PROPOSED MINERAL MUSEUM.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 75, 1 April 1897, Page 2

PROPOSED MINERAL MUSEUM.

A meeting of the Council of the Auckland Institute was held yesterday to discuss the question of forming a mineral museum ot Auckland. The following memorandum was read, showing what is proposed in forming the collection :— The objecb in view is to form a collection of mineral spccimons to illustrate the zoological .structure and mineral resources of the Auckland mining districts, thote at presenb in view being the Cape Colville Peninsula, Puhipuhi, and the Bay ot Islands. To carry out this work the following collections will bo roquired : First, an introductory collection, intended to explain tho characters of minerals, and to show how they can be recognised and distinguished ono from another. This collection would bo of considerable value, for it would teach what is difficult) or almost impossible to acquire from books alone.

Second, collections to illustrate the geological structure of tho throe mining districts mentioned above. Those should contain carefully selected spocimonß of tho chief rocks of each district. The labels should give full information as to tho character of each specimen, arid its importance to tho practical minor.

Third, local collections from groups of mines, or smaller mining districts. Theee yhould contaiu specimens from all reefs or lodes of importance that are being worked or prospected, together with samples of the "coutitry" rock, and particularly of the roof and footwalls of the lodes and reefs. Specimens should also bo obtainod of tho '•dyke rocks" or " horses " that aro mot vvibli in tho workings, and of any other marked changes of ioc*k thab may occur. i>Great care should alao be takdu to obtain the special minerals or ores found in the lodes. In the caso of mines of the firsb importance, these specimens should, where practicable, be accompanied with plans showing the position and direction of tho lodes.

To form complete collections in accordance with tho above scheme will t.ke some considerable time, and tho aid of tho whole mining community -should be sought, 'iho Chamber of Mines should be asked to cooperate. Mine managers might give valuable assistance by sending well selected specimens from the mines under thoir cure. Specimens of rocks, etc., should nob be less than six by four by one inch, carefully chipped so as not to show a bruised surface. Bub the best plan would be, where practicable, to send all sampled in larger rough blocks to the Museum, where a skilled workman could pro pare the finished specimens. Whore possible all specimens of rocks should contain one from the solid and another in its decomposed or surface condition. Samples of special minerals or ores cannot always be chipped, but should bo sent as large and showy as can bo obtained. The chief cost would be in tho packing and freight. When the collections are completed, it is proposed to arrange them in the Museum, in suitable well-lighted cases, mounting the specimens either on wooden tablets or in cardboard trays. In all cases, they should be accompanied with printed descriptive labels, as tar bb poesible free from unnecessary tochnical terms. Auckland, March 15bh, 1897.

The Council ware unanimous in their approval of tho proposal, and ib was decided thab the Secretary should communicate with the Minister of Mines in order to obtain the assistance of Mr McKay, of the Geological Department, who is at present engaged in a geological examination of the Thames Peninsula.

Towards the accomplishment of the scheme, the Council have already £100 in hand, donated by the Hon. Thomas Russell. Thab gentleman, while in London recently, had expressed to Mr James Stewart, one of the members, his willingness to contribute the sum named to bhe Institute. As nothing had yet been done with bhe money, he suggested bhab it might with advantage be spent on such a collection as described above. With this idea, he asked Mr James Russell and Mr Seymour George to take iv hand the collection of specimens.