The Evening Star. FRIDAY, AUGUST 26,1870.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2279, 26 August 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star. FRIDAY, AUGUST 26,1870.

Dr. Hector’s examination was continued on the 23rd of July, when he was questioned as to the prospects of the existence of other minerals than gold in the Colony. As the next in commercial value, the Committee asked what prospect there is of silver being obtained. In reply, he stated that native silver has been found in Otago, Nelson, and at the Thames, combined with lead and gold. On a previous day, speaking of the Colville goldfields, in the North Island, he said—“ The “ peculiarity of the Colville gold- « fields is the large percentage of silver « which the gold contains ; and in u other countries this has been the fre- “ quent indication that the mines will “ eventually turn into silver mines at « greater depth,” He expresses the further opinion that there are many parj;s of New Zealand where he should ■expect silver to be discovered, but that the probable quantity could only be determined by actual mining. With regard to tin, he said—“ Only yesterday (July 22nd) the'first trace of tin •** was discovered in black sand from ** the upper part of the Duller River.

“ In that neighborhood there is a pecu- “ liar took'which indicates the presence f‘ of tin ore, the hj discovery of which “.about 'six months ago led me to “ recommend a search for tin. The “ same characteristic rock exists on the “ West Coast of Otago.” Dr. Hector does not describe nor name the rock, which however is no doubt well known to any Cornish miners who may happen to be in the Colony. Our readers are generally aware that tin is not so widely distributed as many other metals, and is found in comparatively few countries. The principal tin-pro-ducing countries are Cornwall, Galicia, Saxony, Bohemia ; Malacca, Chinn, and Banca, in Asia. Describing its com-

binations, a scientific writer says—- “ Tin occurs in two states of combina- “ tion, the peroxide and double sul- “ phuret of tin and copper : this last “ is rather a rave substance, and it is “ from the former that the metal is

“ almost entirely obtained. The per- “ oxide of tin is found in Cornwall in “ two forms :—l. In veins in primitive “ countries, where it is intimately “ mixed with several other metals as “ arsenic, copper, zinc, and tungsten : “ this is common tinstone." The second form is what is termed “ stream-tin “ loose rounded masses, grains, or sand

“in alluvial soil.” “ Tin ores are pecu- “ liar to primitive rocks, generally in “ granite, either in veins or beds, mid “ often associated with copper and iron « pyrites.” We mention these fow particulars in order that they may aid in the discovery of so valuable a metal, should any of those who see this article happen in the course of their labors to come across rocks having the characteristics indicating the presence of tin. In regard to copper, Dr. Hector tells us that it has been found “ associated “ with the metamorphic rocks of “ Otago.” At Waipori there is a fourfoot lode of sulphide of copper, “ toler- “ ably solid ” as far as it has been traced. It has not been worked, as it could not compete with the goldfields. Carbonate of copper has been found in the same neighborhood. “The “ district is one where quartz reefs and “ irregular deposits containing cinnabar “ have been discovered ; and on the “ north and south line in the same “ place indications of s#Veral other “ mineral lodes have been found. At “ Wakatipu Lake, another strong lode “of copper pyrites has been found << associated with carbonate and native “ copper. It was here that the native “ silver was found, and where seveial “ quartz reefs in the same district con- “ tain gold. On the West Coast of “ Otago, at Charles Sound, there is a “ copper-bearing lode associated with ■“ granite rock, and also at Milford “ Sound and several other points indi- ■“ cations of the presence of copper “ mines have been observed. I con- “ sider the south-west district of Otago “as probably remuneratively metal- “ liferous.” Here we have a pretty tolerable catalogue of mineral wealth lying untouched in the Province. Gold, silver, 'tin, and copper get-at-able in payable quantities, and complaints of men unemployed ! But the list is not completed.