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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 59, 12 March 1867, Page 2

It was recently stated that the black sand of the shores of New Zealand contained a quantity of platinum. The Melbourue Argus has received the following interesting communication on the. subject from Mr. Severn, assay er of the Union Bank there: — A few days back a digger, on- his way to New South Wales, left for my examination a sample of metallic sand from the New Zealand coast (Southland). He stated " that there was any quantity of- the same material where it came from." The sample, on examination, proves to be a valuable platinum ore, of a highly magnetic character, and containing some 60 or 70 per cent, of platiuurn. Throughout the sample were to be seen minute pieces of rough gold. Specific gravity of ore, 14.2. lr. may be interesting to state, that while experimenting •with the microscope I roon found that many of the individual flakes possessed polarity. 1 carried the experiment further, by floating some fine pieces on a drop of ■water placed on a glass slide, around Svhicli was placed a fine insulated copper ■wire. On transmitting a galvanic current through this impromptu coil, the major axis of- many of these little flakes at once took up a position at right angles to the current, and as rapidly reversed themselves on the poles of the battery being changed. Should there be really plenty of this ore, as stated, it will prove of much commercial value, aud add greatly to ihe already varied miuerai products of New Zealand .

.We have the following on the authority of a correspondent of the Panama Star, who, writing from the Ghiucbas, says :— The shipping here averages about ninety sails, and guano is disappearing so fast that another two and a half or three years lit; most will probably find the Chinchas deserted and guanoless — once again the nejjaioppl is „for ; ' seals and aquatic birds' that frequent the Pacific seas.