THE Wellington Independent. Tuesday, October 15,1861. THE MASTERTON METAL.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1676, 15 October 1861, Page 5

THE Wellington Independent. Tuesday, October 15, 1861. THE MASTERTON METAL.

Great doubts seem to exist as to this being a genuine production of nature. Some of tbe learned as well as many of the foolish have laughed at this metal as a palpable deception. It is said brass has never been found in a natural state, though no reason bas been furnished why it sbould not be, and until that is .supplied, we shall bot feel that a mixed metal suoh as brass may not be found as a natural formation. We give below two letters with a Minute upon the subject ; the one written at. the instigation of Captain Ward, master of the Mint at Sydney, upon his minute ; the other frora G. Phillips, Esq., of the Inland Revenue Laboratory, Somerset House, Loudon. Sydney, Mint, Feb. 10, ,1860. - <•■■ Dbab Sib,— Captain Ward has had. the Ore you left' me, examined by the Mint Assayers, who state it to be a composition of Copper and Zinc, or Brass. If you can procure any more •specimens of it, and a full description of the locality &c. Captain Ward will be glad to have it scientifically examined, and a paper prepared of its description for the Philosophical Society. Your's truly

J. TIJOKETT.

The words Ore and Brass are both underlined. Whether that is intended to express any doubt, we know not, but itt no other way oau doubt be deteotedin reference to this metal not being a genuine production of nature. The following is Captaiu Ward's minute on the subjeot.

;<..;:• .--y Royal Mint, Sydney, Feb. 9. ; The specimen sent is a composition of Copper and Zinc, or Brass. Fuither particulars

1 the locality and extent of country in which this is found would be acceptable, and a further specimen of the ore is requested. Samples from several parts ofthe district, if the district is extensive, would be preferable. * The blank 13 left in consequence of there being a word we cannot r-3ad. No doubt of the Masterton Metal being a natural formation, that we can detect, is evinced in this tninule. j Inland Revenue Laboratory, ' Somerset House, London, Nov. 16, 1861 Mt Dkab Sm, — The metal is Copper an< Zinc; it is in reality a Natural Brass; bein; however richer in Copper, than Brass as ordi narily used. There is almost four parts 0 ' Copper to one of Zinc. * - 1 Faithfully your's I G." Phillips, 1

For faking the trouble to get the first assay we have to thank Captain Henry O'Reilly of the Boomerang steamer, and for the other the Hou. J. Johnston of this city. It will again be noted that no doubt about its being a production of nature is expressed. We may state that Mr. Ashmore of Greytown, has assured a friend that no deception has heen praotised, and we think he added that he too had found this metal in the earth at Masterton.

This Province ;<was the first to put a sum upou the Estimates with a viow to getting a Geologist to examine its formation, but it has never yet been applied. The services of Dr. Hochstetter were secured for the benefit of Auokland and Nelson, through the influence of Mr. Stafford, we believe, late Premier of this Colony. Our Superintendent we know applied, but Dr. Hochstetter could not spare the time, it being necessary for him to rejoin the Austrian Exploring Expediton to which be was attached as Geologist, as soon as possible after the arrival of the Novara at Trieste. Canterbury has secured the services of Mr. Haast, and appears likely to reap great benefit from his explorations. Possibly when he has completed his engagement there, he might be induced to perform a similar task for this Province, and if so it would be most desirable to seoure his services, as we should have the additional advantage of the large amount of practical experience he will have obtained in the. numerous examinations he will have made in other parts of New Zealand.

We would suggest the advantage that might arise if every person finding anything ourious would take or forward it to some one person in this City, to obtain infurmation as to its value. We do not known a better party with whom to communicate, than Mr. Lyon. He is known 10 take a most lively interest in Geology and Mineralogy, and is generally to be met with iii Wellingtou. As it is, any thing found is (aken to towu, and probably some delightfully ignorant party laughs at the finder, who thereupon throws away his specimeu, and so possibly the progress of knowledge is arrested. * Four parts to one are 80 per cent out of the 100 parts, which is considered nearly the best of yields from a copper mme — the remainder being refuse while here it is Zinc, but being in connection with the Copper forms a metal ready prepared for the manufacturer. If this metal can be found in any quantities it should prove more valuable than either Copper. or Brass.