THE MINING INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10405, 1 April 1897, Page 4

THE MINING INDUSTRY.

The particulars we give in another column respecting the project to form a mineral collection at Auckland will be read with great interest. There is no industry on which we depend for our future so completely as on mining, and no opportunity should be neglected for advancing its interests, and for placing it 011 a substantial foundation. Mr. T. Russell lias made a beginning by donating £100 for the collecting of speoimens, and by obtaining the cooperation of Mr. Seymour George and Mr. James Husseil in forming the collection. Anyone acquainted with geology will recognise that it is not needful that a large expense shall be gone to in the purchase of specimens, Except in exceptional oases, these need not be of much intrinsic value. The collection should be such as would show at once to any person coming here, and acquainted with geology and mineralogy, the entire nature of the structure of the rocks in our mining districts. The mining country of this province is of considerable extent, and is of a very varied character. Even our goldfields,, from VVaihi to Cape Col wile, show such variety of formation as we do not think is equalled in the world, The gold itself is distributed in the stone in entirely different ways, complicated by association with different metals, necessitating quite different methods of treatment. It will be seen from the memorandum furnished to the Institute that it is contemplated to illustrate the peculiarities of groups of mines, as well as the general nature of the strata. We need scarcely enlarge upon the practical use which such a collection will be in the prosecution of our mining industry. We are glad to hear that the Government are pushing on with the geological survey that we have so often referred to. When the map is completed the collection of minerals now to be made by the Institute will be a natural supplement and illustration. We have no. doubt that the Council of the Institute will do everything in their power to aid in the collection of the specimens, and thereafter to house and display them to the best advantage. Our chief object, however, in referring thus specially to the subjeot is to ask the co-operation of all who can assist. There are now here a number of men possessing mining and scientific knowledge, who are engaged in business connected with, the goldfields, and they would greatly aid by obtaining specimens when they examine any district or mine. Every mine manager on the goldfield may do something, and he ought to make it his duty to do what he can. The formation of such a collection as we have spoken of will be a matter of time, but a beginning should be made at once. We understand that Mr. George and Mr. Russell are about to issue circulars, pointing out what is wanted and asking general co-operation.