MINING IN HUNGARY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 290, 21 August 1873, Page 6

MINING IN HUNGARY.

(From Pagefs "Hungary and Transylvania.'') The laws of Hungary, respecting mining, are exceedingly liberal. Any one, on applying to the Kammer (as the exchequer is called), may receive permission to work any mine which does not interfere with other workings, no matter on whose estate it may be, paying only a moderate sum to the proprietor for the land used for buildings or necessary works. Likewise, any mine already worked, if left unworked during fourteen days, may be taken up by any one else. One-tenth of the clear produce is payable to the Crown, and generally speaking, though I think not necessarily, the ore is 'smelted in the G-overnment smeltinghouses, for which a deduction is also made. Tbe metal must all be coigned in the country. I remember an old gentleman, who was telling me some of these facts, was very bitter against the English for not having sent some of their superfluous cash to Hungary instead of South America, whence their would have been some better chance of a return. Ido not know that the Austrians would look on an English company with jealousy, and if not, I think their chance of success would be very great. I had an opportunity, thanks to the politeness of the chief of the surveying department, of seeing the plans of the mines, which, however, would be unintelligible from description. The most interesting plan was that of Joseph the Second's adit, a magnificent work. It is twelve mining feet high, by ten broad, and extends from Schemnitz to the valley of the Gran, a distance of nearly ten English miles. This adit will carry off the water from mines now quite unworkable, and will lay open great riches to the miner. It is so constructed also, as to be used either as a canal or railroad, by which the ore may be carried to a point better adapted for smelting than Sebemnitz. It has already been forty years in hand, and is estimated to cost 400,000 Z. before it is finished. The most difficult part, under the hill of Schemnitz and the Erzberg, has yet to be encountered.