THE MINERAL WATERS OF NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4362, 13 March 1875, Page 3

THE MINERAL WATERS OF NEW ZEALAND.

The mineral springs of Taupo and other districts in the provinces of Auckland and Hawke s Bay are now receivingso much attention, and are attracting so many visitors in search of health as well as beautiful scenery, that wishes have been generally expressed that the waters should be analysed. This had already been done, though the fact appears to have escaped observation.' In Dr. Hector’s eighth annual report (for 1873) on the Colonial Museum and Laboratory, the following remarks (among others) are made by Mr, Skey, Government analyst : No. 1404. Mineral water from Puriri, Auckland ; composition calculated in grains per gallon. Chloride of sodium 21‘933 lodide of magnesium Traces Sulphate of soda ’O4O Sulphate of potash .. .. .. 4*93S Carbonate of iron Traces Bi-carbonate of lime 2S*SOC Bi-carbonatc of magnesia .. .. 25*025 81-carbonate of soda 452*393 Bi-carbonatc of silica .. .. .. Traces Phosphoric acid.. .. Not determined Silica 2*772 537*112 This water is clear and sparkling, has a specific gravity of 1006*46 at 60deg, Pahr., and is strongly alkaline. A crystalline sediment had formed, the composition of which was carbonate of lime 81*21, and carbonate of magnesia, with traces of iron, 18*79. The quantity of free carbonic acid and other gases present in the water as it escapes from its source, cannot well be determined, except at the spring. This is, therefore, a very interesting water, and is an alkaline one comparing

with many of the famous “ Continental ’* waters of this class ; for instance, those of Vichy, in France, and of Fachingen (Nassau). These waters are used medicinally, especially for the cure of gravel, kidney diseases, and gout, also for acidity of the stomach, their most active agent being carbonate of soda. No. 1406 (11). From Hot Spring, Tarawera, is a water containing a considerable amount of free acid (hydrochloric). Its principal constituent is chloride of sodium. The silica is very low, but the sodium high in amount. No. 1406 (12). —From Mr. Parke’s spring, Taupo.—The most saline water of this series. It contains a large quantity of silica, and is rich in iodine.

* Tlie carbonic acid in No. 12 is that which is in s combined form ; there is, besides, a quantity of this acid in a free state. It should be stated that all these samples of mineral waters gave evidence of the presence of sulphuretted hydrogen, but as they were enclosed in cork bottles, the quantity of this gas naturally existing in them could not be ascertained ; organic matters, such as cork, being able to generate sulphuretted hydrogen from aqueous solutions of the sulphates when in contact with them.

In the following schedule the localities of the various waters are stated, together with certain interesting particulars which have been furnished with the samples, and also their general character as adduced from results described in the foregoing table - No. I.—Otumuheke Spring, collected Ist May, 1873. A siliceous water, more than half the solid matters present being silica ; the remaining portion is principally chloride of sodium, with a notable quantity of iodides. No. .2.—From same locality, collected at same time, is also a siliceous water; but though it contains a large proportion of alkaline chlorides, it gives but slight indications of iodine.

No. 3.—Otumuheke Stream water, temp. 78°, from bathing-places at Lake Taupe, and is similar to No. 1. It is largely charged with iodine. No, 4.—From Kuahine Hot Springs (springs . on Mr. Locke’s ground), the temperature of which is 190° Fahr, It is eminently a saline water, its principal constituent being chloride of sodium. This water is charged with iodine to the highest degree of any of this series of waters. Collected May Ist, 1873. ]g 0- s._The baths, Orakei-Korako, as received, very turbid and high colored. Turbidity did not sensibly disappear when water i. was allowed to stand at rest for a long time. This water is highly charged with saline matters (alkaline, chlorides), and it gives_ a very distinct reaction of iodine. It contains much organic matter. No. 6, from Mr. Mac Murray’s hath, is a siliceous water, and though poor ia alkaline chlorides, is rich in iodides. No. 7.—The Alum cave, Orakei-Korako, collected 17thi May, 1573, differs from any of the preceding waters in containing a large quantity of sulphate of lime. It gives evidence of only traces of iodine. No. B.—The Crow Nest hot springs, temperature of spring 179° Fahr. Collected Ist May, 1873. Similar to No. 4, being a very saline water. Quantity of iodine is very minute, but still can be detected in the water unconoentrated.

No. 9.—From Waipahnhi, forms a pool about fifty yards by thirty, the native name of which is Ko-neke-ueke. It has a rooky bottom, and is a fine swimming bath. Temperature of water varies from 98° to 120°. Collected Ist May, 1873. This is a siliceous water, from which iodine appears to be absent; at least this element could not be detected in it by the starch test, when concentrated (by evaporation) to onefifth of its original hulk. No. 10.—From a hot spring on the Oranui Block, Te “Huka Huka,” forms a bathing - place 15ft. by 10ft., a cold water creek andhot springs issuing from the rocks at side and bottom. Collected sth May, 1873. This (No. 10) resembles the spring water of a slate country, its salt being less siliceous than any of the other waters except Nos. 3 and 11. It is, however, largely charged with iodine.^ It is seen that we have several distinct kinds of mineral waters within no great distance of each other, which of itself is often a considerable advantage in the medicinal use of waters of tills kind. It is to be observed, however, that while some of them differ very'much from the rest in general chemical characters, they nearly all contain iodine, and in quantity : sufficient _to impart to them decided therapeutic qualities, iodine and its alkaline salts being, as is well known, very efficacious when externally applied in cases of cutaneous eruption, chronic rheumatism, and like complaints. In the report for 1874 occurs the following passage : WATERS. Several mineral waters from new localities have been partially examined and analyzed quantitatively. Among the former is a water procured _by myself from Burton’s, Taipo, No, 1500. It is a hepatic one, of a variety different to any of those found or at least announced here prior to this. Besides the sulphuretted hydrogen whichgives it the character stated for it, this water contains a little arsenic and minute traces of iodine. _lt is slightly acid, but acquires a strong alkaline reaction when evaporated to a small bulk. No. 1524 is from a small lake at Waimongeao, near Mount Edgecombe, and is asserted to be of a poisonous nature, from the fact that birds in attempting to fly over frequently fall into it. The only substance present in this water capable, when mixed with air, of thus affecting birds, is carbonic acid, and as the water appears strongly charged with this in all probability there is a large escape of it from the bed of the lake, and which, after saturating the water of it, mixes with the air above and so poisons it. . , No. 1567 is from a mineral spring about tne boundary of the Horn Donald Mcl. can’s run in the province of Napier. Its characters are as follows Somewhat turbid, has a decidedly saline taste, and is feebly alkaline totest paper Its principal constituent is chloride ot sodium ; it differs from sea-water, however, in containing a notable quantity of carbonate ot soda ; also, in giving a very distinct reaction of iodine to the proper tests for this substance, even when these are applied to the water as unconcentrated. The following results of its analysis are expressed m grains per gallon: g .... 219310 So>Ja •• - 2'833 Potash *’ o-oi9 Lime Magnesia.. .. •• ;; Traces Lithoa •• •• •• i*4Sl Iron oxides .. ■* *‘ ■’ C4IS Silica •. • • * ■ oio*3o'i Chlorine Sulphuric acid is-xii Carbonic acid ... ml, lodine and bromine 1 498-940 These results allow of being expressed m the following manner; — Chloride of sodium Chloride of potassium.. • • _ ; • .. * **s lodides and bromides .. • • cstna.dea Sulphate of soda .. •• •• Carbonate of soda {r-S? Carbonate of magnesia - •• Carbonate of lime Carbonate of iron “ttx Silica 6413 445-511 —The difference in these totals arises from the elimination of some oxygen in the case of the column giving the smaller one.^ A mineral water just collected by the Survey, from Waipiro, Poverty Bay, No. 1000, has not been fully examined: it has been, however, ascertained to be a very saline one, chloride of sodium being its predominating salt. It is interesting as occurring associated with the petroleum of that district.

— Acidulous Mineral Water. Alkaline Mineral Water. Chlorine, with Bro11. 12 mine Traces 40*497 56-076 Iodine *714 1-012 Sulphuric Acid .. 2T50 2-156 Silica 2'221 16752 Carbonic Acid Traces *35*751 Alumina .. '621 Iron 1*049 Lime 2 030 i‘994 Magnesia .. *492 613 Potash 3-681 5*675 Soda 46-495 80*710 Silica Traces Traces. Phosphoric Acid .. 09-956 200*739