Original Correspondence. MINERAL RESOURCES OF NEW ZEALAND. Letter, No. I.

New Zealander, Volume 1, Issue 11, 16 August 1845, Page 3

Original Correspondence MINERAL RESOURCES OF NEW ZEALAND. Letter, No. I.

To the Editor of the New Zealander. '•' The great deficiency of New Zealand is, the want of articles of expoit, without which no Colouy can long or greatly prosper ; but, if in addition to the few articles the colony expoits, her Mineral Resources should be such as to invite the application of capital, no circiimstanees could tend more to encrease h p r value as a Colonial possession, and place her on a basis of solid commercial prosperity." — From Lord Stanley's Despatch, Nov. 30, 1544. The foregoing passage from the pen of "a distinguished statesman, embraces a subject of paramount importance to all who ate interested in ihe permanent welfare of this colony. There can be no question as to the correctness of the position therein laid down, that "no colony can long or gi eally prosper without articles of export :" it is in fact, a self evident axiom ; but the great question is, — Are our Mineral resources such as to invite the application of capital I On this subject there is much difference of opinion, for while certain persons ridicule the idea of the mineral resources of New Zealand, being of an) value, there are others of considerable experience in such matteis, who hold that it must be to her mineral resources that New Zealand must look as to the chief source of her future prosperity. It is to be regretted that there are few persons in the Colony, w ho by habits of observation, or by education, are competent to give an opinion entitled to any credit on this subject An acquaintance with the geneial results collected and classified by Geology, must be our first guide in the investigation of mineral districts, supposed to contain metalliferous deposits ; this knowledge alone enables the observer to judge whether any particular locality should, from the nature and arrangements of its rocks and mineial structuie, be susceptible of containing within ib bosom, workable metallic ores; it also indicates to a certain extent what mineral substances may piobably be met within any given series of rocks, and in what particular locality such substances will probably be found. The application of these facts and principles, and their great value in our researches after mineral wealth, more especially in new and hitherto unexplored districts, must be known, since it not only shows the rocks in which mineral wealth is most likely to be contained, but also those particular portions of them, where the greatest degree of emichment may be expected. These important laws, a knowledge ot which is indispensable to the scientific mining Engineer, are eutirely geological generalizations, deduced from a long seiies of otisei vation and experience. Geology is essentially a piactical science, and one of facts and observation, and although a knowledge of the external properties of the common rocks, considered as fragments, is a necessary introduction to the study of the earth, yet it must always be remembered that Mineralogy, properly so called, ought merely to be a preparation for Geology, and considered only as affording the characters by which its m)bteiies aie deciphered ; and that it is in the gieat airangements of nature, in her lofty mountain chains, precipitous cliff's, and deep ravines, and amidst the bold cliffs and rocks which overhang the ocean, and not in the minute details of the museum, or of mineral collections, that the great facts and foundation of the science must be sought for and examined. Although an accurate geological and mineralogical description of the rocks occurring in the Noitliern Island of New Zealand, would be of the highest value, jet it is wholly impossible in the present state of our knowledge of the countrj, to produce any thing perfect on the subject. It is to be hoped, however, that our Local Government, will not losesight of this important subject, but that following the example of the United States of America, and lately, that of South Austt alia, it will direct geological and mineralogical stuveys to be made by competent individuals, of the most impoitant districts of New Zealand. The leporls accompanying such survey should be made to embrace every particular relating to Economic Geology: such as the localities of useful building stones, of carbonaceous deposits, of deposits of lime, marl, gypsum, and slate, &c ; of .finer materials for domestic architecture, columns, vases, &c, and lastly the localities of the ores of useful metals. The information thus acquired of the natural resources of the country, would beof the greatest value, both to actual colonists, and to home capitalists ; and being published and extensively circulated, would do much towards "inviting the application of capital," and thus " place the cojony on a basis of solid commercial prosperity."* On examining the general structure of the country, it will be found that New Zealand presents a highly interesting geological and mineralogical aspect, and olfeisa very beautiful illustration of the great principles of Geology, as it presents a very complete assemblage of rocks, from the most ancient, to those of comparative modern origin. These rocks are also disposed in such a manner asstrongly to muik the physical geography of the country, and while its extensive line of sea coast presents innumerable natural sections of the various rocks and strata, many of which after ranging across the island are terminated in succession by bold cliffs upon our shores, opportunities equally numerous and instructive for studying the geology of the interioiyireaflbrded by the nutnetous vallies formed l>) the larger rivets, many of which extend for many miles, and intersect the interior of the country. It may further be observed, that few conntries present so many inducements for geological stud}, on the ground ot practical utility, as are to be found in New Zealand. Those most valuable, (because most useful) mineral substances, Coal, and lion, we possess, it is believed in sufficient abundance. The ores of Tin, (?) Copper, Lead, Manganese, and other metals have been found in several localities, and although the more precious ores of metals have not as yet been discovered, there exists reasonable grounds for sup-

posing that they may \el be found An immense number ot rocks from the primitive granite to the most lecent formations, are found upon our shores, and their is reason to believe that mineral veins are numerous, and will be found to include the greater numbet of metalliferous productions and known mineral substances. At first sight, New Zealand would appear as the place in which fragments and uiins from the rest of the globe have been confusedly heaped together, but when it is closely examined, its parts appear neither independent of arrangement, nor devoid of harmony and order ; nor do there exist any reasonable grounds foi supposing that these Islands are of more recent formation than other European countries, although, undoubtedly, volcanic action has been long and extensively in operation within them. The object of the present paper being however, essentially pi aclical, but brief allusion will be made to theoretical view s regarding the formation of these Islands, it appearing to the writer that a statement of facts relating to individual locks, will be of much more value than any theoiy that can be propounded relating to their formation. It has long been known in Cornwall, that there is often much connection between given rocks in particular districts, and the productive mines in them, some rocks being considered more' kindly,' as the Cornish miners term it, than others ; they have observed with much care the kind of rocks or • country ' as they term them, in which the ores they seek are principally discovered, and from local practice, they judge of the probability of finding such ores in given rocks, when the other conditions are also favorable. In applying this mode of reasoning to New ] Zealand, it will be found that in the few isolated instances in which discoveries have been made of the ores of metals, and also in the localities where mines havebeen opened, the circumstances under which the ores are found bear considerable resemblance to those under which they are found in Cornwall, and other mining; districts For such instances, the clay slate or 'killas,' is generally found to be the enclosing stratum of the lode. It is very common however, that granite includes within its bosom workable veins of copper, and tin is almost exclusively found in Cornwall in granite. A 'plump,' or somewhat decomposed gi anite is that w Inch is most esteemed by miaeis, particularly for tin, although the oases are by no means rare, in which large ' bunches,' of copper and tin ores have been found in hard granite. Respecting granite however, generally, it is not considered a favorable rock for copper, except it be in connection with slate. The consolidated mines near lledrnth, in Corn wall, oiferan excellent illustration of the geolo gical position of one of the most productive mines in that count), which are situated at or near to the junction of the granite and the slate. At the western extremity of these mines, the mass of granite, which forms the prominent hill of Carn-Marth, dips below the surface at an angle of about 30 a , and is overlaid by the metahferous clay slate, or •killas,' which is itself traversed by the porphoritic rock called • eloan.' All these rocks, especially the latter, are intersected by mineral veins or lodes, which are highly pioductive of copper. The lodes have a direction nearly east and west, with a dip or underlie to tho north, and are intersecteJ at light angles iv several places, by barren veins turned "crosscourses," chiefly filled with quartz and cla)ey matter. The width of the veins varies from 2, and 3, to 4 and 5 feet, and the chief produce is the yellow sulphuiet of copper, a yellow copper ore, from which the great bulk of that metal is in most parts of the world obtained. The quantity of ore raised in this mine (consols) fromJuneao, 1838, to June 30, 1839, amounted to 24,259 tons of 21 cwt, sold at an aveiage price pet ton, of £6. 10s. lOd. The average standard^ of fine copper for the same peiiod was £110. 2s. and the average produce of copper ores from all the mines in Cornwall, was 7} per cent, whilst the average price per ton of ore from all the mines was £5. i7s. With respect to the value and ' average of the copper ores of Cornwall, as contrasted with those of Chili, Cuba, and other mining countries, I shall defer any remarks, I may have to otter on the ores of those countries, and on the ores of New Zealand, to a future letter. I am Sir, )our's, &c. F. S. P.

To the Editor of The New-Zealander. . Pitt, — After so many discouragements, difficulties, embarrassments, struggles, and conflicts, — which our whole vocabulary can scarcely describe, and which our New Zealand settlements have had to encounter ; it becomes, in the present breathing time given to us by the temporary cessation of war, a consideration of paramount importance :—: — What measures might best induce to the revival, and advancement of our infant colony? That something should be done certainly no person will dispute, for a moment,-— something beyoud the merely ordinary course of colonial governments,— something to regain not only what has hitherto heen lost, but also, something to give a healthy impetus for the future. To press the subject for enquiry, and to mention a few measures adapted for this end, is the object, Mr. Editor, of your present correspondent 1. We need a large augmentation of our military and naval force : not to destroy the native tribes, but rather to overawe them with a sense of our power. | 2. A cheap government, with taxes, &c, as light I as possible. ! 3. A colonial government, similar to that of New South Wales, giving to the people a voice in the administration of their own affairs. 4. A loan from the Home government ; suhstituting Bank of England notes and specie, for the present detestable debentures. 5. Every possible eucouragement and facility, should be given to our countrymen to settle in this colony. 6. There should he a prompt and immediate adjustment of all laud claims, and a speedy issue of all Crown giants, necessary to give a full title to land. * As a model for a repoit of this kind, the Writer world refer to the Geological Repoit on Cornwall, Devon, and West Somerset, by Sn 11. De La lieche, Dhector of the Ordnance Geological Survey, and published by older of the Loids Commissioiuus of Her Majesty's Tieasmy. ' t The ' htamlaid,' is the estimated value of Hie fine eoppei, per ■ ton, consideied liom the various assays to be in the ores sold, less p fi\ed sum, (£2. 10s.) per ton, allowed foi the cost of smelting. The standard, of necessity, wuies considerably. i

7. Government country lands should be reduced tt) at least ss. per acre. 8. Late purchasers of land from the natives should he allowed their full purchase, dispensing with the tenth reserves, a small per centage only being taken for the formation of public roads, reimbursing such persons for iheir loss as might be injured by the same. In strict justice, the late purchasers oF land under the 10s. per acre system ought to have lefuudedto them their respective deposits 9. There should be sent out a sufficient number of convicts to make our public roads, to be employed only by the Colonial government and in public works. 10. Compensation should be given to all persons, who have suffered the loss of property, from the late aggressions of the natives, particularly the Bay of Islands, and other refugees. Many of the above considerations, in one form or other, have been already brought before, the public, though not I imagine as connectedly bearing on the common weal. Trusting, Sir, that the preceding hints will not be thrown away, . — I remain, Yours, &c. Hope-Full.