THE COPPER MINES. [From the Adelaide Observer.]

New Zealander, Volume 1, Issue 26, 29 November 1845, Page 3

THE COPPER MINES. [From the Adelaide Observer.]

The commencement of operations at our great Northern Mines is attended with circumstances, almost, if not altogether new, in the history of mining. Consecutively with the departure of the first party of men engaged on "owners' account, " sixteen drays have been sent up to biing away the first lot (tliut) -two tons) of the copper ore ; and, judging (rum what has been seen, examined, and performed, we shall in all probability have to record ; that the value of the.-c first dni) loads, raised by a few hands, within the first seven dais \mII amount to more than seven hundred pounds — a very piott\ beginning. Hut wore the Knglish maiket price ofFored to the Mining A><sociation, we uudei .stand the* would guarantee 10 to deliver a thousand tons in four months, and allow a liberal deduction for freight and charges linlet'd it is dilficult to speak prospcctivel) of these mines; in measuied limiiis, mole e-peoialiy as they are far exceeding the inobl sanguine pie dictions of the first discoverers and e\ploreis, and as we have no w ish to eheiish any undue expectations w e shdll, upon the present occasion, as in future, when wo chronicle the assured success of l., ese undei takings—limit ourselves, a* much as possible to actual factn and occurrences, but it would be unjust to the lespe.'tive owners of the not them and southern divisions of the property, now so much the biibject of discussion, did we omit to notice the high piomise, now, more th-ui ever afforded, of leuuiuerativt* employment for the capital embarked in the " Buna Cieek hui ve\." The productive operations instituted by the northern proprietary upon the moiet) of the 20,000 acies, have alt c.my s>o far removed fiom their investment eveiy thing of a speculative character, that scrip is changing hands at 50 percent premi. mi, and w e verily helieve, the most caution* matter of fact curmudgeon u\ the c lony (ij ih<*re be such) vvotild lam screw out the price oi u share at a handsome premium, if ottered him by a needy holder, constrained loieaiise. Little beyond exploiation of the surface, and satisfactory examinations of specimens of copper •oie, having be u n )et carried out by the piopnetors of the southern moiet), we are only enabled to sa\, that the first favourable impressions have been abundantly confirmed; and in all probability the mineral ric'.jes will rival thos>e already so obvious in the adjoining properly. At all events a competent diitiioiily has estimated its vane at £50,000. Nor art all the energies of the* coppermiuing" | colonists likely to be expended upon the Great Mineral Survey in the North. A. requisition has I been lodged with the proper authorities for the survey of several square miles of mineral land, abounding with copper, in the district of Mount Barker; and sue" is the general impression as to the difficulty of obtaining snllkient transport for our superabundant metalliferous wealth in its unielined state, that the proposed erection of smelting furnaces will be carried out at no distant day, under circumstances w Inch oiler increasea encouragement "the~*mor«-lhey-ttiHJ-subja«ted -to inquiry and examination. We are heartily glad to learn that it is inf ended to gratify the citizens with a sight of several loads of uncoined treasure— not because "seeing is believing " — not to tempt them to make inviting communications to their friends in Britain oi upon the Continent (for both at home and abroad they will be able to judge for .themselves); but that those who have home the burthen and heat of the day in establishing our su cessful colony, may derive encouragement as well as gratification from a sight of the nulioe capital which seems destined to infuse life and eneigy into all our collateral undertakings, whether agiicnltural, pastoral, or mercantile; and to stimulate into powerful and salutary exercise the inventive faculties and productive industry of which this province bus already furnished so many bright examples. When it was asserted of the colony, some years ago, and before its capab lilies were appaient to everybody's comprehension, that it aboundc-d " with all t.ie elements of wealth and piosperity," it was alternately, by the desponding, and the incredulous, Where are *' the pretended elements?" If it were possible that such a question could be propounded novv-a da>s, Iheatta lied colonist might point to some of tae countless flo-ks and herds which bedeck our verdant and nutritive pasturagesj to the • smiling" cornfields which have removed all lack of bread, and rendered our garnets insufficient ; to our fruitful vineyards, orchards, and gardens; to the tens of thousands of unencumbered acies which invite the labour of the husbandman; ami, lastly, to lite subsoil riches, which seem to promise the Government a full treasury ; and the governed a general exemption from penury, and exultingly ask. What elements of wealth and prosperity do you find wanting f