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

THE ROYAL HIBERNIAN MINING COlft
PANY.-OPENING OF THE FIRST MINE.
- - -

CASTLEMAINE, MAY 31.—The ceremony of oieening
the company's first mine took place to-day, and was ce-
lebrated by a grand fete champette. The nobility,
gentry, Roman Catholic clergy, and other persons of in-
fluence in the neighbourhood were invited for some days
previously, and attended in largo 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, and we
subjoin them before describing the proceedings of this
day. The mine is situated near the town of Castlemsine,
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 ton:... The Eiliarney Junc-
tion of the Great Southern and Western iZeilway passes
within a few miles of the mine, and,
the ground
presents no engineering difficulties, might be. easilyconnected with it. The soil resembles tha: of F7tntshire
and Denbighshire, 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 ten. The comnlY
is extremely quiet, and the people are industrion%
The most favourable sentiments towards the company
prevail in the neighbourhood among all classes, and
the directors have been reeciv,d with the greetest enthu-
siasm by the people, without exception. In addition to
the lead, copper ere has been toned of a quality which
justifies the expectation that that mineral exists to a
large extent in the mine. It was under these favourable
auspices 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,
and the urban and rurrd population for miles around the
neighbourhood, as well as the clergy of all denomina-
There were
denomina-
tions. At an early hour the ground where the shaft is
sunk was crowded by a large number of the peasantry,
who might have been seen pouring in streams down the
hills, and whose deportment during the day was orderly.
the people. In
but we are not aware that any breach of the peace'
busi-
ness iu Tralee were closedonlygoodhumourcommissioners
closed, compliance
sodwi hthea isnuhgegbeistatinotns poured
out
circumstance appeareedvetoreenloonneyeein
road animated with every available vehicle and crowds
About ono o'clock, Mr. Larch en,
making theth
weather was propitious, and every
interesting occasion.
th, R. Dlant, managing
the company; Mr. H. Gibson, the in giving ca to
erg, the chairman of
ground, and were greeted with loud applause by
Messrs. Arrowsmi
gentry of the neighbourhood we ob-
served and other members of the direct' Wood, dtihreeevt
ao Rooney,rst;
direction, arrived ou the
Wt Godfrey, Bart.; Mr. Maurice_ O'Connell,
multitude.
A m o
Amongst
t
W. Denny,
M.P. ; Mr. M'Gilcuddy, of the Rocks;
Esq., &c.
The directors having ascended the platform erected on
the ground,
Mr. H. GIBiON read letters from Lord Headly, pro-
priqor of the soil, and other noblemen and gentlemen,
regretting their inability to attend; but 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 satisfied 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 aide 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
vas increased by their inspection of it since their
arrival, and the manner 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 dejeuner prepared on the ground, and the poor, to the
number of some thousands, 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.

A PRECOCIOUS CRIMINAL.
The Court of Assize of the Haute-Saone tried, a
few days ago, a noted bandit, named Pingand, whose
1 exploits have more than once been noticed in this
journal, ou the charge of robbery and assassination.
He is only 23 years of age, and is goodlooking. At
the age of 11 he ran away from home, and after
wandering about the country for some time, was
taken back by the gendarmerie. He subsequently,
however, again ran away, and became a vagabond.
At the age of 17 he was condemned, by the
Correctional Tribunel of Belfort, to imprison-
ment for robbery ; and a little later he was con-
demned, by the tribunal of Baume-les-Dames, to two
years' imprisonment, for the same offence. He was
sent to the central gaol of Clairvaux, and cn the ex-
' piration of his imprisonment was ordered to join the
2d Regiment of Light Infantry, for which he had
been drawn; but instead of that he returned home,
The gendarmerie were ordered to arrest him. Ha
thereupon began to scour the country, armed to
the teeth, committed numerous robberies, and loudly
threatened to kill the gendarmes who should
be sent to arrest him. Among the crimes specially
proved against him were a robbery of elite
ferent articles in a farm-house at Nivry-le-Bourg on
the 15th of April, 1851; the breaking into a house
and robbery of various things at Vergerone, on the
22d of July; two robberies, on the 30th of
July, at
would kill
St. Ferjeux; and a robbery in a farm-house at Herie
court. In addition it was proved that on the 10th of No-
vember, while engaged in thrashing corn with a miller
named Francois at Faymont, he suddenly ke. , and went to
himnocked
down Francois with his flail, and then, seizing
Prisoner followed.
hatchet, and,
such dreadful thr
the hair, pulled out a knigfesaitancadhdedianethrcoelamreisdedhe by
him if be would not consent to give hi
man,
his
wife against pas shoes, two
i, hshirts, i somefi e
d sto
millerc k i npgr
os
ha d
ainsd in
a pair
of
ten francs in
his houseagtnotdhg,reotauftgtheher ttthhhiene
things
against the miller,
were given
he seized a large
hhliannltcl:
that the poor
flight across the fields. 0 e, and daughter took to
entered the farm of a man February the 9th of February he
La Mercelle. He was an named Grandvoinet, at
a brace of pistolq, a
darmed with a musket and
Grandvoinet for havin n he threatened to kill
give him up to the endgi as he said, attempted to
be vowed that beg annes'
and, raising his musket,
them spoke mildl Would shoot him. But one of
promised yn
to him, and he, after some conver-
sation,sented to drink with not to injure them. He even con-
of the wall ith them, he remaining on one side
and the object of the
gendarme in Yon the other. The
s offering ' wine was to keep him ep him en-
gaged until their arrive ; but
after a
while comrades should
and
took
to
flight, making he perceived this,
against them.
dreadful menacesto
On the same day a person of
havinp. e day he boasted
declared
' tricked the gendarmes, and
that the day should not pass without his
killing one of them. A few hours after two other
gendarmes saw him and went in pursuit. Pingand
allowed them to approach to within a certain distance ;
when, raising his musket, he said, " Don't come
nearer—l had intended to kill your corporal,, but, as
he is not here, it must be one of you.' He shortly
after took flight to a wood, and the two gendarmes
followed. Seeing that oneof them was gaining ground
on him he fired right into his breast. The poor man,
' whose name was Dauphin, staggered, but did not fall,
and said to his comrade, " I am not dead yet and
will assist you." The wounded gendarme went to a
house and demanded assistance ; but such was the
terror Pingand inspired in the neighbourhood that
the people refused to receive him. The other gen-
darme tired at the bandit, but without effect, and
the latter escaped. The wounds of Dauphin were
very serious, though not mortal. The next day
riegand entered a farmhouse at Melieey, and, in
spite of the resistance of the farmer's wife, stole a
gun. On the Sth of March two gendarmes of
Belfort met him near Hericourt. They did not know
him, and asked him for his passport. "I am Pin-
gand,"
said he, " and the first who approaches me shall
die." At the same moment he raised his musket.
One of the gendarmes recommended him to surrender,
but he refused. " But to prove, however," said he,
" that I do not fear you, I offer you a bottle of beer."
The two gendarmes accepted it, and all three went to
a public-house. The prisoner insisted on
having the
doors kept open, and he preserved his arms in his
hands ; but he drank the beer with the gendarmes.
The latter, however, watched their o
seized him. They dragged him out PPortunity, and
public-
house. lie gave one a kick on
the ok of the
him stagger, and discharged his pistol
which made
face of the other, wounding hint pistol right in the
a ill the most horrible
way. The latter, however, drawing his sword,
wounded him severely. For a few seconds the prisoner
lost his senses from lots
of blood, but on recovering he
attempted to escape.
He was, however, captured.
The jury brought in
a verdict of guilty, but declared
there were extenuating circumstances, and the Court
condemned him to hard labour at the bagne for life.
—GaZignanes ill
essenger.