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REPORT OF DR. HECTOR TO THE ROYAL COMMISSION OF THE N. Z. EXHIBITION.

(Prom the Southland Times, Sept, 23.) The report of Dr. Hectoe to the Royal Commission of the New Zealand Exhibition is one of the most interesting documents we have for some time had the pleasure of perusing. It contains a mass of information and suggestions which is intrinsically valuable, apart from the immediate object for which it was compiled. But well as Dr. Hectoe has done the work he took in hand, he regrets that his want of time prevented him from making a more searching examination into the resources of the various Provinces. The first settlement Dr. Hectoe visited was Marlborough, which has recently begun to assume a more important position than formerly, owing to the gold discoveries in the Wakamarina. The Province possesses five timber, and the deepwater sounds afford great facilities for shipment. Dr. Hectoe was assured that great exertions would be made to represent Marlborough to advantage at the Exhibition. The principal articles will be timber, maps of the Province, native implements, and manufactures, _ samples of gold, and other minerals. Marlborough is, however, small, and the space she will require in the Exhibition Building will not be very great. Dr. Hectoe visited Havelock, and thence proceeded to the Wakamarina Valley, which he describes as about the same size as the Cardrona Valley. The number of miners at work he places at about 1,000. The ground is very "patchy." Of the geological formation Dr. Hectoe says it is newer than that of the great goldfields of Otago. The auriferous country extends southward to the Buller Diggings and, as gold has been found at several points on the West Coast of Canterbury, he considers it probable that it is continued throughout the length of the island ; and, judging from what he subsequently saw at Wellington and Coromandel, it may also run through the North Island. From Marlborough Dr. Hectoe proceeded to Nelson, following the valley of the Pelorus, and crossing the Mongatapu Hill, which is described as the " backbone or axis of elevation of the whole island." The Dun Mountain lies a few miles to the southward of the track, of which Dr. Hectoe says:— " The labor expended on it, and the " engineering skill and enterprise dis- '• played in the bridges, which have been " constructed across small difficult but " romantic gorges, speak highly for the " enterprising spirit of the Nelson col- " onists. The Mongatapu is 2,800 feet in " height, but the care with which the line " of road has been chosen renders the " ascent extremely gentle, at least from " the east. That to the west is neces- " sarily more abrupt. I allude to this " " Bridle Eoad," as in the cuttings, " which have been made in the alternations " of slates, serpentine and trap rocks, one " of the most interesting geological sec- " tions that I have seen in New Zealand, " occurs. There are many spots also " where a practical miner would be " inclined to turn aside and search for " valuable metal ores with some hope of " success." Further on the road is cut into " solid limestone rock of the " finest quality, alternating with slabs " that would be invaluable as pay- " ing stones." The Dun Mountain tramway runs through a similar formation, so that the expenses attending shipment would be very small. The Dun Mountain Company have a kiln at an altitude of 2,000 feet, and plenty of fuel. The Nelson people are very heartily co-operating with the Commissioners, and as the Province is, perhaps, the richest in the Colony in mineral resources, it will probably stand first on the list for its exhibits in that class. The Nelson contributions will consist of specimens, plans, sections, and sketches, West Coast coal, copper, chrome, iron, gold, plumbago, lead, and other ores, various tinted marbles, rock and other specimens from Dun mountain, Massacre Bay coal, limestones, flag and building stones, roofing slates, etc. There will also be specimens of timber. The mining and engineering works of the Province will' be ; illustrated by excellent maps and plans. From the Wairau will be sent woods and grain. Altogether, from what Dr. Hectoe tells us, Nelson bids fair to occupy, at least second or third place in the" Exhibition. ; A melancholy contrast to the prosperity of the Middle Island is .to be. found at Taranaki. With ruined settlers,. and the country unsafe to traverse a few*

miles from the town, it was not to be expected that she would, be able to make any preparations for the Exhibition: Theonly thing which will be sent is a specimen of black sand, and some articles made from it. A stronger commentary on the aspersions of the English Press could scarcely be read. The colonists are said to be barbarously murdering the natives and takingpossession of the lands ; but at Taranaki, we find a once nourishing settlement all but destroy ed ; its lands in the hands of the Maoris, and no. immediate prospect of their recovery. In Auckland, Dr. Hectoe found very little done, but a great deal promised, and, as- the work was actually commenced and much energy displayed, it may be hoped the Metropolitan Province will be found equal to the occasion. A large number of articles of native manufacture' ! have been promised by. His Excellency the Governor. Whilst in the Province of Auckland, our traveller visited Coromandel, and gives us a little useful information of this gold district. The precious metal was first found at Coromandel, in 1852, but the place was not systematically worked till ten years had elapsed; The geological formation is said to be similar to that of the Grass Valley District in California, and "Wood's P,oint in Australia. There is very little alluvial drift, and the gold in the river bed was quickly exhausted. Coromandel is " a " most delightful district, bordering on " a land-locked harbor, where, owing to " the facilities for procuring food, if gold " were plentiful, a digger's life would be j " luxurious." At first, several' towns i I were laid out, and land readily j bought, but now the population is only i about 300 whites and 340 Maoris. The reefs have yielded during the last two j t years 8,422 ounces. Two companies produced 7,800 ounces of that amount. One of those companies has divided j £11,050 ; no calls having been made. The j expenses, which amounted to £3,000, were paid out of the yield. "Whatever exertions Auckland may make in order to occupy a conspicuous position at the Exhibition, the cause which has prevented Taranaki from contributing, will I also operate on her, though in a less ! degree. Dr. Hectoe alludes to the presence of the troops as having caused " all " trade, more or less, to be diverted from " the usual channels," and to the fact that "so much work was being done " under contracts that there would be " great difficulty in inducing exhibitors to ! " come forward." The carriage of goods 1 from the distant places on the coast 1 will also be no easy matter, as all the coasting vessels are taken up by the Commissariat. A part of the Province is altogether closed to Europeans by the war. Auckland, therefore, is laboring under very heavy disadvantages, which will make it the more creditable should she succeed in fairly filling a considerable space with productions worth exhibiting. Dr. Hectoe suggests that the cabinetmakers of Auckland, who are noted as clever workmen, and who have first-class materials to operate on, should contribute. He also mentions that several j ! machines for dressing native flax have been invented in the Province, which might be profitably brought under the notice of the public. Besides the above, Auckland can exhibit coals, freestones, j marbles, limestones, cements, and useful clays. With regard to the exhibition of maps and plans, Dr. Hectoe says : — " The subject of the representation of the " state of the surveys, &c, by the exhibi- " tion of maps and plans, was suggested, "but the land system appears so com- " plicated, and the results of the General " Government surveys so confused with " those proper to the Provincial Govern- " ment, while, owing to the pressure on " account of the war, the departments are " so overworked at present that no special " maps can probably be prepared. Some " excellent unpublished maps are, how- " ever, in the possession of the Govern" ment, the exhibition of which would be " a very great boon indeed." From Auckland Dr. Hectoe went to Hawkes' Bay. The principal exhibits of that Province will be wools, rocks, fossil remains from tertiary strata, woods, maps, plans, sketches, photographs, and articles of native manufacture. At Wellington, a very good local committee has been appointed, and the Province will not be allowed to be in the back-ground. She will exhibit wool, timber, and agricultural products. " A " valuable collection of articles from the " New Zealand Society will also be sent — " maps, plans of proposed harbor improve- " ments, lighthouses, and Other engineer- " ing works, water-color and other " sketches illustrating New Zealand " scenery, and articles of native manu- " facture, and curiosities. The exhibition " of a New Zealand built steam-engine " will probably be a unique and most " interesting contribution." Our Canterbury friends are, as usual, showing us the way to do things. Dr. Hectoe thinks that she will " contribute " evidence of greater enterprise and ad- " vancement than any other Province in " New Zealand. The geological strata, " and the mineral resources of the Pro-' " vince,.are to be fully illustrated by most " elaborate maps, sections,- and collections " both of scientific and economic interest, " Maps and plans, showing the system of " survey, and land sales, proposed railway, "road, and telegraphic routes:;- topo- " graphical features of the country j har- " bor improvements, architectural designs " for public buildings, are to be furnished ;' " also specimens of lithography and en-; "graving." There will also .be a; display ■ of wools, and many articles both of colonial and English manufacture. ■""• "-' Altogether Dr. Hectoe speaks highly of the present exertions of the local committees j but in no case have their preparations been begun sufficiently soon to enable' the respective Provinces to be fairly represented.' Although this is the case it was nowhere suggested to Dr. Hectoe that the time for sending in exhibits should be extended, nor, on the whole, do we think it would be advisable. •- ; " r Amongst a number of suggestions which'

; were - made to" Dr. Slectojlj during. Wk' itour, we may mention one made in Can* terbury. It JB":prbposed. T to" establish a ; pefma^ent ; B6ciel^j : r)3ii r ar;BbmewKat'similai? footing to the' British Association—-" Eor l"**,.tiie; advancement of sciencej for the " purpose of securing communication, and* "promoting discussion on subjects c of " general and scientific interest, and that. " the first meeting should be held, ' in:. " Dunedin during the time that the OBx- " hibition Was open." ;. ••■ -}.-.j-x :: i It was signified to Br. Hector that" Sir Q-eoege Gtbet expected to open the Exhibition in person. If such should; be the case, it is to be hoped that His ' Excellenc- will pay thia Province a visit previous to his return, to Aucldatid; Such a visit would-be of great benefit to Southland in a variety of ways. The last point touched : J? upon ...by.. Dr. Hectob are ,r the essays, -to be itvritten for the Exhibition, ;and which, will prove a welcome addition to New-Zealand literature. Mr. Dillon ¥. [ Beli. has consented to write one in illtistratibn of the history of New. Zealand.- 'Drl Shoetland, on " The Native Races."; Dr; Hocken, on the " Vital Statistics " of the Colony. Mr. Vincent PxKEy 6n •" G-pld Mines." Mr. Ceawfoed andDrs;HAAST and Hectoe, on the " G-ebldgy of New Zealand." There will also be several minor contributions; : : : ■•

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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ST18641018.2.9

Bibliographic details
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Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 60, 18 October 1864, Page 3

Word count
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1,935

REPORT OF DR. HECTOR TO THE ROYAL COMMISSION OF THE N. Z. EXHIBITION. Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 60, 18 October 1864, Page 3

REPORT OF DR. HECTOR TO THE ROYAL COMMISSION OF THE N. Z. EXHIBITION. Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 60, 18 October 1864, Page 3

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