The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 1866.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 56, 9 May 1866, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 1866.

It is exceedingly probable that there exists in some of the gold-mining districts both of Australia and New Zealand an important source of wealth, which has hitherto been entirely overlooked. We allude to the decomposed felspar that is met with in many parts of the granitic formation, and which is of great value in tbe manufacture of the finer kinds of earthenware.

The preparation of this substance is an important industry in Cornwall, the geological formation of which county is strikingly analogous to that of many parts of the West Coast of New Zealand. Previous to 1755 all the " china clay," as it is called, which was used by the English potters was imported at great cost from China. In that year one William Cookworthy a Plymouth quaker discovered that it existed in considerable quantities in the counties of Devon aud Cornwall, and now these counties have become the great source from whence the English manufacturers derive their raw material ; it is even exported in considerable quantities to America. Every day during the summer season hundreds of carts laden with prepared and dried blocks of this substance may be seen in the neighborhood of St. Austell, wending their way to the little port of Par, which has been partly created by this trade, some idea of the value of which may be gathered from the fact, that during 1864 the quantity shipped was valued at over £130,000.

Probably the high rate of wages at present prevailing on the West Coast, will prevent this substance being worked at a profit, even should it be found to exist in large quantities. But as time will reduce the cost of living in that quarter, the rate of wages will also be lower, which will admit of many industries being carried on that are at present scarcely thought of.