News of the Day.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXX, Issue 6, 20 May 1871, Page 5

News of the Day.

PUBLIC MEETING-. A numerously-attended meeting was held last night at the Provincial Hull, for the purpose of taking into consideration the question of raising v loan for the purpose of lighting Nelson with gas, and extending the water-works. His Honour the Superintendent occupied the chair. The lalo hour at which the proceedings terminated, prevents us giving a full report of the speeches made by the various gentlemen. Mr. 11. Adams, in a speech of BOtno length, showed that it was preferablo that both the gas and the waterworks should be under the control of the Provincial Government rather than in the hands of a private company, who would not be contented with less profits than ten to fifteen per cent., vihich would not only suflico to pay the interest on the sum proposed to be borrowed, but would also provide a sinking fund. Since the waterworks were commenced it was found expedient to extend them further than was originally intended, and a largo sum had to be expended for the purpose, whereby an overdraft was incurred to tiie extent of £3,800. The salaries and other contingencies for the last two years had only amounted to about £350, whilst the income from rates and other sources amounted to £1,^62 for the year ending 3 1st March, 1870, in addition to £250 puid by the Government; so that the gross proceeds exceeded £2,000 a year. It had been asked, if the expenditure exceeded the income, why was the rate reduced ? He believed that the reduction of the rate induced many persons to take the water who would not otherwise have done so. It was intended to undertake no works that did not realize the interest upon the sums invested. lie did not think that more than £G,OOO would be required for extension of the water-works. Tho sum of £1,500 had been paid off in the shape of sinking fund, and he looked forward to the time when the water- works would, in a pecuniary point of view, become a valuable property to tho town. With respect to the gas, it was very probable that before long Nelson would have a corporation, to which the works would be handed over. If the gas was supplied by a private company the inhabitants would have very little control over it, and the company would expect to make at least fifteen per cent, out of the investment ; wherens if the Government were to undertake it they could borrow tho money for about seven per cent., and the difference would not only produce a sinking fund, but put the corporation in possession of the plant. He could not at present give a detail of the cost. From a telegram received from Wellington, ho learned that the gas works recently established there cost about £9,000, and that a charge of £1 per 1,000 feet of gas was made. It had been shown that the water-works paid their own expenses, and there was no reason why the gas should not be made to do the same. The profits that would go to a company would find their way into the pockets of the consumers. At tho same time, the Government did not wish to take the responsibility without consulting the Board of Works. If it was the wish of the meeting that the Government should borrow the money, they would do so, but, if not, the Government for its part did not wish to take the responsibility. Mr. Greenfield said that he considered it highly necessary that the water supply should be extended, and the town lighted with gas. He believed that tho money invested would prove highly remunerative— returning, at least, 15 per cent profit. Not more than about £G,OOO would bo required for the gas. If it were supplied by a private company, they would have to pay about £1 per 1,000 feet; but should it be vested in the hands of Government, they would not have to pay more than half that sum. Nearly every place where gas was established, the companies made large profits ; aud it was desirable that the ratepayers of Nelson should reap this advantage themselves. Mr. Luckie, Mr. Collins, Mr. Percy, Mr. Lightband, and other gentlemen then addressed the meeting. Moved by Mr. Pekct, seconded by Mr. Nathan — " 'That this meeting is of opinion that his Honour the Superintendent be requested to carry out, in accordance with tho resolution of a meeting of ratepayers held on the 31st October, 1870, tho measures already instituted by his. Honour for tho construction of gas works in the city, and also the extension of water works." Moved by Mr. M'Geegob, as an amendment, seconded by Mr. Baknes— " That in the opinion of thia meeting it is unadvisable for the Government to borrow £2^,000 for Gas and Water Works extension." The original resolution was carried by a very large majority. A vote of thanks was given to his Honour the Superintendent for presiding, aud the meeting then separated.

REPORT ON FRESH MINERALS DISCOVERED in the PERSEVERANCE COMPANY'S MINE. We have been favoured by Mr. Mabin, the Legal Manager of the Perseverance Company, with the following Report of the specimens of the minerals recently found in that Company's mine, and forwarded by him to Dr. Hector for analysis. We are informed by Mr. Mabin that duplicate specimens of those forwarded to Dr. Hector, and referred to by him, can be seen at the office of the Company by those interested : — To tho Manager of the Pebseyebajtce Company, Nelson. Sib — The samples (ten in number) from the Perseverance mine, Collir.gwood, have been examined in the laboratory, with the following results :—: — No. 1. Simple iron pyrites, without copper. 2. Iron pyrites, containing from two to three per cent, of copper, the oro being intermixed with, quartz. 3. Galena (sulphide of lead, with a small percentage of silver), intermixed with blende (sulphide of zinc). The specimen contains these minerals in about equal proportions. 4. Zinc blende, in which are cavities partly filled with crystals of galena. 5. Zinc blende, nearly pure. ' G. Zinc blende, traversed by lain in & of iron pyrites and galena. 7. Zinc blende : ore of this quality will yield about GG per cent, of metallic zinc, worth about £20 per ton. 8. Zinc blende with galena. 9. Massive argentiferous galena with quartz. 10. Samples of lead prepared from No. 9, of excellent quality, and worth about £22 per ton in London. In these specimens we therefore have two metallic ores that are new to the district, although both have been previously found in New Zealand. Galena occurs in tolerable abundance at Wangapeka, Barrier Island, on the Otasro gold-fields, and in several of the reefs on the Thames goldfields, especially at Tararu Creek. In this last locality also, zinc blende was discovered by Captain Jlutton, but only in a single instance. An indication of the presence of zinc, from somewhere in the neighbourhood of Gollingwood, was previously obtained among a series of specimens sent to the laboratory in January, 1870, by Mr. C. Elliott. It was in tho form of sulphate of zinc, or white vitriol of commerce, and had all the appearance of being an artificial salt. The discovery of zinc ore iv the locality, however, now makes it a matter of some interest that the history of Mr. Elliott's specimens should be accurately ascertained. Zinc blende is a usual associate of galena, and though not so much mined as the carbonate of zinc (calamine) is still an ore of considerale commercial value, its inferiority being due to its requiring an extra operation in the process of reduotion. Zinc works for tin's oro exist at Bristrol and Birmingham, and I would suggest that if the ore can bo obtained in quantity, a fair sample should be sent homo to one of them in order that its quality may be tested ; so that it can be detertermined whether it will be better to export the oro, or to manufacture the metal in the colony. It appears from statistics, that the annual quantity of zinc blende raised in Britain is about 13,000 tons, having ii value ranging from 30s. to 90s. per ton. The yield of metal from the ore is about 28 per cent., and its market value a little over £20 per ton ; but in the case of a mixed ore, tho value of tho galena has also to be taken into account, and to assist in fixing an estimate of the value of your ore, I may state that about 90,000 tons of galena are raised every year, the market value of which is £14 per ton. This ore yields about GO per cent, of lead, valued at £22 per ton, and 6 ozs. of silver to the ton of lead, valued at 59. 6d. per ounce. The above data will be sufficient to enable an opinion to be formed of the market value of the samples of ore now submitted. The association, of such ores is frequent, both with gold and silver, but is no sure indication of either being present in quantity. I am, &c, James Hectoe. Geological Survoy Office, Wellington, May 9, 1871.

Suez Mail. — Tho Eangitoto with the Suez Mail arrived off Hokitika yesterday morning, but the state of the weather prevented communication with the shore until evening. The news by this mail will not bo later than what was published in our Extra on Thursday, received by the Wonga Wonga from San Francisco. Bank of New Zealand. — At the half-yearly meeting of the shareholders of the Bank of New Zealand, held at Auckland on the 26th ultimo, the directors were again enabled to present a highly favourable report. The nett profit to the 31st March, including £30,000 premium on the new issue of shares, after making clue provision for every bad or doubtful dependency, and for appropriations in reduction of Bank premises and furniture accounts, was set down at £74,6-13 10s. 3d. to which the undivided profit at 30th September 1870, of £7,745 Us. 7d. being added, a balance of £82,389 le. lOd. was available for distribution. A dividend at the rate of 10 per cent, and a bonus of 5 per cent was declared, £30,000 was added to the reserve fund, and £7,389 Is. lOd. was carried to the profit and loss new account. Thames SnAitE MAiiKKT. — The following are tho latest quoted prices : — Caledonians, £100 to £102 10s. ; Thames, £19 10s. ex. div. ; Tookeys, £13 155. ; Long Drive's, £14 ; Belfasts, 70s. "to 80s. ; Alburnia's, 465. ; Ohau's, 40s. to 45s j Kelly's, 80s. to 855. ; Central Italy, 20s. to 22a. j Moantaiari, 82s. 6d. j Otago, 355.

Giibat Fire in Auckland. — Early on the morning of the 14th instant, an occupied house in Pitt-street, near tho top of Wellington-street, wag found to bo in flames, and from tho scarcity of water little could be done to stay their progress and they rapidly extended to tho adjoining buildings; destroying the entire block on tho southern Bide, consisting in all of ten houses, causing a loss altogether of some £6,000, part of which only was covered by insurance. The origin of the fire .» unknown. Faiujhk to open the Upper Thames. — Another attempt to open tho Upper Thames has resulted in failure. A considerable body of natives favourable to throwing open the district to Europeans had proceeded to To Aroha, in order to use their influence with To Hira to desist in his opposition, but a threatened advance of 200 Wuikutos sent them all back to their homes, and tho opening of tho district appears to be as remote as ever. More MiNisrEitiAti Extravagance.— lt is rumoured (says the livening Post) that the present Government has revived in reality, if not in name, the office of President of the Marine Board, which was abolished by Mr. Stafford as being utterly unnecessary. It its further rumoured that a gentleman, who was formerly attached, to one of her Majesty's ships on this station, lias been appointed to the resuscitated office, with, of course, a suitable salary ; and people generally attribute the l'ovival of the appointment and the selection "of the incumbent, to reasons other than the exigencies of tho public sorvico. Really, if the financial condition of the colony is so flourishing that tho estimates for the Marine Department could bear expansion, wo think thnfc the appointment of a duly qualified professional snecessor to the late Mr. Balfour, as Colonial Marine Engineer, would have been more satisfactory, and more useful than that of a naval officer to an office the chief duties of which will consist in examining masters applying for certificates. Captain Johnston, and many other gentlemen already in the employ of the Government, are quite competent to do all that is required doing in that direction. Ministerial Economy. — The Wairarapa Mercury pays, that although it is the general opinion that tho present Government is the most extravagant thnt has ever guided tho destinies of the colony, it is glad to be able to record one inBtance of their economical administration. A circular has been sent to the commanding officer of each volunteer and militia district, containing instructions that all spent bullets are to be gatheroed from around the target?, and the lead so collected is to be returned into store. Search pou Tb Kooti. — The Thames Advertiser remarks :— " Wo are getting tired of hearing of how Te Kooti's men have all been kil'ed or have deserted him, and wo should like to know wliero ho manages to recruit his followers after each slaughter, and liow, when all his men have been killed several times over, ho himself cannot be got at." Profits or tiie Silk Industry in CaliTORNIA.— The Alta California says :—": — " The Californian silk-growers have had so little experience that there i 9 a great diversity of opinion among them in regard to tho expense of breeding the worms, tho number that may be bred, and the area that will be required for feeding a given number. A great number of mulberry trees have been planted in nursery in this State, but very few in plantation or orchard, and for that reason the silk business is arrested ; for without tho mulberry plantation there can be no progress worlliy of note. The trees should be planted not less than four feet, and perhaps six feet apart ; and when they aro three or four years old, they will furnish leaves from an acre to feed half a million worms at a time, and if there aro three generations in a yaw, then each aero should feed a million and a half at that time. One active man ought to take charge of 50,000 worms ; Mr. Provost thought ho should attend to I 100,000. A plantation once made will last fifty or a hundred years, perhaps longer. The soil is never exhnusted, nor does the silk deteriorate in quality with time. Tho plantation should have a moist, rich, sandy loam ; and it requires occasional ploughing and hoeing to keep the earth loose and clean. There are 42,000 eggs in an ounce, which is now worth four dollars, with a probability of a steady demand at that price for years to come. The eggs of a million worms would be worth 25,000 dollars, and tho cocoons left by tho worms would bo worth GOO dollars ; or if the cocoons were not hatched, they would bo worth 2,600 dollars. In 3,000 cocoons there is a pound of silk net, and the unhatched cocoons are wortli eight dollars per pound of silk ; tho hatched cocoons, having been eaten through at ono end, aro worth two dollars a pound. A square foot of room must bo given on a (able for a 100 worms j and there may be tiprs of tables ; 20,000 may be bred in a room twelve feet long and nine wicle, with height enough for three tables. Only the Japanese worms can bo depended upon to produce three generations in a year." In the great mining case, at Dunedin, the Extended Company v. Hales, after a five days trial, the jury were discharged on Sunday last, without having returned a verdict, after having been locked up for eighteen hours. Speaking of an intended dejeuner to Dr. Featherston, before leaving for England, tho Independent says :— " A number of our most prominent ladies have promised to attend." Ths Post inquires what constitutes a prominent lady? A Gazette announces that Parliament is further prorogued until tho 22nd June next. Judge Chapman, at Dunedin, has refused to grant tho rulo applied for in tho case of Regina v. Strode, but this does not mean that the information against Mr. Lemon has fallen through, but that the caso must be proceeded with at Wellington instead of Dunedin. His Honour the Superintendent of Auckland did not attend tho luncheon given in Auckland to the officers of tho Nevada. It is said that Mr. Gillies vory strongly disapproves of Mr. Yogel's mail contract.