GREENSTONE AT MILFORD. TO THE EDITOR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13007, 23 June 1904, Page 9

GREENSTONE AT MILFORD. TO THE EDITOR

Sir,—l am pleased to sea thai the articles appearing in your vnluablo paper have been thought worthy of being copicd by other papers throughout the colony, andt (hat one of them has called forth the letter from u West Coaster," appearing in your issue of to-day's dale, because it opens? up the subject for further discussion and inquiry, which the promoters of the Milford Greenstone Company are only too anxious to have made. They invito the fullest investigation, the slightest fear as to the result. Kow, Sir. vvliat are the i'acds? I presume that oven " Wcsl Coaster" will admit that the lapidaries aro the be?b judges of the stone, and Air Larson, of Auckhuul, who lias, I believe, this largest lapidary works in the colony, told me that the stono he saw in ray office was the finest tangi-wni that, be had ever seen, and was very desirous of purchasing a cuontity of it; and since he has rtturned home lie writes asking /or some of the stone,-as lie desires it for a special purpose. Mr C. Cmsholm, lapidary, ot this city, says: " I nave examined the specimens of grefcustono submitted by you, and must say that they aro the best I have seen. It is a special kind' of stone, most prized by the Maoris, who call it tangi-wai (tear walw), because of til© tear-like drops ruuning, through it. I should' the specimens submitted as being worth from 53 to 7s Gfii per lb in the rough." Mr J. Lamg, lapidary, also of thus city, savs; "The samples of stone from Milford Sound submitted to ino for examination by -Mr Dawsoa lately are of liigH quality, ami are tho best and finest of tnngj-wai I have vet seen, anu it got in sufficient quantities, and of as good quality as to colour, would 1)0 of considerable value." , , „ . There is one ton and three-quarters of Una sicno in Dmiedin at the present moment, and surely thut is sufficient- evidence of tuo exister.cn of tho lodo or reef; but, over and sibevo these facts, a gang of men have l>=en working on the ground for 15- months, homo of thpsc. men are now in Dimediir, and any person doubting the genuineness 01 tho lodo or reef can easily inquire of them. ( As to til? price given for tho V est Cons, greenstone, I shall bo very pleased to show samples of both the Milford Sound greenstone aild "West Coast greenstone to anyone calling at my office, 79 Princes street, and linv ordinary observer can at once see for himself tho difference in quality flUrt value of the stone. That there is a market for good gTCenstoiio I have never heard denied; but, on the contrar;, persons coming from Europe, Capetown, Canada, and Australia lmvc assured mo that there is a v?ry big demand for greenstone, and it cannot be supplied. "West Coaster" seems to bo of the opinion. that the ordinary. greenstono {iiotuiainu). is Ito

inly proper greenstone that there is in, New 'caland. In this- he makes ;i mistake, for ho tangi-wai (our stone) i.H tile snercdi Maori :ic-eiistone, and of much greater value than he West Coast- or ponnamit stone.—l am, etc., AitTKUK A. ADAMS. June 21.