VALPARAISO.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 679, 4 February 1852, Page 4

VALPARAISO.

(From the Alta California, Oct. 19.) By the last steamer we have received dates from Valparaiso to August 26th. Twenty-five miles of the Copiapo railway have been laid. The Mercurio of the 25 th says that the beneficial results of this road will be immense. Property at Copiapo has taken an extraordinary rise since the commencement of this work. That of Valparaiso and Santiago is to be undertaken at the expense of the nation,

for which purpose the President is to be authorised to borrow 2,000,000 dollars, at 8 per cent. If a company could be got up to take shares, the government would cede it willingly. The project has already passed the Senate and will soon pass the other house.

The principal houses in Valparaiso have agreed to receive foreign doubloons for six months at 17 dollars, as heretofore, in consequence of the embarrassment which the refusal to receive them would cause at present, as the Chilian ounces in circulation are not sufficient for the wants of the community. In order to obviate this difficulty, as much as possible, the Custom House received them in payment of duties up to the 20th of August. The new Mint is to be on a grand scale — something to rival that of Mexico, which is said to coin more than all the others in South America. The Mercurio states, that in all the provinces, from Aconcagua to Chiloe, the agricultural industry of the country has made great efforts, and if the seasons continue favourable the harvest of 1852 will be immense. The silver mines have not yielded much lately; they appear to be taking a resting spell. The Mercurio of the 27th says that an electro telegraph is talked of between Valparaiso and Santiago.