The Sun.
London, England, 1852-06-03 00:00:00

• -.
THE ROYAL HIBERNIAN MINING COM-
PANY.-OPENING OF THE FIRST MINE.

CASTLEMAINE, MAY 31.—The ceremony of opening
the company's first mine took place to-day, and was en;
lebrated by a grand fete champitre. The nobility,
gentry, Roman Catholic clergy, and ether persons 4:lf in-
fluence in the neighbourhood were invited tor some days
previously, and attended in large numbers. As the
most sanguine hopes are entertained that the company's
operations will prove successful in developing the mineral
resources of the county of Kerry, and effect a
social change of no ordinary character in the dis-
trict, a few particulars respecting the locale, and
other circumstances, can scarcely fail to be inte-
resting to readers on both sides of the Channel, end we
subjoin them before describing the proceedings of this
day. The mine is situated near the town of Castlemaine,
which is distant about ten miles from the large and
flourishing town of Tralee, and quite close to the river,
which takes its rise a little beyond Castleisland to the
west of that town, and flows westerly, till it empties
itself into the sea at the Bay of Dingle. The river is
navigable for vessels of 200 tons. The Killarney Junc-
tion of the Great Southern and Western Railway passea
within a few miles of the miee, aud, as the ground
presents no engineering difficulties, might he easily
connee'ed with it. The soil resembles the, of Fiintshire
end Denbighsh,re, and the different analyses of the
one already raised give an average result of 77 per
cent. of lead and 19 cz. of silver per ton. The county
is extremely quiet, and the people are industrious.
The most favourable sentiments towards the company
prevail in the neighbourhood among all classes, and
the directors have been received with the greatest enthu-
siasm by the people, without exception. In addition to
the lead, capper ere has been found of a quality which
justifies the expectation that that mineral exists to a
large extent in the mine. It was under these favourable
anspices that the mine was formally opened to-day, in
the presence of one of the most numerous assemblages
that have been witnessed for years in the county, and
which comprised the landed and commercial interests,
sunknona r tc raonw
and the urban and rural population for miles around the
who might have neighbourhood, as well as the clergy of all denomina-
e
bhuiltlsw,
banadrewbh
o°tseawdeare that
s
There were edeaebrdleye
nbhyo seenuar i theaprgo
pouring
groundrninu gm b
ine
number of
streams
theat'em the
sppeasantry,
aosswhiftttrhyi
occurred, and the utmost good odduring
humourthe day
only a few of the constabulary present,
any broach of the peace
the people. In compliance with a suggestion of the
town commissioners the shops
neos in Traleo recro olosgod and other places of busi-
out to the scene of the ceremonyand prevailedwasorderly.amo ng
!be inhabitants poured
road animated with every availablein crowds, making the
vehicle and crowds
of pedestrians. The weather was propitious, and every
interesting occasion. giving eclat to the
About one o'clock, Mr. Larches, the
the company; Mr. H. Gibson, the managingchairman of
Messrs. Arrowsmith, R. Thant, Wood, riil director;
Lea, and other members of the direction, arrivellooney,
ground, and were greeted with loud applause on the
by the y
ast
multitude.
Amongst the gentry of the neighbourhood we ob-
served Sir W. Godfrey, Bart.; Mr. Maurice O'Connell
M.P. ; Mr. M'Gilcuddy, of the Rocks; W. Denny,
Esq. &c.

The directors haying ascended the platform erected on
the ground,

Mr. H. Gistsur read letters from Lord Headly, pro-
prietor of the soil, and other noblemen sad gentlemen,
regretting their inability to attend; bat expressing in
cordial terms their entire approval of the appearance of
the company in their district, and predicting considera-
ble social benefit for their spirited enterprise. He
then stated that he and his brother directors, in un-
dertaking the present speculation, were aatisfied that
they were making a profitable investment of their ca-
pital, and that they would also confer vast social benefits
on the locality. They came to the country with the
most friendly feelings towards the people, in whom they
placed confidence, the result of personal knowledge of
their conduct in their employment at the other side of
the Channel, as well as of the manner in which they
behaved themselves in Ireland when they had the in-
centive of regular and remunerative labour. The fa-
vourable impression which they had formed of the mine
was increased by their inspection of it since their
arrival, and the mariner in which the labour had been
performed justified them in their estimate of the indus-
trial qualifications of the people. They did not propose
limiting their undertaking to this mine, but were de-
termined, if it could be done with profit, to extend their
operations not only in that county, but to other parts of
Ireland.

According to arrangement the mine was then chris-
tened the Headly Mine, by Miss Godfrey, daughter of
Sir W. Godfrey.
Addresses were subseqUently delivered by the Chair-
man, Mr. Lea, and Mr. Rooney, which were warmly ap-
plauded. About 1,500 ladies and gentlemen partook of
a defamer prepared on the ground, and the poor, to the
number of some thousand), were regaled with large
quantities of suitable fare, provided for the occasion by
the directors.

The day was terminated in a most satisfactory man-
ner, and we do not exaggerate in stating that the
general feeling was one of unqualified approval of the
company, and a firm conviction of its success, not only
as a remunerative undertaking, but as an efficient agent
in ameliorating the condition of the country.