the Greyroouth Rifles, in which the latte made 395 to the 346 of the former. The ranges were 400, 500, and 600 yards, rive shots at pacli. The stnalluess of the Otago score is accounted for by the unfavorable state of the weather. The Borrowing Mania. — The Duneelin Ec ho has (he following: — The only Province iv New Zealand that is not heavily indebted, and that has, thanks to the efforts of Mr. Stafford and others, kept within its revenue, is Nelson. The Nelson people are beginning to sec, however, that there is a premium given to those Prov-inces that arc borrowing, and heavily-iodebted Provinces, and therefore, they are going to borrow. They say the town of Nelson requires gas- works, and the districts in the Province require "reproductive workp," and as borrowing, and more loaus, are in favor among the colonists of New Zealand, it is just as well they got a share of the "spoil," Who can blame them ? The wonder is they have been so saving and careful, amidst all the prodigality and extravagance with which they have been surrounded. They will soon '* go-a-head " cow, or "go-a-iail." Still it is "go," and that like charity covers a multitude of sins — at any rate, in New Zealand. Pity Nelson has not its local Macandrew ! Fire in Dunedin. — About noon on Monday week a fire broke out in a large iron building in Stuart-street, tenanted by Mr. Jago, which contained a quantity of flax, flour, rice, iron wire, and other merchandise. When the greater part of the building was in ruins, but the fiax and other comhustibles were still burning fiercely, a dreadful incident occurred. The wind was blowing so strongly that the crowd — several bnndred in number — was enabled to approach very close to what had been the front of the building. While people were thus looking on, a man walked deliberately out of the crowd into the burning mass, and sat down there. A shout of horror arose, and several of those who were standing in the front rank boldly ran into the smoke and flame and attempted to draw the unfortunate man out, but he wrested himself from their grasp, and scrambled still further into the flames. The firemen who were engaged an protecting the timber at the back of the store, warned by the cries, instantly ran round, and throwing a stream of water upon the spot where the man lay, he was dragged out, and at once conveyed to the hospital. The whole affair was over in two or three minutes. The profound horror which it created may be imagined. The man's name is Thomas Homan, a ■carpenter by trade, and he has been residing in George- street. Upon examination it was found that he was severely burnt on all parts of the body •except the chest, which his clothes seem to have protected. During the afternoon and evening he was in a state of delirious •excitement, but could occasionally be got to give sensible answers. Accordiug to his own account, given in these lucid intervals, he was delirious at the time •when he walked into the fire, having abstained some days from drink after a debauch. It is expected that he will not recover. "Neutrality." — Neutrality comes from neuter. Neuter means neither, and is applied to sex. A neutral being is one that is neither a. man nor a woman — a neutral being has no sex, no station in law, and can have no progeny. It is familiarly known by the word mule. Now what is a neutral nation ? And what is a nation that takes to neutralising itself ? That is the worst that an enemy could do for it. A neutral nation is nothing at all, is less than a nothing at all ; it is a nation that commits suicide. In addition to other comforts of a home, Mr. Pullrran has attached to his Palace Cars on the Pacific Railroad, a permanent chaplain. The clerical officer is an Epis•copaliaD, and his services are as high •church as circumstances and the appearance of acolytes will admit.

A man in Ohio recently killed 13,784' snakee, in 20 acres of woods on his i'arm, and he says there are is as many left. He is trying to rent out tho woods to picnic parties and Sunday-school celebrations, but the people of tho neighborhood have hardly any enthusiasm for the place. They say they don't object to a snake or (wo here and there, but when there are 40,000 in one sylvan glade, there is likely to he too much sociability. The Bombardment of Piialsburg. — Writing on Iho 14i,h August, the correspondent of the Daily JSexos with the Crovvn Prince describes the bombardment of Phalsburg. He says — From our position of the hillock behind Zilling everything is to be seen. Now a puff of white smoke goes up ou the left and the fierce rush through the air tells of a passing shell. It falls in tho town. Now there is a firing from the right. The French gunners have manned their pieces, and reply in excellent style. Flash after flash comes out from tho old rampart. The smoke curls up among those shady trees where the garrison have often sat in summer evenings with pipe or cigar, and where the nursemaids have brought their children to play. There is flash after flash from the ramparts and from the opposite rising ground ! There is a constant whistling and shrieking across the space between, and a flyiug up of dust among the German gun?, or a crash among the roofs of the town as one side or the other makes a hit. See the dark-colored smoke rising above the trees and floating away behind the church tower. One column of smoke, then another. It is clear that houses are burning, but not so clear that the French guns are silenced. They fire more slowly than their assailants, and seem to aim rather high. But there is heavy metal in the booming reports which come from the Phalsburg ramparts. Three distinct columns of dark smoke rise from the town. It is sad to think of the suffering of auy inhabitants who may have rashly remained. The big gun from the rampart booms forth again, and the smoke-clouds rise thicker than ever. It is a good defence. One can fancy how the hearts of the villagers round about must beat at each shriek of the besiegers' shells. General Changarnier and the Ejiferor. — The arrival at Metz of General Cbangarnier is thus described : — " An aged man dressed in grey trousers, with straps, and a closely-buttoned great coat, his head sunk in his shoulders, crossed the anxious aud disturbed town of Metz, and, comiDg from the railway-statioD, bent his course towards the Prefecture. A steady rain came down towards nightfall aod drove the spy-hunters into their houses, otherwise the individual in question would scarely have reached his destination without hindrance. On arriving at the Prefecture he entered the courtyard, ascended the steps and found himself before a Cent Garde, of whom he inquired for the usher. The soldier looked at the old man so wet and muddy. Perhaps he would have refused him admittance had he not experienced that impression well known to soldiers by which those who are accustomed to obey recognise those accustomed to command. The usher was now sent for by the orderly, who, when he saw the visitor, obeyed him with even greater readiness, so that in a few seconds General Reille was informed that General Changarnier wished to speak to the Emperor. This name had a magical effect ; the Emperor, who was alone, ordered the general to be immediately admitted. These two mcD, who had not spoken to each other for nineteen years, were now face to face. ' Sire, said the general, ' France is in danger ; lam an old soldier, I come to offer you my experience and my sword. My sword is perhaps not worth much, for I am seventy-eight years of age, but I think my head is still good. The doer was shut, and the interview lasted two hours. When it again opened the Emperor spoke, ' Get dinner for the general,' said he ; 'he has not eaten since this morning. . . . Also tell the Count d'Aure to choose horses for the general : he belongs to us, gentlemen ; let his apartment be prepared.' Since then the Emperor and the general have been inseparable ; the old soldier having come straight off on heariug of the disaster, had nothing with him ; linen and clothes had to be found for him. The Emperor is delighted, and the presence of this glory of the past has had a good effect upon the officers who saw Chaugarnier with the Emperor at Falquemout."