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-,--- -----_-----------.___.---PROFESSOR…

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TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRINCIPALITY.

SIlt B. HALL AND ROBYN DDU.

TO THE EDITOR Of THE PRINCIPALITY.

GORHAM v. THE BISHOP OF EXETER.

COMPANY OF COPPER MINERS IN…

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COMPANY OF COPPER MINERS IN ENGLAND. We regret to announce that the valuable property of this company is about to be offered for sale at the Auction Mart, on Friday, the '28i.li instant, by order of the trustees, under a mort- gage deed. Our readers will remember that, on the 17th July, 1849, the property was put up to auction, but on account of the difficulty of finding a purchaser, the sale was withdrawn. The mortgagees were then, as now, the Bank of England. For a long period great dissatisfaction has been expressed in the trade, on account of that influential and powerful corporation carrying on the Nvoi-ks and trading establishments of the Copper Miners' Company. The committee of shareholders, appointed at the annual meeting in April, 1819, finding all attempts to reconcile the different conflicting interests fruitless, prepared a bill for the amendment of the constitution of thecompany." By this they proposed to raise new capital, to obtain the works from the bank, and to commence operations de novo. One of the most important clauses of that bill was the appointment of aa emCient and inde- pendent audit, as to the want of that, in a great measure, they attributed the deplorable position of the company. After going through two readings, the bill was committed. The gentlemen, however, who sat on the committee, after five days' investi- gation, declared the preamble not proved, iatid, consequently, it was thrown out, and cannot be forward again this session. Thus, after fifteen mouths' arduous labour, through some technical deficiencies, the shareholders' committee find their hopes frus- trated, and their exertions negatived. The consequence of this is, no arrangement being possible to be entered into, the bank not wishing longer to hold the property, have determined to offer it for sale. The Mining Journal, after pointing out difficulties in the con- ditions of sale, which would prevent capitalists from purchasing, says: "In our humble opinion, the-wisest course that could be pursued is, th-,it,the;debeiitur preference,. and old shareholders should sink their several differences, and by a united effort, endeavour to effect such arrangements that the property could again revert to them, the original proprietors. We are aware that, however easy this suggestion is made, there will be considerable difficulty experienced in carrying it effectually out; but we are con- vinced, that if all parties were manfully to put their shoulders to;the wheel, an eqoitable and just arrangement might be promptly and efficaciously executed. The shareholders' com- mittee are at present powerless, and the whole concern is in a fix," and must be irretrievably lost, unless some decided and united measures are immediately taken. The ship is now among the breakers, and the crew in theii several copacities must use their exertions to preserve her her, or the whole will be a total wreck, engulphing all in ani common run. There i, no utlIty in past evil manage- maut.s, and fatal errors which c.uinot now be retrieved present that should be looked to, as without that there w: future for the Company of Copper Miners in England Wi' the exception of some of the great houses (and they WOLicl purchase under such conditions of sale), there are few men who would be so fool-hardy, single-handed, as to enter on so vast a speculation. Were the property divided, there might be some hopes of a purchaser as it is, the sale will cither be nominal, or it will be sacrificed at such a low rate, that nothing will return to the proprietors. The collieries consist of 4,050 acre3, and are situated in the Pennant rocks, in the South Wales coal basin— the strata between the Tormynydd and Golden seams being in thickness about 10 fathoms. In another portion of the Pennant rocks, two seams—the Wernpistell and the Wernddu —are worked by the company, in addition to several others this district is rich in blackband iron ore. The surfacelatlrls comprise about 1,4HI acres. The rentals of the different houses are iC5,735 per annum. The iron furnaces, which are furnished with coke ovens, 21'; capable of returning from 801 to 850 tons per week the iron miIl; 3,000 tons per month the tinplate works, 1,200 boxes per week the copper smelting works, 600 tons per week the copper rolling mills, 40 tons per week and the brickyard, 100,000 per week. At Oakwood, the furnaces are capable of turning out 160 tons per week; the rental and estimated value there, and at the Bryn, is E720 4s. per annum. There are about 17 miles of 4ft. 8-Jin. sur- face, 18 miles underground, and surface tram and colliery railways on the Cwm Avon property, 26 miles on the Oakwood, 14 miles on the Bryn estates, about 2,2.50 iron and wood trams, together with three locomotive engines. The dead rent for ironstone on the Oakwood leases are—ironstone, £ 300 coal, £ 1,350; the royalty, 6d. per ton. On the Bryn estate, the dead rent is £ 600 for coal and iron; the royalty, 6d. per ton. There are workmen's cottages, dwelling houses for agents, a villa residence for the superintendent, shops, market-place, establishments for worship, &e. Employment is given to a vast number of individuals and we can conceive no greater calamity to the surrounding districts than the stoppage of these works—their partial suspension being productive of the direst distress and we trust that all concerned will see the necessity of a vigorous effort to rescue them from the impending ruin which appears to menace, if »not their existence at least their well-being.

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