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New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 840, 20 August 1853, Page 1

pursuant to the prospectus issued by the projectors of the undertaking on the Bth of October, 1852. The preliminary fund having been raised in the manner proposed by that prospectus, a contract was entered into by the projectors withW. L. Wrey, Esq., a Mineral Surveyor, to perform the works necessary for determining the true character of the mine, and the practicability of forming roads for transporting the produce to a place of shipment. The following is his report to the projecters of the result of his investigations : — To W. T. L. Travers, and W. Wells, Esquires, Nelson. Gentlemen — I have now the honour of reporting the result of the operations conducted by me, und r the contract entered into with you in December, 1852, and which I deemed requisite for ascertaining, firstly, the actual character and value of the copper lode situated near the Dun Mountain, respecting which I made an earlier report (25th May, 1852) to his Excellency the Governor-in-Chief ; and secondly, the existence of a practicable line of road for transporting to a place of shipment the produce of the mine. I find the anticipations expressed in the earlier report above "alluded to, to be fully confirmed and borne out by the 1 operative researches I have since made upon the lode. I am now able to say from positive mining, that the lode is a north and south lode. That it is a champion lode from 5 to 8 feet in width, and contains metal of a very high quality, in great profusion. The lode is so situated that it may be' worked to a depth of two hundred fathoms by adit or level. The adit will furthermore be '.he commencement of a railway, for the transport of the ore to the place of shipment. These points are of great economical importance. Although my engagement was merely to explore a particular lode, I beg to add, that I have clearly ascertained the existence of several other lodss in proximity with the one originally discovered. t I with sincerity beg to assure you, that it has never before fallen to my lot to meet with anylode exhibiting such extraordinary and unerring indications of mineral wealth, or which would more completely justify the investment of capital. The only approach to the mine, when I first visited it, was of such a mountainous and rugged character, necessitating an ascent to the height of nearly 4,000 feet, that I at first felt doubtful respecting the poisibility of removing the ore to a place of shipment with a due regard to economy, but I am happy in being able to report, as the result of actual and careful survey, that a good practicable line for a mineral descending traffic has been proved. Tins line follows throughout the whole length, as you will observe by the accompanying plan, the course of the Maitai River, the main stream of which takes its rise within a mile of the lode. The distance will not exceed 12 miles from the mine adit to the vessel's side in the Haven at Nelson, and the goods will not require to be shifted after the waggons are loaded at the mine until discharged into the vessel. In the first part of the line, for about two miles, the descent must be by inclined plane, after which it will present upon the whole remaining distance a very uniform and easy gradient, workable by horse or locomotive pow er. The serpentine course of the river, and the mountainous and broken character of the country, may possibly render the curves too sharp for locomotives, but this is a point of detail which I have not thought it essential to determine. The nature of the country, however, is very favourable for the construction of the necessary works, the banks of the river being solid, and the prevailing rocks of slate and trap, of a very compact and durable character, whilst an abundance of timber is found growing throughout the whole extent of the line. I feel justified therefore in asserting, not only that a practicable line exists, but also that it is efficient and economical. I beg to add a few words on the ge; logical features of the country. Taking a cross section from the town of Nelson by Brook Street Valley, I find the prevailing rock to be a clay slate, intersected, and occasionally disturbed, by dikes and beds of trap rock. The slate may be traced along the summit of the ridge for about three miles, beyond which I find a magnificent deposit of grey cr3 f staline limestone extending about a mile in width. The summit of the high wooded peak (the altitude of which is not less than 4.000 feet) is composed of this lime- stone, lying:conformably to the slate which forms the base of the mountain, and presenting sharp angular masses at the very apex. The slate and limestone are both highly inclined. Immediately beyond the limestone formation the mineral region commences in which the copper ore exists. The prevailing rock is- a micaceous schist, traversed by dikes of hornblende schist, whilst the surface of the mountain is strewn with detached masses of serpentine rock contauvng magnetic iron ore. and occasional veins of asbestoi and talc. Other products besides the copper ore will, therefore, by the formation of the necessary railway, become available, such as slate of exceeding fine quality for every purpose to which slate can be applied: limestone, timber, and fiTe-stone fit for the most intense funace work, all of which would come to market at a moderate cost, and some of which are. at present, in great demand. The foregoing-statement shews the undertaking to possess such unusual advantages in every particular, that I have no hesitation in recommending immediate steps to obtain the capital necessary to work the mines, feeling perfectly assured that they -vill prove highly remunerative. I am, &c, W. L. Wret, Nelson, 10th June, 1853. Mineral Surveyor. The following-letter was in the meantime received from T. L. -Morgan, Esq., of the Burwood Smelt | works, near Newcastle, in Australia, to whom jspecimens'ofthe ore had been sent : — 1 '- '-" '" " Burwood Smelting Works, -" Newcastle, March 12, 1853. s .» Siu Your favour of the 27th July, 1852 came duly (o band^with sample of copper ore. I should havereplied on receipt, butfromthegreatuncertainty that prevailed then as to the possibility of keeping our works supplied with labour, and which has more or' less continued, combined' with' an> expectation that I should be.able personally to wait upon you — I have deferred^ making a definite comimirtiication on the subject. I may now say, that [the ore is exceedingly- rich, ,and, the indications^ as 'described by you, most favourable. ' As a smelting