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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5798, 29 October 1879, Page 3

The discovery of two metals is announced, named Samarium and Norwegian). Paradoxical as it may sound to speak of the finding and christening of a hitherto unknown metal before it has been either seen or handled, yet such is the case with Samarium. As happened in the instance of the metal Gallium, it has first become known to science by means of the spectrum analysis alone ; nor can it be doubted that in the verification of its existence by the senses it will in due time follow the same precedent. It is well known that by means of the characteristic rays which are seen in the luminous spectrum produced by the combustion of any substance it is possible to single out the known or unknown bodies which enter into the combination. As are the rays, such are the elements producing them. When rays are found answering to no substance already catalogued, the existence of some new body is naturally inferred from the fact. That was how Gallium was first brought to light, and now we have a like history for Samarium. hX. Lecocj de Boisbaudran, who has greatly distinguished himself by his researches in this branch of science, found, as he was examining a mineral known under the name of Samarkite, an emission of unfamiliar rays. He has inferred thence the existence in this mineral of a new - metal which he has accordingly