Philosophical Society.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7939, 21 October 1904, Page 3

Philosophical Society.

| " The monthly meeting of the Manawatu Philosophical Society was held last night, Mr K. Wilson presiding. The business of the evening was the reading by the translator, Mr G. Hirsch, of a letter, written from Melbourne in November 1859, by Dr. yon Hochstetter to Sir David Monro,' of Nelson, New Mr Hirsch made a few remarks concerning the writer. Ferdinand yon Hochstetter, geologist, was born iv 1829 at Esslingen. The Austrian Government Had sent out the frigate Novara on an exploring expedition. Amongst those on board was yon Hochstettor and Sir Julius yon Haaste. Hochstetter's work on New Zealand was first published in German in 1863. The letter was written while returning home from Australia. . It said, after a reference tothe Victorian gold fields, the magnitude of the work done there,'and the advisability of New Zealand carrying on mining ■ with the best machinery and science:

"Geologically considered, circumstances are in Victoria altogether'differ-:' j ent from those in Nelson. All the gold in Victoria springs from quartz reefs in ipsßilifetouß Silurian strata, acd after the gold in the' tertiary and sedimentaryaccumulations in conglomerate and gravel has been nearly all gained, comes the momentous question;of the day: Whether quartz reef mining, which to 200 feet from the surface has giveri partly brilliant; results, will be as profitable with systematic mining in greater depths ? In New Zealand, thai; is to aay in Nelson, the gold belongs to quartz ieefs,' which are diffused with older orystalline mica and clay-slate ('primitive formations'). ;Quartz reefs have not at'all been tried yet, and all tho gold that ie gained comes from the tertiary or sedimentary strata. It is not at all impossible that, where gold-containing quartz is found, as-af the Rocky River and at Para Para, there may be payable, quartz reefs, and especially at Para Para,: 1 believe',*would washing experiments' with tho quartz g.avel alona lead to results. In Victoria there are great tracts of gold-leading tertiary strata covered over with streams of basalt, when corresponding great works through' the basalt to 100 and 200 feet, depth have to be undertaken to gat the,gold. In Nelson there are no Buch difficulties. Everything lies at the surface, and there ia plenty of water everywhere for the sluicing.' I am firmly convinced the Nelson diggings must give brilliant results, and I can but wish that to be so in.aland whose inhabitants I regard with affection. Should aMr Ulnch, a' German mining expert and geologist from the Haiz mountains, trained at ah excellent school, at present one of the geological surveyors of the Victorian Government, at any time write to youj or should he sooner or later come to New Zealand for the purpose of utilising there his. geological and mining experience, I beg that he may be trusted to the fullest extent' In connection with the geological survey of Victoria, and the planning and arrangement of mining work, he has gained for himself great credit here. He is indeed in this direction one of the best forces in Victoria. How i* friend Haast ? Hearty greetings to him. I surmise that Dr. Sinclair is with you at the present time; if so, to him also my kind regards; and likewise to all my friends in Nelson, especially to the members •of : your family. Once more my best thanks for your friendship Nothing would please me belter than to ijet letters from you to Vienna. With heartand hand, your Ferdinand Hochstetter.>

Mr Hirsch made some remarks with respect to the places and men mentioned in the letter. He pointed but thnt the letter was written in November, 1859. and it was in May, 1861. that gold was first practically discovered by Mr Gabriel Read at Tuapeka, though it was stated that the existence of the precious metal at Coromandel was known as early B9 1852. ■•-.■' . • • '

Meßsrs Gardner, Sinclair and Cohenreferred' to the excellent manner in which the .letter had been translated, Bpeaking eulogistipally : .of Mr Hirach's ability in this direction. The fact that the Para Para anid Nelson goldfields had not given very brilliant results was referred to by adessrs Gardner and Cohen. The meeting then adjourned: