The Sun.
London, England, 1845-09-30 00:00:00

NEW ZEALAND STATISTICS.

The following extracts are from a lately published
work on " New Zealand," by a Mr. Brown, and inserted
in the New Zealand Journal :
"To the speculator and man of large capital, New
Zealand presents at this moment the most tempting pros-
pects, almost too much so for his prudence to withstand.
"Already two copper mines in the neighbourhood of
Auckland have been opened, and the results are in the
highest degree satisfactory, ore being obtainable of the
best quality, and at so trifling an expense, that
there are no accounts of mines in any other
part of the word in this respect to be com-
pared with them. In fact, the operation can-
not be termed mining at all—it is only quarry-
ing and blasting, the ore being almost at the very sur-
face. Some idea of the facility of procuring the ore may
be formed from the fact, that miners are at present work-
ing one of the mines referred to, and have undertaken to
produce the ore, properly cleaned and sorted,
fit for shipment, at the rates of 4L per ton for the third
quality, 61. for the second, and 81. for the finest ; and at
these rates there is every appearance of their realising a
small fortune for themselves in the course of two years,
for which period it is understood their contract extends.
They would realise enormous Rages at the lowest rate
of 4/. for all qualities, if the ore continues to be procured
as easily as hitherto. About ten or twelve men, in the
course of six weeks, actually quarried out sixty tons,
thirty of which were shipped to Sydney, and thirty tons
to England. Nor is the ore of an ordinary quality ; the
analysis of some samples from the mine referred to
shows upwards of 50 per cent. of pure copper.
" Manganese is equally abundant, and is found within
15 miles of Auckland. Considerable quantities have
already been shipped to England, some of which has re-
alised 71. per ton. The expense of quarrying this has
been 10s. per ton.
" Many places on the coast, both northward to the Bay
of Islands, and southward towards the East Cape, afford
indications both of copper and manganese ; and it may
easily be supposed that the utmost eagerness is manifested
to become the fortunate purchaser of these mines.
While the obstructions to the free purchase of lands
continued, no one even thought of taking the trouble to
look for these treasures ; but now that the natives are
permitted to dispose of their lands, there scarcely passes
a week without a party setting off in some direction, on a
voyage of discovery,
" The very natives have become infected with the
mania, and are nearly as expert judges of copper or man-
ganese as the settlers, and may be seen going about with
fragments of stone and bodies of nitric acid, for the pur-
pose of testing its composition, They serve to keep the
settlers in a perpetual excitement, by pretending to have
discovered copper or manganese upon their lands, and no
little money is spent in fruitless expeditions to prove the
fact. In some cases, the eagerness of the settlers outruns
their prudence, and they are induced, by the solicitations
of the natives, to purchase land before seeing it, fearing
some more reckless speculator may otherwise secure the
prize ; but it is needless to say that they are almost sure
of losing their money, as the specimen of the ore shown
to them has, in all probability, been taken from the mines
at the Great Barrier, or from the island of Kawau. Tho
natives seem to discover, with singular acuteness, the
weak points in the character of the person they are deal-
ing with, and never fail to work upon them with great
dexterity. Where knowledge is equal on both sides,
the settlers are no match for the natives in buying and
selling, as the latter concentrate, in the smallest affair,
their whole soul, and never lose sight of their own inte-
rest for a moment.

" Besides copper and manganese, tin, lead, and nickel
are reported to have been discovered. Coal abounds in
various places on the Middle Island; it has also been seen
near Manakao, and indications of it are to be met with near
the Bay of Islands, but no mine has yet been opened
on the North Island. A shaft was sunk at Mauharangi,
(near the Kawau copper mine), but having been under-
taken by a person without means, the work was aban-
doned, after sinking about eighty feet. Rock salt has been
discovered in the neighbourhood of Mercury Bay ; and
alum and nitre near the medicinal springs at the Roturua
lakes. Sulphur is found in vast quantities, about the
East Cape, and has already been shipped to England,
though it did not, it is believed, realise a good price ; but
sulphur, of a very superior description, has lately been
discovered, in purity nearly equal to the rolled sulphur
of commerce. Specimens of this article hare been sent
to England in the Boling. Various other minerals have
been found, but are less worthy of notice, as they do nut
appear to be available at present as exports."

Tu IVES.—No pilchards have,
been seen from the hills duringthe week. Mackerel are very
plentiful on the coast, but the weather has prevented the
boats from driving. Two boats went out on Tuesday night,
and caught about 2,000 each, which were sold at 12s. per
120. FOWEY.—Very few fish have been taken here this
week.— West Briton,