IMPORTANT DISCOVERY OF MANGANESE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8395, 19 January 1889, Page 3

IMPORTANT DISCOVERY OF MANGANESE.

VALUABLE EXPORT TRADE

ANTICIPATED,

Since 1879 cocsiderable shipments of manganese ore have beep made from New Zealand. Up to 1885 the quantity exported was 12,000 tons, valued at £43,000, the largest shipment being 2600 tons in one year, but it afterwards fell to a few hundred tons. It came chiefly from the Hay of Islands, and the Official Book en mines states the average percentage at 44 per cent., which we presume means o! the per-oxide. A discovery has now been made so close to Duncdin, and of such remarkable quality, thata large export is likely quickly to develop, the assays being given 80 to D 9 per cent of pure per-oxide. "We have seen samples, and they have great weight, black in color, and every appearance of being exceedingly free from extraneous matter. The deposit is situated near the mouth of the Taieri, on Mr Hughau's and Mr Lawson's land, and leases have been obtained from these gentlemen to work the ore en a royalty. The existence of the lodes have been known for a long time, but their value has only recently been ascertained by Mr F. Wayne who, haviug been trained in the London School of MinGS, has some knowledge of the subject, and ho ha 3 fouad Home gentlemen to join him ia opening up the mines under his management. Our correspond dent has visited the locality, and seen the lodes opened out at three different points, a quarter of a mile apart, and the ore is remarkably solid, <closo to the surface, with very little stripping. There cau be no reasonable doubt that there are rthousands of tons available a very little cost, gome of the ore 13 not so valuable as the rest, ■but it all has a marketable value. A sample was seat Home through the National Mortgage Company, and a very favourable report was received, but doubts was expressed whether any large quantity of such pure ore was obtainable. Then a ton and a-half was sent Home, &ud a cable message hae lately been received, placing a value on it that leaves niurge margin for profit, and this sample was not so pure as some since •discovered. The cable -also recommends s?jipment3. The ore has, we believe, of late been largely used in the manufacture of steel, which it is said to render non-magnetic and very pliable. It has also variou3 uses in the arts on a smaller scale. The authority for the last report is believed to be the highest in London; and a3 there is every reason to suppose that the Taieri ore is the purest in the world, and other deposits of a less valuable quality are known to exist within a radiu3 of seven miles, we see no reason to doubt that at lea3t to the extent to which the freightage capacity at ballast rates extends an important export will shortly be developed. Fifty tons are to be sent Horns us soon as the lodes are fairly opened up, and ] within a few months many hundreds of tons will &c available for shipment. Vessels can, we believe, be got in to the Taieri to take the ore by ■sea to Dunedin or Port Chalmers, but failSng this it can be delivered by lighter «p the river to Titri station, whence the railage -will be about fis a ton. It is possible some of the ore may contain cobalt, and if so, ib will be greatly more valuable. The distance to the river is not more than threo miles along a level plain, and a tramway can be laid very cheaply. It is well to warn other prospectors thatpurity is a most important factor in the value of these ores, ax impure ores will sometimes not pay to ship, *We believe this will prove to be a most valuable -iind, and heartily congratulate Mr Wayne on 4he success so far of his efforts to develop a new industry, which may become a considerable source of wealth. It only now remains to place ■z. considerable shipment on the London market to test its value in the most practical way. It will be an advantage to the shipowner to save 'the cost of ballast, as well as to the shipper to get Home the ore at a nominal freight, and it is to be hoped that arrangements will be made to suit both parties. For a considerable tima to ■come the mines can be worked level free, so there will be no difficulty with water.