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New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 844, 3 September 1853, Page 1

pursuant to the prospectus issued by the projectors of the umleitc'king on the Bth of October, 1552. The preliminary fund having been raised in the manner proposed by lhat prospectus, a contiact was entered into by the projectors with W. h. Wrey, Esq., a Y.ineral Surveyor, to perfoirn the works necessar7 foi determining the true chaiacter of the mine, and the practicability of forming roads for ti unsporting the produce to a place of shipment. The following is his report to the projectsrs of the result of his investigations .—. — To W. T. L. Travel, and W. Wells, Esquires, Nelson. Ghntlc-mkn — I have now the honour of reporting the result of the operations conducted by me, und r the contract entered into with you in Dei cember, IS.V 2. and which I deemed requisite for <*sceiuip.insc, fiistly, the actual character and value of the copper lode situated near the Dim Mountain, ipspecting which I made an eaihci: report (2.>tb May, 1832) to his Excellency the Goveinoi-m-Chir-f; and secondly, the existence of a piacticable line of load for transporting to a place of hlunmeut the pioduce of the mine. I find the anticipations expressed in the earlier repoit above alluded to, to be fully confirmed and borne out by the opeiative researches I have since oinde upon the lode. I am now able to say fiom positive mining, that the lode is a north and south lode. That it is a champion lode from 5 to S feet in width, and contains metal of a veiy high quality, in gieat profusion. The lode is so situated that it may be worked to a depth of two hundred fathoms by adit or level. Tiie adit will furthermore be 'he commencement of a railway, for the transport of the oic to the place of shipment. These points are ofgieat economical impoitanoe. Although my encasement was merely to explore a paiticulav lode, I beic to add, th.it I have clearly ascertained the exigence of several other lodes in proximity with the one oiiginally discovered. I with sincerity beg to assure \ou, that it has never befoic fallen to my lot to meet witlwmyjode exhibiting such extiaoidinaiy and unening indications of minei il weillh, or v.hich would moie completely justify tbe investment of capital. Hie only «ip ,i<>acb to the m tie, when I fiist visited it, was of such a mountainous and nigged diameter, necessitating an ascent to the height of ue.uly 1,000 feet, tint 1 at iiist felt doubtful respecting the possibility of removing the ore to a I place of shipment with a tine regar.l to economy, but lam hippy m being able to repot t, as tbe rei suit of actual and eaieful survey, that a good piac-tic-ibie line for a mincial descending traflic has been proved. Tl.is line follows throughout the whole length, a-, you will observe by tbe Accoinpanjing plan, the course (.f the Mait.ii River, thp main stream •>{ uhich 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 et Nelson, and tbe goods will not require to be shifted after the waggons are loaded at the mine until discharged into tbe vessel. In tho firsl pavl of tbe line, for about two miles, tbe descent mu<-t be by inclined plane, after which it will pie*ent upon the whole remaining distance a very umfoim and easy gradient, workable byboise or locomotive power. The serpentine course of tbe river, and the mountainous and broken character of tbe country, may possibly render tbe curves too sharp for locomotives, but this is a point of detail which I have not thought it essential to deteimme. The nature of the country, however, is very favourable for the constiucrion of tbe necessary works, ihe banks of tbe river being s<,lid and the pievaihng rocks of slate and tiap, of a very compact a-ul durable character, whilst an abundance of timber ia found growing thiou»hout tbe whole extent of tbe line. I feel justified therefore in asserting, not only tbat a practicable line exists, but also that it is efficient and economical. I beg to add a few words on the gc logical feituies of the country. Taking a crrss section from the town of Nelson by Crook Street Valley, I I find the prevailing rock to be a clay slate, I intersected, and occasionally disturbed, by dikes and beds of tiap rock. The slate maybe traced along the summit of tbe ridge for about three miles, beyond which I find a. magnificent deposit of grey crystaline limestone extend. m> about a mile in width. The summit of the high wooded peak (the altitude of which is not less th.m 4,000 feet) iscomposed of this lime-stone, lying conformably to the slate which forms the base of tbe mountain, and presenting sharp angular masses at tbe very apex. The slate and limestone are both highly inclined. Immediately beyond tbe limestone formation tbe mineral region commences in which the copper ore exists. The pievailing rock is a micaceous schist, traversed by dikes of hornblende schist, whilst tbe surface of tbe mountain is strewn with detached masses of serpentm* rock contain'ng magnet c iron oie and occasional veins of asbe3tos and talc. Other product's besides tbe copper ore wi I, tbcrefoie, by the formation of tbe necessary iriilway, become "available, such as slate of exceed mg fine quality for every purpose to which slate can bo applied: limestone, timber, and fire-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 tbe 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 tbat they -fill prove highly remunerative.

I am, &c, W. L. Wrey, Nelson, 10th June, 1553. Mineral Surveyor. The following letter wasin the meantimexeceived from T. L. M organ, Esq., of the Burwood Smelt works, near Newcastle, in Australia, to whom specimens of the ore had been sent : — " Burwood Smelting Works, " Newcastle, March 12, 1853. " Sir— Your favour of the 27th July, 1852 came duly to hand, with sample of copper ore. I should havereplied on receipt, butfromthegreatnncertainty 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 communication on the subject. I may now say, that ibe ore ia exceedingly rich, and the indications^ as described by you, most favourable. As a smelting