CORRESPONDENCE.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 181, 4 December 1886, Page 8

CORRESPONDENCE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sik,- In looking over a Lawrence (Otago) paper a few days ago, I was much struck with Hie tact that the Tuapeka School of Mines lv»s received from Germany a collection of 2SO specimens recently imported by tliOj Government. Included in the collection are pieces of ore from Siberia, Hungary, Germany, England, South America, Africa, in fact all corners of the earth. Tboae are not only of very great value for tho purposes of the school, but they also constitute the nucleus of what will be a most interesting local museum. Seeing how friendly disposed the present Government are to Te Aroha, there is every reason for believing that if proper representations were nvide a grant might be obtained for a similar collection of specimens for Te Aroha iM he School of Mines were placed "n a permanent and substantial footing. The old happy-go-lucky days of mining are gone. Scientific research, and the applicaof pmeiy scientificjnethods of treatment, will bo the order of the day in future, and if fie gieat mineral districts of Te Aroha and Ohinemun are to be doveloped you ran&t h.ive your School of Mines, and it muat be assisted by completo collections of specimens of ores from all parts. Such an institution as a local museum would not onl> be most instructive, but would also be -\n additional attraction to visitors and touii'ts ; and I doubt not that many donatioiis, both in cash and specimens in various fluids of scientific research, would be gladly given by monoyed people who may ■\L*it youi town in the future. What is wanted is that a starft Bhould be made. Tho museum should be attached to the public library, and tho caretaker could look aftor butij. A suitable building would of couibo be required, but when once local goveromi tit matters have settled down and you h iv $ either a borough council or a town board, me local body will have ample power to boi row a few hundiede for the purpose. Al-o, if you proposed to locate the School of Mine- in the same building, the Goveinm. Nt would certainly assist with funds, as they are giving £2,000 to Hamilton at p> ofeont for public buildings. At any rate, I commend the idea to Te Aroha public man, and trust that during Mr Larnachs visit a move will be made. I make no apology fur wiiting this lettter. It is the duty ot every man to state any view vhich may be oc public benefit ; and I hold that if we rould only bring abaut the prosperity of the mining industry every class and trade would be benefited. It would give the country just the fillip it wants and I know of nothing more likely to accomplish that than to instruct miners and young men in science a* applied to the finding and extraction of gold and other metals from the vast mineral fiblds of the colony. — I am, etc., G. W Russell, Cambridge, November 26, 18S6.