The Sun.
London, England, 1854-09-11 00:00:00

70 fold are common returns of its cereal .produce,
whereas in Zwartland (called the granary of the colony)
12 to 15 fold are reckoned good returns.
For several months in the year good grazing is also to
be had for cattle and sheep, except in very dry eeasons.
Water, it is true, is scarce, and generally bad, but, as
above stated, it is almost everywhere to be obtained, of
good quality, by digging to a small depth. Many fa-
vourable sites are also to be had for dams or tanks, which
will doubtless be appropriated for that purpose when the
country becomes sufficiently populated.
When a beer has from 30,000 to 40,000 acres of land,
as is now commonly the case, little improvement can
be expected. Let the farms be cultivated and the mines
opened, and it will be found that Namaqualand contains
more real wealth than the whole colony put together ;
for I have little doubt that all the country from the
Olifant's River to the Orange River abounds in mineral
wealth, and only wants to be thoroughly explored to
deyelopeits riches.

One of the greatest drawbacks to Namaqualand is the
intense heat of summer, with the present scarcity and
badness of the water. Some parts of the country, such
as the Bushman Flats, for instance are entirely aban-
doned in the summer for want of water, till the rains
fall, when the boers (as above-mentioned) immediately
trek thither.

The general physical appearance of the country is, on
the whole, not unlike that of the neighbourhood of Cape
own, only the mountains of the former are granite and
gneiss, while the latter are clay slate and sandstone ;
still we have the same ranges of mountains running
parallel to the coast, with the same sandy plains inter-
vening.

Without some grand improvements in the roads the
mining companies never can advance. Hundreds of
tons of ore are now lying at the different mines, which
the proprietors cannot get conveyed to the coast at any
price.
The distance from Hondeklip Bay to Kamaggas is be-
tween thirty and forty miles, the whole being a nearly
level sandy flat. To make this plain available for easy
transport, one line of tramway for horse traction might
be laid down on the most economical principles lately
introduced into England and America. To effect this
desirable object the different mining companies should
engage a company in England to lay down• the tra►n-
way, each insuring the said company a certain number
of loads per annum, which they could very easily do, as
soon as they had opened a small portion of their mineral
quarries.
. _

Tne tramway might, in time, be extended to " Spek-
takel," where a good road can be made up the mountain
to " Springbok," or along the " Shaap River," towards
Conc‘,rdia," both of which lines are central for the
mining districts.

When these improvements are effected, the transport
would not amount to one-third of its present price, and
much valuable ore which is now thrown away would
become available for exportation.
Many improvements may also be made in the manner
of shipping the ore at Hondeklip Bay, and in the cha-
racter of the craft employed in that trade ; but those
matters I shall leave to nautical .men, who understand
them better than I do.
Trusting that the above sketch and suggestions may
be of some public utility, I have, &c.,
(Signed) A. G. BAIL
The Honourable the Colonial Secretary.

To his Honour Charles Darling, Esq., administrator
of the government of the Cape of Good Hope, &c.
Th• memorial of the undersigned merchants, land-
owners, and others connected with and interested in the
proper development of the mineral resources of that
part of the colony, lying between the Koussu of Buffalo
and the Orange River, commonly known by the name of
Little Namaqualand, humbly showeth-
-Ist. That from information received through parties
who have visited the locality alluded to, a portion of
your Honour's memorialists, some eighteen months ago,
became convinced of the fact that copper ore in abun-
dance existed in that quarter, and, with a view of placing
the matter beyond doubt, incurred considerable expense
in sending expeditions to examine the locality, and to
ascertain the expediency of working and turning to ac-
count the mineral riches of the country. Each succeeding
investigation having, in the opin.on of your memorialists,
tended greatly to increase the importance of the subject,
and some of your memorialists having determined upon
commencing operations, leases were applied for and
granted by the colonial government on terms nearly
simlar to those under which copper mines have been,
and are now being, worked in the Australian colonies,
which terms and regulations were published in the Go-
vernmen: Gazette of this colony, under date of 13th
September, 1853.
2d. That by virtue of such leases, and under such re-
gulations, a portion of your memorialists have already
opened several rich lodes of copper ore, and have proved
beyond doubt that mining operations would be highly
profitable, were it not for the almost insurmountable
difficu.ties in getting the produce 04 the mines conveyed
to the port of shipment. The distance of the mineral
deposits from the sea coast, the bad state of the roads to
be travelled over, which, with increased traffic, will become
altogether impassable, the extreme scarcity of labour,
and, above all, the miserable and desert character of the
country—all combine to render the transit of ore from
the mines to the sea not only a most arduous task, but
attended with expense which may justly be termed enor-
inoas and unwarrantable. •

3d. That in the opinion of your Honour's memorialists,
the most effectual mode of overcoming the foregoing ob-
stacles, and of developing and turning to profitable ac-
count the mineral trea-ures of the country, would be
the construction of a railway or,tromway, from Hondek-
lip Bay (the place of export) to a central position in
the vicinity of the mines, the terminus of which could
be made easily approachable by the formation of common
roads from a large number of the centres already leased
from the Colonial Governinant. The capital which
would be required to construct such means of communi-
cation would be very considerable and difficult to raise
within the limits of this colony ; but your' memorialists
have little doubt of their being able to get the requisite
funds advanced by English capitalists, provided sufficient
advantages were offered for investment of money in the
scheme.

4th. That the great drawback against your memo-
ri,dists either investing their own funds, or obtaining the
necessary means from other sources, for the formation
of the railroad or tramway alluded to, is the shortness
of the leases, under which the mines are at present held,
the early expiry of which would, in all probability, pre-
vent the shareholders from receiving that fair remunera-
tion which, under different circumstances, might be
justly calculated upon as a return for the investment of
their capital. Your memorialists, therefore, beg re-
spectfully to draw your Honour's particular attention to
this point, and trust that, with your sanction, the Colo-
nial Government will, on due consideration, see the ex-
pediency of removing, as far as possible, the obstacles
which at present exist in the way of carrying out a plan
of such importance to the welfai e and prosperity of the
mining district, and of the colony at large.
sth. That to obviate the difficulties above alluded to,
and to place your memorialists and the public in a posi-
tion to carry into execution the improvements contem-
plated, with a reasonable prospect of ultimate remunera-
tion, it is respectfully suggested that the Government
should adopt one of the two following propositions,
which, according to the ideas of your memorialists,
would tend greatly to he removal of the serious objec-
tions which at the present moment oppose the project.
1. That the term of the present leases should be ex-
tended from 15 to 99 years, or in freehold on the pay-
ment of 15 years' rent, on the same terms as those under
which they are now granted, on condition that the lessees
form, or cause to be formed, a tramway or railroad for a
distance of at least 40 miles, in the direction alluded to
in paragraph three of this memorial, it being understood
that such crown lands as may be required for the for-
mation of the said road shall be granted free from ex-
pense by the Colonial Govertaa,mt ; and, on the other
hand, that a reasonable rate of carriage per ton shall be
fixed for the conveyance of ore belonging to parties not
having shares or otherwise interested in the scheme.
2. That, otherwise, the Colonial Government shall
take upon itself the task of making the said railroad,
charging either a reasonable fixed rate of carriage on the
ore, &c., conveyed along the line, or be paid a certain
per tentage, in the shape of export duty, on each ton of
ore passing through the port of shipment.
Gth. That convinced as your Ho Ames memorialists
are of the great importance of the mineral deposits of
Little Namaqualand, and of the advantages which would
accrue to the colony by the riches of that county being
developed, they venture to express a hope that your
Honour will kindly give the subject early attentior, and
if possible recommend to the approaching Parliament
the necessity of taking some steps towards the realisation
of the project referred to in this memorial.
7th. In conclusion, your Honour's memorialists have
to remark that there are other important matters con-
nected with Namaqualand, and highly essential to the
prosperity and welfare of that district, such as the esta-
blishment of a seat of magistracy, regular postal commu-
nication, &e., which will probably be made the subject
of a future memorial.
And your memorialists, as in duty bound, will ever
pray.
(Signed) PRINce, COLLISON, and Co., JOHN KING,
A. CHlArafsa and Co., HAMILTON Ross and Co., and
forty others.

Colonial-office, 12th July, 1854.

Gentlemen,—l am directed by the Lieutenant-Go-
vernor to acknowledge the receipt of a meim•rial which
he received from you on the 22d ultimo upon the subject,
mainly, of the construction of a railroad or tramway
from the mines of Namaqualand to the sea coast, and
alleging the necessity of an extension of the terms of
the• present leases for mining lands in that part of the
colony.
. His Honour has given the subject of your memorial
full consideration, with the advantage of such informa-
tion as he has been able to collect from various sources.
There seems to be no doubt that the value of the
mineral deposits of the district is very great, arid that it
far surpasses any idea which had been formed of it, when
the regulations under which the present system is iu
operation were established.
It must be observed that these regulations were in-
tended to stimulate explorations and enterprise, with a
view to the development of unascertained natural wealth,
rather than give the colony at large all the benefit which
it ought to derive from the undoubted existence of that
wealth, upon a scale calculated greatly to increase its
revenues, while leaving ample and even extraordinary
profits to individual enterprise.
Admitting, therefore, the disadvantages under which
the lessees of these lands labour with respect ti transport
to the coast, yet, as it is calculated from data placed be-
fore the Government, that the ore can be raised arid
brought to sale in England under all the existing
vantages, at an average cost of about 131. a ton, while
its gross value per ton may be estimated at from 301. to
401. Ilia Honour cannot think that any assiltaaco

frorre,Government or from the revenue of the colony ,ran
be requisite for the construction of a rail or tramway
which is contemplated.
Still less can his Honour believe that with such pro-
spects of profitable investment any prolongation of tha
leases beyond the period of fifteen years upon the pre-
sent terms, can he essential in order to obtain the neces-
sary aid from capitalists in the mother country ; hut he
conceives, on tie contrary, that the course which jus-
tice to the colony requires would rather he, to release
from their engagements such of the present holders of
leases as may within the first twelve months furnish
their diagrams to Government, who are dissatisfied with
their prospects, and to put up their leases to public
competition, subject to their being reimbursed by the
new lessee for any improvement's or buildh,gs which
they may have already made.
By this course his Honour believes that much larger
rents would be obtained than those which are at present
paid to Government, even with the full knowledge on
the part of the new lessees that they would have to con-
struct the tramroad without the direct intervention of
Government, and with a probability that a portion of
tneir profits will be arrested as a contribution to the
public revenue, either by way of export duty or such
other mode as the Legislature may determine upon.
It is possible, however, that the Legislature may be
disposed to guarantee a loan for the purpose of con-
structing a train or railroad, and his Honour proposes
to bring the subject generally under their consideration,
by placing before them such documents as the Govern-
ment possesses, calculated to give information as
to the nature of the operations carrying on, and likely
to be prosecuted, in the district, and to apply for the
necessary provision for a magisterial establishment and
other local officers in the district. The precise nature
of these measures must, however, in a great degree,
depend upon the nature of the report which the
Lieutenant-Governor may receive from the surveyor-
general, who is about shortly to proceed to the
district.

Arrangements for extending postal communication
into the district are likewise in- progres,.—l have, &c.,
(Signed) RAWSON W. RAWSON, Colonial Secretary.
To Messrs. Prince, Coilison, and C ).,
E. Chiappini, J. King, and others.

Cape Town, July 10, 1854.
Sir,—l am instructed by the directors of the South
African Mining Company to enclose the within memo-
rial (adclressed to his Honour tho Lieutenant-Governor)
to you, and request the favour of your laying the same
before him at your earliest convenience.—Your obedient
servant,

R. CLARENCE, Secretary.
The Hon. Rawson W. Rawson, Esq.,
Secretary to Government.

Cape Town, 28th June, 1854.
The memor;al of the undersigned merchants, land-
owners, and others connected with and interested in
the proper development of the mineral resources of
that part of the colony known as Little Nainaqualand,
choweth

That a large tract of land lying on the borders of the
Orange River, in the vicinity of Missionary Drift,
having been • lately explored by agents of the South
African Mining Company, and several private indi-
viduals, residents of this colony, is found to contain great
mineral riches, especially copper ore, to an extent which
appears almost inexhaustible.

That in pursuance of the terms and regulAtions which
were published in the Government Gazette of the 13th
September, 1853, a p rtion of your memurialists have
already opened. several lodes of copper ore ; but they
have found almost insurmountable difficulties in the way
of a profitable prosecution of their labours. The great
distance, of from fifty to eighty miles, the copper ore
must be carried for shipment, through a country desti
tute of roads, where little vegetation exists, and so barren
that no annuals can subsist for the greater part of the
year, except on forage obtained from a distance—these,
with the extreme scarcity of 14mr combine to render the
transit of ore not only a must arduous work, but in cost
excessively great.

That, in the opinion of your Honour's memorialistß,
the most effectual mode of overcoming the foregoing ob-
stacles would be the construction of a tramway or hard
road, from the mines to the place of export at Home-
wood's Bay, an undertaking which would absorb a vast
amount of capital, and which could not be expected to be
entered upon unless a fair remuneration was guaranteed
for the investment.

That the great drawback against your memorialists
either investing their own funds or obtaining the ne-
cessary means from other sources for the formation of the
tramway or road alluded to, is the shortness of the leases
under which the mines are at present held, which would
prevent a sufficient amount of success being held out to
those interested as an encouragement to the investment
of their capital, and would, i:r tact, be a most formidable
obstacle to entering upon anything permanent or satis-
factory.

That to remove the difficulty it is respectfully su,;-
gested to your honour that the term of lease to be ex-
tended to a period of 33 years, instead of 15 years as at
present held, with the power of renewal from time to
time, while the works are actually being carried on ; or
instead of the lease of 33 years, that the grants be con-
verted into freehold, on payment of 15 years' rent, or
whatever else the Government may think fair or reason-
able under the present circumstances ; and further, that
provision be made, so that leases may he transfLrable.
It would then afford holders an opportunity, by
making exchanges, to bring their property nearer to
one spot, all at present having them scattered over a
large surface as their discoveries have chanced to be
opened.

That it would be a great advantage to the lease-
holders that a commissioner should be appointed to
visit the district for the purpose of correeily survey-
ing the country and acertaining the correctness of the
centres as laid down and applied for, the establishment
of a seat of magistracy, regular postal communication,
&c.

That, convinced as your Honour's memorialists are of
the great importance of the mineral deposit 3 of Little
Namaqualand, and of the advantages which would ac-
crue to the colony by the riches of that country being
developed, they venture to express a hope that your
Honour will give the subject early att •ntion by re-
commending it to the approachin..:- Parliament or other-
wise, so that no time may be lost in taking some steps
towards the realisation of the project referred to i❑ this
memorial.

And your memorialists, &c.,
J. LETTERSTEDT,
Chairman of the South African Mining Company.
By order of the Board of Directors, C. IG. H. Mining
Company—Ewan Chri,tian, Acting Secretary. Wni.
Homewood, L. P. Cauvin. John Reid, J. M. Wentzel,
Geo. Thompson, Geo. C. D lil. IVlellinabl, Busk and
Co.; Thomas Rudd, pro E. J. Jerram, J. Letterstedt,
holders of mineral lea,es in the vicinity
To his Honour Charles Henry li;irling, Esq., Ad-
ministrator of the Government of the Cape of Good Hope,

Colonial•of)ice, 15th July, 1854.

Sir,--I am directed by the Lieutenant Governor to
acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 10th inst.,
enclosing a memorial from several merchants, landowners,
and others connected with, and interested in, the develop-
ment of the mineral resources of Little Namaqualand.
The subject of this representation having been al-
ready before his Honour in a memorial, of a very
similar nature, from a numerous body of gentlemen
concerned in the same enterprise, his Honour has come
to the conclusion that, upon the showing of the
parties interested in these mineral lands, there is
no sufficr;:i.t ground for believing that an ex-
tension of the present leases, which were granted for the
purpose of encouraging the discovery and exploration, of
mineral wealth in this remote part of the colony, rather-
than for the working of fields of ore which have proved
to be so rich and accessible, is necessary either to induce
parties to embark in these highly promising undertak-
ings, or to advance funds for the construction of every
facility which will be found necessary for their develop-
ment and successful prosecution.
It also app,ars to his Honour that the Legislature
might justly curiplain if, before it has had an opportunity
of pronouncing its opinion upon the manner in which
this newly-discovered wealth may be best turned to the
general interest of the colony, the Government should
anticipate its action, and fetter its arrangements, by any
extension of the present exploring leases.— I have, &c.,
(Signed)
RiwsoN W. RAWSON. C 'lonial Secretary.
Richard Clarence, Esq., Secretary to the
S. A. Mining Company.

THE PORT OF HARWICH. —Thii ancient and once
flourishing seaport seems destined to revive again, and
to share with its various competitors the increasing com-
mercial traffic between this country and the continent
of Europe. On Saturday next the first of a fleet of
steamers, belonging to the North of Europe Steam
Navigation Company, will commence running between
Harwich and Antwerp. The traveller will be landed
at the latter port within twelve hours after leaving
London.

[ADVERTISEMENT.]—Her Majesty's Royal Letters Patent for
valuable and extraordinary improvements in the most power-
ful and brilliant Telescopes, Camp, Race-course, Opera, and
Perspective Glasses(glazed with Muffle German Glass), to know
the distances of objects viewed through them —of great im-
portance to the army, navy, ant others. Messrs. S. and R.
Solomons, opticians, 3:4, Albemarle street, Piccadilly. Ob-
serve—opposite the York Hotel.— These telescopes possess
such extraordinary powers that some 3.1 inches, with an ex-
tra eye-pieco, will show distinctly Jupiter's moons, Saturn's
ring, and the double stars ; with the same telescope can be
seen a person's countenance three miles and a half distant,
and an object from 12 to 14 miles. They are of larger and all
sizes, with increasing powers accordingly.—The Royal Ex-
hibition, 1851.—Valuable, newly-invented, very small,
powerful waistcoat-pocket glass, the sizeof a walnut, by which
a person can be seen and known 1? miles distant ; they answer
every purpose on the race-course and at the opera houses,
country scenery, and ships are Clearly seen at 8 to 10 miles.
They are invaluable for shooting, deer-stalking, yachting, to
sportsmen, gentlemen, gamekeepers, and tourists. Opera,
race-course, camp, and perspective glasses, with wonderful
power ; an object can be clearly seen from 10 to 12 miles
distant. Spectacle Lenses of the greatest transparent power.
The valuable adva‘lage derived front this invention is, that
vision becoming impaired is preserved and strengthened, and
very aged persons are enabled to employ their sight at the most
minute occupation—can see with these lenses of a much less mag-
nifying power—and they do not require the frequent changes
to the dangerous effects of further powerful assistance. Deaf-
ness—New Discovery.—The Organic Vibrator, an extraordi-
nary powerful, small, newly-invented instrument for deafness,
entirely different from all others, to surpass anything of the
kind that has been, or probably ever can be, produced.
Being of the same colour as the skin, is not perceptible ; it
enables deaf persons to hear distinctly at church and at
public assemblies ; the unpleasant sensation of singing noises ,
iu the ears is entirely removed ; and it affords all the assist.,
ante that possibly could be desired,-39, Albemarle-etreet,
Piccadilly. Observe— opposite the York Hotel.