THE MINERAL PRODUCTS OF NELSON.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1667, 8 December 1873, Page 2

THE MINERAL PRODUCTS OF NELSON.

At the Nelson Exhibition a paper was , read by Mr Wells, descriptive of the I mineral exhibits. In it, Mr Wells said :— " The first I have to notice is a very in--1 teresting exhibit of associated minerals from the Oollingwood Company's mine on ■ the Aorere, consisting of coal, ironstone band and limestone, with other minerals found in the drive they are now excavating, some remarks on which will be made in a later part of this paper. ! The fibrous brown ore, from the Para PJara, Collingwood, exhibited by Mi Webster, of Nelson,, in its native, smelted, and manufactured state, is probably the most ' interesting and important in the collection. This mineral is commonly fouDd in large beds in gneiss or mica-slate, aud very 1 frequently in connection with granular 1 limestone. It is "found in the .0, rkney ' Inlands in Scotland, Germany,, ; and the Austrian dominions, anfra remarkable deposit of it 13 worked at Salisbury, in the United States. The iron produced from this ore is superior in malleability, and is much esteemed on account of its toughness and hardness, and the pig iron obtained from smelting its purer varieties with charcoal, is easily converted into steel. The ore exhibited I am informed contains fifty per cent, of iron. ' A pigment from this ore is exhibited and manufactured by Me Lnuisson of this city. . The same ore is exhibited in pigment by Johnston Brothers, who are manufacturers of this product, and who also exhibit a variety of other minerals found in the Province. Plumbago is exhibited from Collingwood by Mr Hough. This mineral when found in a pure and solid state is very valuable, 31b weight of it is said to be worth 21b weight of silver, and it is used for the manufacture of the best class of pencils, the inferior kinds in the manufacture of crucibles, as black lead, for polishing iron orej' and it ia • also used for lessening the friction in machinery. Steatite or soapstone from the Para Para, exhibited by Mr Brace, of Collingwood, and Johnston Brothers of Nelson. This mineral is found in large quantity I in that district. It is used in the arts in a variety of ways. It is employed for the hearths of furnaces, the sides of .fireplaces and stoves, also for the manufacture of porcelain, for cleaning of silks and woollen cloths, and in other ways :in giving lustre and unctuosity to other, bodies. Clays with a variety of other, minerals from the brown coal formation of Motu- . pipi are exhibited by Mr George Gilbert. Mr Hough, of Nelson, exhibits plumbago, red hematite, clays and marble from Wakamarina, and the Collingwood district. ' - Coal is well represented and deserves particular attention. The large specimens from the Brunner mine, the Collingwood Company's mine, and two specimens from, the Murray Creek, Inangahua, deserve special notice, as also.coka from.the ßrun-= ncr, together with three good specimens prepared by Harley Brothers^ of Nelson; flagstone from Wangamoa; and granite ■ from Adele Island, exhibited by Mr Younger, are deserving of special attention,

The West Coast GoMfields are well represented by the Bank of New Zea'and and Mr Preshaw, of the Bank of New South Wales, by a large variety of specimens from the goldfields and surrounding country, and the trustees of the Museum at Hokitika have handsomely and voluntarily sent 200 valuable specimens of various minerals from their collection for exhibition to Nelson.

AChoctaw Indian having been Bued by a lawyer for some money, paid it, and waited for the lawyer to give him a receipt. "What are you waiting for?" said the lawyer. "Receipt," said the Indian. "Receipt," said the lawyer— " a receipt ! What do you know about a receipt. Tell me the use of one and I will give it to you." The Indian looked at him a moment, and then said, " S'pose maybe me die ; me go to heban ; me find de gate locked ; me see Apostle Peter ; he says, { Kiser, what you want V Me say, ' want to get in ;' he say, ' you good man V Me say ' yes ;' he say, ' you pay Mr A. that money ?' What me do ? I hab no receipt ! hab to hunt all over h to find you." He got his receipt. A lady correspondent of the Belfast News Letter says that about SOOO begging letters were received by the Shah during his recent visit to England. They have been packed in a large chest, and sent off to Persia, where his Majesty means to deposit them in a museum. He was greatly flattered by having so many letters addressed to him taking them as so many compliments.