TH' IRKING OF SULPHUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8319, 28 July 1890, Page 3

TH' IRKING OF SULPHUR.

TO THE KDITOK. Sir,—in Whitaker's Almanac, under the heading " Italy," I note that the Government of that kingdom derives no less an income than £1,700,000 from the sale and export of sulphur. Has the Government of this country taken any steps to develop as an industry the winning of sulphur from the bowels of the earth? Silver's guide to New Zealand speaks of a certain island (White Island) as containing 100,000 tons of sulphur easy of access, and I am informed that good ore is obtainable at Rotorua, and at the foot of Mount Edgecuinbe. Will you, sir, kindly inform me if the Govern ment of New Zealand has allowed to be alienated from the public these deposits ol the utmost utility in the various manufactures of this scientific age, and of the foremost importance for making the various explosives employed in warfare ? When in Melbourne I was informed that the sulphur used there in the manufacture of sulphuric acid, blasting powder, etc., was obtained in a refined state from Japan, and on making inquiries re New Zealand deposits I was informed that White Island had been sold by the Government to a Russian syndicate. This statement, I may say, I regarded as a canard. For any information on the subject of sulphur deposits I shall be much obliged. —I am, etc., Sui-riiun King.

[The Italian Government, we believe, work the sulphur mines by means of convicts. The working of sulphur at White Island and Whale Island has been stopped. Some is being obtained near Rotorua.—En.]