THE Thames Guardian AND MINING RECORD. WEDNESDAY,DECEMBER 13, 1871.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 58, 13 December 1871, Page 2

THE Thames Guardian AND MINING RECORD. WEDNESDAY,DECEMBER 13, 1871.

We prefer reprinting in its entirety the interesting - ami highly instructive section of Mr. >Skey’s report on liis experiments at the Tlianies on “reme- “ dies against loss of gold” in the process of amalgamation, to simply embodying extracts front it in this article. So much has been said and written on the subject in question that the observation of so competent an analyst must be interesting to every‘one engaged in mining pursuits on the goldfield. The notes by Mr. Skoy will he found reprinted in another part of our paper. Our readers must perceive that Mr. Skcy does not presume to dogmatise. He proceeds with that cautious induction which reveals a true votary of science. There is no jumping at conclusions ;—no elaboration of theories founded on experiments necessarily imperfect, and exhibiting results more or less misleading. At the same time, there is much that must he recognised as incontrovertible; as well as many unassailable conclusions of the greatest possible value to the gold mining community. Still, there is much to learn. Mr. Skcy admits this in his notes. He points out the subjects on which further scientific information is needed: and he, at the same time, invites the cooperation and aid of all who arc engaged in extracting - .gold from the matrix on the Thames Goldfield. Let us hope his appeal may not he in vain. But our principal object in writingon this branch of the subject is to point out to our readers the necessity for establishing a School of Mines here. The experiments conducted by Mr. Skcy, on a small scale, in .June, 1870. indicate Avliat might he accomplished on a larger scale, and continuously. Such a result would he secured by the establishment of a School of Mines. It would, moreover, train up our young men to a knowledge of metallurgy, which at present they cannot acquire. We need not enforce, by any argument, the importance of a knowledge of minerals to the development of the mining interests on the field. it is self-evident to every intelligent man. Looked at in an economic point of view, who can tell how much money might have been saved had there been such a local institution as a School of Mines at the Thames. Xo one can possibly guess the loss in time, labour, and money, which has already been occasioned by the want of experimental i knowledge of minerals on this field ; j nor could we possibly estimate the absolute waste which this ignorance | lias occasioned. j Xoav. in California, and in several j other States of the Union, there are j schools of mines. The utmost atten- ■ tion is paid to proficiency in metallurgy in the United States. It is, perhaps, | the most important branch of scientific knowledge in the present day. On it j depends the success of nearly every on- j terprise in which civilised races engage: and the measure of success depends invariably on the amount ot scientific skill j of the projectors and those engaged in the j operations. So great a reputation has | the Californian School of Mines already j attained, that students are sent thither 1

from the Eastern States ami from Europe. Hence the success of the mining industry in California, and the absorption by that State of nearly all the crude ore of the adjoining States and Territories, for smelting purposes. In fact, new and important industries are growing up under the shade of the School of Mines, and young men are sent out from it fitted to take the management of any mining enterprise under the sun.

Why should we he behind California in. this respect ? Our mineral wealth is at least equal, if it he not superior to that of California. The necessity for scientific management in our mining enterprise cannot be less. Why, then, has there been no attempt made in this country to establish a School of Mines ? The reason why. is not far to seek. It is owing to local jealousy. The necessity is admitted ; but unless the “ central establishment” be at Wellington, which is the seat of political government, nothing can he done. That is the short and the long of the matter.

An attempt was made last year, by the New Zealand Institute, which is in connexion with the Geological Department to a considerable extent, to supply this want. Dr. Hector, and other scientific gentlemen, undertook to deliver a course of lectures and conduct scientific experiments, but as, of course, this would be at Wellington, the effort was practically valueless. Mo parent would send his son to "Wellington to attend these lectures. To suppose any such thing probable, is to admit ignorance at once of the circumstances of the country, and the duty of parents. It was in effect an attempt to blind the colony and the General Assembly to the notorious fact that the 2s ew Zealand Institute, Geological Department, and Colonial Museum at Wellington, are of no practical value to the colony, although they cost the country about £IO,OOO a year. When it was urged last session that the Geological Department and Museum were simply local institutions tor the amusement and instruction of the people of Wellington, the remarks were objected to, but the fact remains the same, nevertheless; and the report of Mr. »Skey only serves to illustrate it further. No doubt we have an occasional (lying visit from the very able director of the Geological Department and his assistants ; but their inquiries and experiments, to be of permanent value, should be continuous, and published at least monthly for the information of the mining public. Moreover, were a School of Mines established at the Thames, our young men would be able to attend the classes and their ordinary business. This would be of infinite benefit to the industrial classes, and it should he insisted on until we succeed. A sufficient sum is appropriated by the General Assembly to admit of such an educational institution being founded at the Thames, were there any desire on the part of the Government to found it. Such being the case, if is the bounden duty of this community to take steps to press its claims on the colonial authorities.