NELSON SCHOOL OF MINES.

Colonist, Volume XLVII, Issue 11432, 11 September 1905, Page 4

NELSON SCHOOL OF MINES.

In his annual report on the Nelson .chool of Mines, Mr W. F. Worley, he instructor, states that there rercii.3 boys in the mineralogy and dowpipe analysis class, and each >oy waa taught to identify, by aeans of the blowpipe, ores of all cinds. Twice during the year this lass was taken out for field work. )nce to the Dun Mountain, where ipecimens of iron, copper, and shrome were collected for subsequent ireatment, and once to the Lea /alley for the study of stratified leposits, and the work done by •ivers. One student— a lady preparng for an examination in dispensing —took a preliminary course of ;welve lessons in elementary jhemistry. The instruction given ,vas both theoretical and practical, md as far as possible intimately interwoven. The subjects taken up were few in number, but a good Foundation was laid, upon which future instruction will be built, rhis student intends to continue the studies in this subject for about two pears, when she will present herself for examination. In all twentyseven assays were made for the public. These comprised twentyJJ two assays for gold, three samples of coal, one sample of copper ore, which waß assayed for copper and gold, and one sample of argentiferous galena, which was .assayed for gold, silver, and lead. With the exception of the coals, all the foregoing was of poor quality, and not likely to be of any commercial value. Several of the assays for gold were made on Parapara ironstone, which only yielded traces of gold. A white crystalline substance sent from the Owen Junction by Mr Win proved upon analysis to be native fepsomite. Mr Win reported 5 that those who found this substance were made ill by drinking tea made from water near whereat was got. No wonder I For many years past I have had} to work in a wretchedly small laboratory, and the amount of work I could undertake has been considerably curtailed thereby. Now, at my own expense, its capacity hasjbeen more than doubled, and if my health will permit I hope to increase the amount of work hitherto done here.