THE Thames Advertiser. FRIDAY, NOV.3, 1876.

Thames Advertiser, Volume IX, Issue 2461, 3 November 1876, Page 2

THE Thames Advertiser. FRIDAY, NOV. 3, 1876.

It would be seen, from a paragraph 111 our issue a few days ago, that Mr Swanson had been making some heavy hitting at the vote for the Geological Department. Our opinion is, and webelieve it not to be unique, that the honorable member did not hit hard enough, for most assuredly the money which has been from session to session voted for this almost useless branch of the civil service, is only another example of the reckless manner in which the public money of the country lias been wantonly squandered. It will perhaps interest some of our' readers to know how the Geological Department came into existence. It originated thus: In the year 1860, when gold was discovered in the province of OtagOjand the existence of other and useful minerals such as coals and desirable buildin* stones, were proven, the Provincial Government of the day applied to Sir ■Roderick 1 Murchisoii to recommend them a gentleman whose geological attainments might be : of value-to the province. At this time Dr Hector was a young man who had but lately returned from an exploring expedition in British North America, and who was tobe seen daily lounging about the specimen 'cases of 'Jermyn-street, perluxps for the bcnefit.of science, k more probably for the benefit of himself. ■iiicr the' studious .habits..of lus young countryman, showed the Doctor Otago's letter. The Doctor took the bait, and Otago took the Doctor. There was, of course, a mutual agreement, entered into. It was to this effect: Otago to pay him £800 per annum salary for three years, thc.Doctor to geologise the province and publish a book "on the: subject. How admirably the province fulfilled ts part of the contract is evinced by

■the-fact that the then Mr Yoge}, Provincial Treasurer, moved the Government to pay the Provincial Geologist £1,000 per annum instead of £800, which they did without a murmur. But for the other part of. the contract >ve fear we must look a long time for its fulfilment. The Doctor has certainly never yet written his book on the geology of Otago, or, if so, the work has taken an immense time passing through the press. He has, however, left a legacy to the province in the shape of a few cases of substantial road-metal, each specimen labelled ; with a most unpronounceable and unintelligible name; and when we last saw them they were stored in most •admirable confusion in one of the ibarrack houses belonging to .H.M.'s ;87thKegiment of Foot during their stay :in Dunedin. The money that this 'geological collection, if we must dignify it by so scientific a term, has cost, is, however, a mere trifle in comparison ,' with what the geological staff and all its : collections are annually costing at I "Wellington. In the Empire City we havethe great Doctor at tin; excellent salary of £800"per, 'annhm-~i|i meteorological observer'(but'what' meteorology has to do with geology or Dr Hector's business,: we are; at a loss to comprehend)— an analyst-^-abotanist—and ornithologist (or : bird-stuffer)—aclerk —and subordinates. The business also of the Geological Department does not appear to be of very great moment, if we may judge by the length of time the director of the department can absent himself from his duties The Philadelphia Exhibition/ it ; appears, would not have been, the successful thing it, has proved had not the Doctor packed up his labelled rock specimens, his botanical collection, his mpa bones, liis' stuffed 'birds, his immense '.collection pfjnsectivora,jiis Maori-clubs and stone hatchets ..and cunningly-shaped weapons of offence and defence, used; by the great aboriginal nation of the Doctpr's : adopted, 'country, and gone "in persona" to exhibit them to our; American cousins aiid' their guests from the great nations of the.;■world. Dr Hector's visit to America may be of Some value, but in what respect, so far. as the geology of the 1 North' Island of the colony .is • concerned,, we: cannot: shadow, forth .the;, ; remotest, idea.' There is, however, one thing pretty; certain, and it is this, that there-is an I immense track of-auriferous hills ex-; tending along the shores, of. thej Haufaki Gulf and 'trending .along the! whole peninsula to Cape Colville;; among these the Thames Goldfield has. yielded vast wealth,'and that of; Ohinemuri.is only commencing towards: the same direction, but to neither onei or the other has the geologist; of the.' colony given that attention which is l his duty, with the ample resources at; his command. He did, however, make, a flying visit to the Thames and GW: mandel, and was bold enough to declare that there was. very little, if any, gold in the. districts. • His pro-; phecies have been, almost proverbially; erroneous, both at Tuapeka, Weather-; stones, and the goldfields of the "Waka-i tipu districts, in the South Island, and; they are signa'ly wrong when: applied to the Thames. Now, let us ask, in ; conclusion,, have we .not a right to' expect from a Government officer an honest performance of the duties for which he is .handsomely . remunerated?: And is it not at the same ,time a disgrace to the Government of any country to extend their patronage and; pay to a department which is of no practical utility to the country, and 1 which is one of the sources from whence springs the burthen of the : heavy debt which is yearly strangling' the energies of this young and otherwise prosperous country? . Dr Hector ought, by this time,.to give over the show line of business, and really and truly devote himself to the science; which he has chosen for a profession,; leaving to showmen of less calibre the * woik of cicerone. " ;i : :