THE GEOLOGY OF NEW ZEALAND ECONOMICALLY CONSIDERED.

Colonist, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11736, 19 September 1906, Page 2

THE GEOLOGY OF NEW ZEALAND ECONOMICALLY CONSIDERED.

On Monday night Mr Joseph Taylor, mining engineer, delivered the fifth lecture in his third series of "Popular Science Lectures," at the Universal Institute, his special subject being "The Geology of New Zealand Economically Considered." A proper appreciation of the geology of a country, said Mr Taylor, not only revealed the rocks presented at the surface, but also disclosed the mineral contents of that country, and formed the best index to its future industrial developments. The geology of New Zealand was highly complicated, and considerable skill was required to correctly decipher its indications ; nevertheless, its leading features were reducible to systematic form in accordance with the classifications of general geology, and already it had been made clear chat New Zealand was, in proportion to its area, one of the richest mineral countries in the world. The lecturer dealt in detail with the various systems of classification adopted by leading geologists, and then proceeded to compare the different conditions under which the rocks were formed and mineralised in the North Island with tbose of theSoutb Island, the whole subject being profusely illustrated by diagrams and mineral specimens. The geological features and mineral resources of the Nelson Mineral Belt were expounded in extenso, and the lecturer concluded by showing the economic importance to this district and Colony of the vast and varied mineral reources of the Maruia and Upper Buller; also in the neighborhood of Motueka and Collingwood, which were certain, sooner or later, to transform Nelson Province into the most active industrial centre in New Zealand. It was a highly significant sign that these matters were shortly to be urged upon the attention of the Government in a combined and systematic manner. £