TEH COLONIST. NELSON, FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 1860.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 263, 27 April 1860, Page 2

TEH COLONIST. NELSON, FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 1860.

The correspondence between the Superintendent and the Governor on the rejected Compensation Bill which appeared in our last number, shows that the former was in earnest when he introduced the Bill into the Provincial Council, and that the refusal of the Executive Council to sanction it did not at all abate his ardent wishes for the accomplishment of so just and reasonable an object. Whatever name may be given to this piece of business— v purchase," "reselection," "consolidation," or "compensation' — it must be confessed that this latter was a nefarious transaction. It was a bullying scramble rather than a judicial administration. And the country suffers to this day, although a lew not over particular persons—some sent out from home, where they were too expensive or too troublesome, and some perhaps to cover a damaged reputation—have been unduly enriched thereby. New Zealand at that time must have been a godsend to perplexed and distressed parents and guardians; as, for the small charge of three hundred pounds or so some families could be furnished with cuddy accommodation, and on their landing a goodly town acre, fifty suburban acres, and one hundred and fifty rural acres awaited these lucky three-hundred-pound wights. It has been asserted that the Company broke faith with the land purchasers ; and so these rapacious gentry, to make even, took hundreds of acres where the Company only gave one. One would think that after these three-hundred-pounders had gorged themselves to repletion, they would have bestowed a passing thought, however slight, on their poorer neighbours, whose helpless condition is but lightly set forth in the paper alluded" to. But, no ; the humble labourers, whose contracts were broken in every instance, have found no stronger opponents in every matter—no more bitter enemies than those who have drained the compensation cup to the dregs. It will be seen by Mr. Fox's statement, that three thousand souls were kidnapped to New Zealand under false pretences, and that the "original land purchasers 31 employed only about fifty out of this number —about the same number now employed by the same three-hundred-ponnders, who now aspire to domineer over and dictate to the population of this settlement. Nearly a thousand of these victims re-emigrated ; and then their enemies flagged not in their persecution; for some sly cogging knave or knaves endeavored to injure their prospects in another place by traducing their character for industry, &c.

The letter from the New Plymouth agent to Colonel Wakefield is really a gem of refined knavery. This fellow's conduct ivasapnly equalled by that of the despicable wretch who was employed to get the Com■party's ,contract. papers from the poor labourers "and to burjj them~~and he did

it. O'Connell once said that if an Irishman were condemned to be roasted alive, another Irishman would be found to turn the spit. Here we see that the Company readily found willing agents to do their dirty !and cruel work with thousands of helpless half-starved fellow countrymen, women, and children. It is well that such a mean souled lackey was open to fear; and better, too, that some of these injured men had. determination enough to act on the fears of such a base-souled scoundrel. Hear him:—

"I endeavoured to evade it [the contract] by sending the applicants for employment a long distance from home, making no allowance for time spent in the journey or for time lost in had weather. The necessities of the men end their families were such as compelled them to submit for several weeks lo these conditions."

Did our readers ever read old Izaak Walton's description of how to put a fishhook into a. frog? Tickle him arid play with him as if you loved him; and then he 7 elaborately describes how the hook is to be gently insinuated into the most delicate and advantageous'parts of its body. •" This fellow (the agent), whose name is not mentioned,, probably now revels in thousands of compensation acres and hoards of ill-got wealth. But hear him once more:— :di

"Looking r pat the stringent instruction!* of the Court of Directors, not to admit fe claim of anybody who had once found work with a private individual to a reengagement with the Company, I should deem it my duty to adopt the same rule with the whole population, were it safe to do so"

So, so, Mr. New Zealand Legree ! the Company possessed very valuable property in the shape of houses, stores, boats, &c.; besides the private property would also suffer, " did I refuse to recognise claims on the Company for employment or support." But enough of this dirty wretch and his dirty doings. The heart sickens, even at this distant day, at the barefaced recital of the fellow's own baseness. Talk not of savages, and tomahawks, and treachery, after this exposition of commercial civilization !

Several attempts have been made by a few truehearted but poor men to get justice for the working man. In Governor Fitzroy's time, in 1844, the subject was brought before him; and though he admitted their claims to be reasonable, he thought that they, could only be obtained through a court of law in England. Why were not the claims of the "original land -purchasers" submitted to a similar tribunal ? There was more to be got by a scramble than by a careful investigation of every claim and an equitable award to every claimant in an English court of law, where the poor man's claims would have received the same attention as the rich one's. Governor Wynyard, in 1854, fully recognised these claims; but nothing resulted from it, except the appointment of a committee, who published a vague report, rather criminating the Company than endeavouring to obtain redress for the sufferers. At' the latter end of the same year another commission was appointed, composed of Messrs. Richmond, Saxton, and Travers—result similar. The last commission, consisting of Messrs. Domett, Kingdon, and Thompson, certainly did their duty well; and patiently investigated every claim and minutely reported on every case. The result is told in the answer of Mr. Tancred to the Superintendent's appeal. Let our population from this moment learn to distinguish between friends and foes, and act accordingly ; and let the following remarkable words of Lord John Russell be indelibly engraved on their memory :~- - "It never was in the contemplation of the " Government that the produce of the land '• sales in ftew Zealand should he applied to " defray the cost of the passages of the richer •• class of emigrants; . ... which would " tend, by the lure of extraordinary advan- •• tages. to en con age the emigration of a great 11 number of people rich ■ enough to make the " saving of the cost of their passage an impor- " tant object to them, but not rich enough to " contribute much to the advancement of the li settlement."

The Examiner of last Saturday announced, as a piece, of information, that Mr. Charles Elliott had been elected for the Amuri " without opposition." We wonder who expected auy opposition! Was it expected that the sheep would propose and second any one in opposition to the man nominated by their owner ? Had they even been possessed with the faculty of .speech, we feel sure they would not have done so: as animals who change their coats every year to oblige their masier could hardy have a more suitable representative tfian Mr. Charles Elliott.

When Mr. Travers condescended to go to the House of Representatives, although he had only received the votes of a very insignificant fraction of the electors of the Waimea district, the Examiner published an article in which it exclaimed, " How are the mighty fallen 1 " We think it would do well to republish that article now that the great "senior proprietor " is reduced to the pitiable extremity of accepting the only "pocket borough in this province. . .

The thousand and seventy-seven honest and true-hearted men who signed the memorial to the Governor for a mitigation of the sentence on Mr. Saunders, will be gratified to find that their petition has been successful. We give the Governor's reply below, with the remark that the promptitude displayed by his Excellency in this matter shows that the present weighty affaire of state are: not made the excuse for deferring ah act of grace. "Provincial Secretary's Office, Nelson, ; f >;y; "April 23,1860. 11 Cfeutlemen—l bare the honour to in-

close, by direction of his Honor the^uperv intendent, a copy of a letter received from the Colonial Secretary, notifying his Excellency the Governor's compliance with the request in your Memorial for the remission of the remaining portion of the sentence of Mr. Alfred Saunders. 'VEhave, &c, " AlfUed Domett, Prbv. Sec. «J. W. Barnicoat, Eisq., and the " Gentlemen signing Memorial."

••Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland,

:."Aprit 7, i860.. « Sir—With reference to Mr. Staffords' letter to your Honor, dated the 16th ultimo, acknowledging the receipt of-a Memorial transmitted by you, for the remission of the sentence of imprisonment passed on Mr. Alfred Saunders, I have the honor to Btate, for the information of the memorialists, that their Memorial has been laid before the Governor, • and that his Excellency, taking into consideration that this is the first occasion on which there has been a conviction for libel in New Zealand, is of opin on that the law has now been sufficiently vindicated, and will remit the remaining portion of Mr. Saundets's imprisonment, from the day on which the pardon reaches the gaoler's hands. i ..■«.* I have to request your honour to be ; good enough to communicate the übove to, \ the memorialists, and to inform them that the pardon referred to has been transmitted by this mail. I" I have, &c, " (Signed) Henry John Tancred "(For the Colonial Secretary)." The Dun Mountain Company's line of tramway from the Dun Mountain to the Port being one ot the most important works of this province, we are sure a description of it will interest our readers,

The line will commence at the Napier Wharf, the rails on which, as well as those on the New Government Wharf (which now certainly reflects great" credit on the Provincial Engineer and others engaged in its construction), will be joined to the proposed line, which is to be of the sam • gauge. By

this means a continuous traffic can be carried on from the town to the vessels lying alongside the wharf, and vice versa. This line will be laid on the outer side of the Port-road, following this to Bridge-street, and continuing on the north side of Bridgestreet flush with its surface to the corner of Tasman- street, which it ascends on a level with the street to the stream at the corner of Nile-street east, where a small bridge and embankmentwill.be required. The line will be continued thence up the left or east side of Brook-street to a spot at the foot of the hill, a few yards past Newport's. To this point the ore is to be brought down by a " shoot," several hundred feet high. The top of this shoot will be reached from the mine by a tramway of much narrower gaut>e, which is more suited for the succession of curves on this upper line, as it may be termed, and which may be simply described as a side cutting the whole of the way near the summit of the range, and descending gradually through a beautifuj forest, from which the town can probably be supplied with firewood at a cheaper rate than at present. The .total length of the line is about ten miles; that along the range being six miles and a quarter/and on the level streets three miles and three quarters. The advantages which may be fairly anticipated from this line are-.—First. Our known mineral resources at the Dun Mountain will be developed. Secondly. By the payment of a small toll, goods and merchandise will be brought from the ships' sides di'ect to the stoics and warehouses; and, in like manner, goods for export can be placed in the trucks at any point on the line, and conveyed without break of gauge to the vessels alongside the wharf. The trade, it is understood, will be left in the hands of the carmen, at present employed as carriers on the port road. Thirdly. As the line passes through a forest, growing on a beautiful limestone formation, timber and lime can be brought down at a comparatively small cost. We hope that this will not be the only tramway laid down in this province, but that bianch lines will be speedily constructed in the town ajid the vaiious suburban districts; and from careful calculations, we do not hesitate to say that many of the roads now being formed have already cost more money than a tramway of the same length, to say nothing of the increased accommodation of the, one, and the greater cost of repair of the other. It may be looked upon as a new era in the material prospects of this province.

The New Zealand Gazette of the 7th instant, states that the meeting of the General Assembly, which was previously appointed to meet on the 3rd of May, is prorogued to Monday the 18th o( June next/when it will meet at 2 o'clock p.m. in the General Assembly House, at Wellington.

New Launch.—On Saturday a craft was launched from the premises of Mr. Jacobsen of the Beach Road, boatbuilder, making the second that has T)een completed here within a short period. She has been named the Jane; her demehsions are as follows :—•Length of keel 40 feet, depth of keel 9 inches, beam 12 feet 8 inches, depth of hold 5 feet 7 inches, draught of water 1 foot 11 inches.

Inquest.—-The verdict given in the enquiry on Wednesday respecting the death of Mrs. Dickenson, wife of Mr. W. Dickenson of Waimea South, was that of "Accidental Death." It appeared that the deceased had fallen into some deep water near the house, and was not discovered until ten minutes had elapsed, ihe exhaustion produced resulted in her death a few hours afterwards.

Holloway's Pills.—All young children-should have administered to them, from time to time, a few doses of these Pills, which will purify their blood, and enable them to pass safely through the different disorders incidental to children, such &s measels, hooping cough, cowpock, and other infantile diseases. These Pills are so harmless in their nature as not to injure the Bwst delUjfttfl. constitution.

%IXTS REPORT W THE 30ARD Oft DIRECTORS OF THE DUN MOUNTAIN' (COPPER MINING COMPANY. In again meeting the Shareholders, the Directors of the Dun Mountain Copper Mining Company beg reference to their Report in July last, and have the satisfaction of announcing in respect to the queHtion then, remaining to be solved, that they are enabled to report very favourably of the prospects of this undertaking. !t has been ascertained that Chromate of Iron is in constant and growing demand, and that'its commercial value justifies the expectation of its yielding a remunerative return, on importation, as soon as the means of conveying it frtm the mines to the Port are completed ; and they are hr.ppy to announce that its existence in great force upon the Dun Mountain Freehold is fully corroborated by Dr. Hochstetter, the eminent Austrian Geologist, who has just returned to Europe from New Zealand, and a summary of whose Lecture at Nelson is giveu as follows :-— " The rock of the Dun Mountain Proper is a variety of serpentine, of so novel and peculiar a character, that I am obliged to apply to it a new term, and call it" Dunntie." The Dun Moui.tain District offers to the scientific geologist, a field of unbounded. interest; but I shall,.perhaps, best respond to the wishes of my audience, by telling them something about the ores of copper and chromate of iron,* which are the characteristic metals of that serpantine dyke. Copper —" The occurrence of native copper, red oxide of copper, and copper pyrites—the principle copper ores of the Dun Mountain, is by no means peculiar to the serpentine of New Zealand. In the serpentine district of Cornwall; for instance, native copper is found The Monte llamazza, near Genca, contains copper ores in serpentine; and in North America the same thing occurs. " I have visited (accompanied by. Mr. Racket and Mr. Wrey) all the workings of the Dun Moantain.- I could not convince myself of the existence of a number of parallel lodes, so as to justify the various names which have been given, and which appear to designate different lodes. The Dun Mounfeun copper ore, does not pccur in a, r|giular lodetby which I mean a metalliferous dyke a£ *liffere,nt mineral composition from, that of the rock of the Mountain. «As isusugl in serpentine, the copper ore occurs only in nests and bunches. The richer deposits of copper Ore, form lenticular shaped masses, which, when followed, may increase to a certain distance, but then disappear again in a thin wedge. Where these nests are large and rich, one alone may sometimes make the fortune of a mine. The richest found on the Dun Mountain appears to have been that of the Windtrap Gully, from which pieces of native copper (some of them weighing as much as eight pounds) were extracted. These nestsof copper ore occur in the Dun Mountain in one continuous line, as if a rent had taken place in the serpentine rock, into which copper had either been injected from beneath, or deposited there by the operation of some causes which science is unable to explain. The green and blue silicates of copper are surface minerals, which are only of value by showing

DUN MOUNTAIN COPPER MINING COMPANY. (From the Mining Journal, January 28.) The ordinary half-yearly general meeting of proprietors was held at the London Tavern, on Thursday.

Mr. Deputy Counex in the chair. Mr. F. .Saundere (the secretary) read the notice convening■•',the meeting, and the minutes of the last, which were confirmed. The Chairman said, before entering upon the bu. fiiness of the day, he would preliminarily remark that he unworthily occupied the chair on that occasion, at the request of his co-directors, in consequence of the temporary illness of their esteemed friend and respected Chairman, Mr. Arnold Rogers. The board saw that gentleman yesterday at his own house, when lie hoped the meeting would excuse his attendance, his medical adviser having urged him not to leave his house. . '

The report and accounts having been printed and circulated among the shareholders, it w»s agreed that the same be taken as read.

The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and accounts, said it became his pleasing duty to congratulate the proprietors opoa- what -he thought, there was ground for considering better prospects than they had had heretofore. It wonld be «een by the report that had been circulated araongthe shareholders, that a German geologist of great eminence, Dr. Hoehstetter, had visited Nelson, and had gone over the property belonging to this company, And the result of his examinations were to a certain extent detailed in the report. They had not yet obtained all the infoimation which he had gained, but he had given the promise that, when he returned to England, he would communicate to the board such further information as he possessed, and of course the board were anxiously waiting to see him upon the subject. The last the board had heard of him was that he had arrived at Alexandria, and whether he had gone hence to his own country, or was comiug direct to this country, they were not yet aware, but were looking very anxiously for a communication from him, and which tuey hoped would throw more light upon their property than had been yiven in the report, which of itself was satisfactory as concerned their undertaking The only pinching point at present was the means of transit for the ore, which latter was reported to be in quantities that were not calculable, and to see whether'in the construction of a railway the expanse would be within ther calculations,, so asto make the raising of the ore, and the carrying of it to the place of shipment, a productive speculation. As far as.their calculations h*d hitherto gone, under the advice of their engineer in Nelson, they had every reason to think that it could bo made a very productive and paying concern.1 But the board had been advised by their committee at NeAson, that the party who had been sent out being rather a miner; than a professed engineer, they would like to have WslmeaMaaangeniient&tertedlQrtotae one of tha

'bslooked^fbt1 at>'^^rj9ei|^."'- :>'AtJKxe'jrfo^rdfit(me6''''; bjolpw entirely, anCS^-ia only by~ihe Broken/and softened' character -■of the »er•pefttiHethafthe 'idSlneriia e^aJaea^o^Mlo^tteifis*;; sure from one deposit of jftdftL cto the other. The occurrence Of the best indications of copper ore on the surface-over a-continuous line of about-two miles, affords good ground foe- supposing that considerable/ quantities of ore are contained in the'mounUin: but, on the other hand, owing to the manner in which the ores occur in isolated bunches, raining operations in such a region are always attended by less certain profits than where the metal is deposited in a regular lode; and I maybe allowed to express a hope that the, Dun Mountain may prove to be all that the Nelson people could wish. Chuomate of Iron.—"l will add a few^words about Chromateoflron. This mineral is ah ordinary ac companiment of serpentine rock, and occurs in the Dun Mountain in great force. Of its commercial value Ido not feel myself qualified to speak-; but, should its value •be considerable* the abundance .of it is bo great that-it must prove & source of much .wealth to the mine.- • • • " Your Manager, Mr. Hacket, in his last letter, hai submitted to the Board a line of road from the Minetf to the Port, differing from that authorised by the Legislature, but as it will be Bhorter and I'esa expensive in construction, and free from the many casualties attending the Maitai River-Line, your directors are of opinion that, provided permission be. obtained, which they are advised is about to be applied for, the newly proposed line should be adopted; but before giving directions in relation thereto, it may be necesHary to employ some practical Engineer to make a dcUilud survey, and to lurninh working drawings and estimates to be approved by your Committee at Nelson. •

"The explorations for copper are still continued under a system of strict economy; and, although no continuous lode ban been yet found to afford a prospect of profitable working, it is by no means improbal 1© that such deposits may be found to exist, particularly in connexion with the derelbptaent of, the cnxomat*' ofiroti-: and tcftlr-Director*, zww feel joatified in ec«: tertaining b cheerful hope of the eventual iraccea* of the undertaking, notwitlwtanding the. difficulties which have hitherto marked it progress. "The annexed audited financial statement* rfiow that the Company's funds have been administered with due regard to economy. ■" Two Directors are upon the rotation for retirement, viz.—Arnold Rogers, Esq., Ilanover-aquare; Thomas Corney, Esq. Old Broad-street: and, being eligible for re-election, offer themselves to be re-elected by you accordingly. '•The Auditors likewise place themselveß in the hands of the Shareholders, end are willing to be re* olected.

By order of the Board, FRED. SAUNDERB, Secretary, London, 12th January, I860."

first eminence, because, upon the formation of their line must depend their future progress. It mnst be very obvious that it was not only the first marking out of the line, but there would have to be considered the node of construction thereafter, because an illconstructed line necessarily incurred expense which could not possibly be calculated upon; and, therefore, they had lately been in communication with a gentleman of the first eminence, who had on certain term* consented to go out, but the arrangement had not yet been ratified, the negotiation being at present in progress. The board had iearnt from him upon what terms he would undertake the survey, and mark out a'l the features and the mode of working the line, and most likely see the contracts entered into, provided the work was done by contract. The board were still in negociation with that gentleman, and there was every reason to believe that he would undertake the workl. They would then rest upon sure grouuds of calculations as to the expense of. constructing the railway^ the board believing that it could be done within the limits that would make the sale of the chromate of iron a remunerative. speculation. They had ascertained by.samples sent to this country that thair ore was a marketable .eammodity—a very marketable commo'Hty —and, moreover, he was bound to say it was one of increasing value, because between the first parcel and the last the price given had very much increased. The quantity cf the ore, according to the statement of Dr. Hochstetter, as well as from their own geologist, was incalculable. It was an ore that, when once diecorered, was always found in large qnantities, and they had the opinion of both those scientific gentlemen that it was beyond calculation; therefore, it only remained to be seen at what rate it could be shipped, and the price it would realise in this country. Relative to the financial position of the company, that had been placed in the hand's of the shareholders, and it was not too much to say on behalf of the directors that they had been very careful with;the funds of the company. He would not dilate upon each fttm. but would merely state1 that they had paid less than they had received. Very little debt had been incurred, and the board had received no remunaration for their assistance, and ware-willing to wait, as they had always dove.. and the auditors were willing to do the same. Therefore with their funds intact, and with the calculations that had been made, they trusted.they would be able to effect objects that would be satisfactory to the proprietors, and at the same, time redound to the credit of the board. Ho would, in conclusion, move that the report and accounts be received and adopted, &ud would be glad to answer any inquiry that might be made upon any points that he had not touched upon,, and as fur as he wa9 able illumiiute them. ■

Admiral Cator, in seconding the resolution,, said there was very little to say, because the report was very clear. It had Ijeea satisfactorily proved U»*t they possessed,* mineral in large quantities, which would, give » good pMftfe provided tiny cbqld cooft»jei%

r :^lWflsfiJ^i4.isi4ig. i^ djQSHL to vitUs«P].Htt< pX £hjpnient ¥ _ WltMejford to the 'afimwn.'he thoi^itithe i;e?olii-* tS'fii^fp'essing the greatest confidence-, in. thpse gen ■ tletnen; which had bfeen,pissed at the^greviousj meet;, ing;;'Bhbttldr*n''thUtfd(^ionlf'beT«stifled^'.for-:it>v»<w*. quite clear that they- were acting for the shareholders as they, would for themselves. -There were two paragraphs iii that report, concerning which, for general information,' he would like some further particulars. The first stated that Mr. Kacket, in his last letter, had submitted -to the board a line of road frem the' mines to the port, differing from that authorised by the Legislature. What he wanted to know, was, whether that referred to ihe Legislature. of England or of Nelson. Th« Chairman, in reply, stated that the m«)tinj must be aware that a bill was going through the Legislature of N<ew Zealand to enable them to form a line of routeby the Maitai River, which was the ori-. ginal one mavkad out by Mr; Hacket, but there were difficulties in the way of that beconring law until ;tho Land Clauses Consolidation Act had received the Royal assent. That did receive the Royal assent, and • consequently, their bill became law; but the present line, which was referred to in the report as a new project of their engineer, took a different route, and there were points that were not embraced in that bill. But inasmuch as the Land Clauses Consolidation Act was operative with that bill, the Colonial Legislature could sanction anew bill such as the company were about . to require without reference to the Legislature of this .-country; it was. indeed, already in progress, and being applied for* One feature in the alteration proposed seemed to the board to be a very salutary change,, seeing that the Maitai River route embraced a vast number of bridges crossing that river at various points. That discouraging feature did not exist in the ... newly projected line; moreover, the new line would '".be" shorter by six miles, and being ,voi<l of bridges could, it was believed, be constructed at a much less expanse. The ground over which the line of railway would pass was,.h<3 betieved, vacant ground, bslo'nging to the 'Government. ■ ■ -;; . The retiring directors;, Messrs. irnold.Rogera and. ThomasiCoruey, we.f&r.unsnimously re-electe.d, and Messrs, :\V, Bf,and:^dr.Qi.Kobson;!?& appointed-att-: ditors. ■ ■'■ ■••■'■' ? ~ ■:-';■ ~ *■■■'■'■ " "'. *■ .* * ' Mr. Bateman had great pleasure in renewing the expression of confidence which was\accorded to thy directors at the last meeting, for having seduiousle devoted their attention to tho general interest of the company, and for which they had received no emolument, and moved a cordial vote of thanks to the Chairman and directors. The: resolution having been seconded, and unanimously cairied, the Chairman acknowledged t!ie comp iment in a few appropriate remarks when the proceedings terminated.