GRANITE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11229, 25 November 1899, Page 6 (Supplement)

GRANITE.

TO THE EDITOB. Sir,—Mr. Moody, M.1.M.E., deserves praise for his interest and persistence in regard to the above subject. Had his previous letters shown the same spirit as the last (that appears in to-day's paper) little more need have been said. But as lie has now had his say, permit me a lew words in reply. He affirms that he was with me, and discussed the matter at the time when I spoke of the specimen I possessed as being granite. Why did lie not then dissent? Simply, I opine, because, like myself, ho believed the specimen I nad was assuredly granite It ha. evidently taken him three years to find out the contrary. Mr. Moody's suggestion that I had mistaken " subcrystallinc limestone" for granite seemed so absurd that J did not at first take his letter seriously. To err, howevei, is human, and to a scientist truth is more welcome than mere victory. It i_ impossible for me now to say what the specimen really was, but permit me to thank Mr. H. D. A. Major for suggesting a clue, and a lottei that Sir James Hectoi kindly sent me a few days ago confirmed an opinion I had formed. It speaks well, I think, that' alter Mr. Moody's searohlight has been on my article, that was or considerable length, for three years only one mistake can be found, and

the piece of rock that led to that mistake, the highest geological authority in New Zealand affirms, " might easily be taken for granite." Mr. Moody says that " Mr. Major backs up ray opinion that true granite does not exist anywhere in the North Island." Then will Mr. Moody kindly tell us what is the name of the rock near Alexandra that goes by the namo of granite, and that Professor Thomas affirms to be true granite? Apologising for being the unwitting cause of taking up so much of your valuable space: thanking you in anticipation for the insertion of this letter, and following the example of your previous correspondents, I subscribe myself, JAS. T. Pinfold, F.G.S., F.R.M.S. November 16, 1899.