CORRESPONDENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 82, 5 April 1879, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

To thb Editor of the " Etenino Mail." Sie, — I saw in jour last night's issue W. E. Howe's report of the Aniseed Valle7 Copper Mine. If W. E. Rowe had confined himself to the truth and stated that, in examining the mine, he found the copper exposed to view instead of having to put a long crosscutting hole to find it I should think a great deal more of his mining abilities. This find which he states in his report ia four feet from the collar of the shaft, was found by me in December last, and I brought a parcel here and lodged it with Mr Mabin with a report of the part of the shaft it came from. About a fortnight afterwards I discovered another bunch of copper about fifteen feet. I brought down a parcel from this part of the shaft with a report, and these

reports should be in the Secretary's office to refer to. Now W. E. Rowc wants to make the shareholders believe that he has discovered what has been stauding for anyone to see since last Christmas. I recommended to the Working Committee before the above date to work on the copper discovered. I see in Mr Rowe's report he speaks of a fault or heave that has thrown the lode in the hanging wall. I distinctly say there is no fault or heave from the surface down :50ft in the main shaft. I never came across a fault or heave unless we came to a slide. If W. E. ltowe examined where I got the copper in the rise and where Mr Everett got it 17 years ago he would find the copper is ridiug on the hard rock. That was my reason for sinking the witize away from it, knowing as a rule of mining that if it lives iu hard ground it is bound to make in soft If the Working Committee had done their duty to the shareholders and visited the miue to see if my reports were correct they might have had copper in the market by this time. Iu sinkiug the shaft 50 feet not one of the Committee went down the shaft, so when I found that the Working Committee took no interest in the miue I offered them fifteen per cent, before the general meeting took place. I asked them to allow me to put in two or three shots to prove it before the meeting, but this was refused because they had boen told by Mr Hackett it was no good. I would advise the shareholders to look to their interest and comply with the terms agreed on with Mr Johnston, Collector of Customs, otherwise they will lose a valuable property. If W. E Rowe wants anyone to prove that the copper was standing in sight he can refer to Mr William Stratford on the mine, who assisted me in putting in the timber, besides whom there were two other3 who saw it.— l am, &c, Edwd. Thomas. Nelson, April 4th, 1879.