D.—No. 9.

This metal may be recognized among gold dust by its bright steel-grey lustre. Its specific gravity is considerably less than that of gold ; and, owing to this, and the fact of its being attracted by the magnet used in freeing the gold from the iron sand, it may frequently escape observation. Pure platina is worth about 31s. per o/.., and this ore contains 275. 2d. worth of the metal; but the cost of manufacturing it into compact form must be considerable, so that the sample may be valued at about 21s. per o/„ As it has now been found at both extremities of the South Island (see Exhibition Jurors' Report Supplement, page 403). where the gold [diggings are contiguous to the crystalline rocks, it may be expected to occur also on the sea coast of AVestland.

MINERALS AND ROCKS.

6

MEMORANDUM CONCERNING COLONIAL MUSEUM.

No. Book. Page. NaTUSS OF SPBCDfEK. l.nru.n v. l!v whom SlKT. 7 1 39 1 29 I I I hornet, with Calo Spar Radiating Crystals of Carbonate of Lime ... Heavy Spar Sulphate of Baryta Scheelite Tungetate of Lime Gypsum ... ...» Diorite, iVoiti Dyke Sock Siliceous Bock (OVCT the COill) A now Sulphate of Iron ... ... ... Ivakanui River. Otago White Island Porertj Ba] Dunstan, Otago White Mand K;l\\;i K:i\\a Ditto White Island »Jr. Miiniell. Mr. VogeL Eev. E. Taylor. Jlr. Haokett. Colonel llauHain. Geologica] Survey. Ditto. Mr. Vbgel. J» It 30 ■Id 2 8 9 18 J' U (8CELLA2JBOUB. White Tshiiid Auckland Canterbury Auckland ... New Zealand Taraimki Testing McMillan's process Poverty Bay Mr. Vogel. Geological Survey. Mr. HalL Dr. Sector. Jfo. Manteil. Colonial Secretary. -7 ... 52a 33 ill 1 1 1 2 55 66 77 81 Water —(qualitative) Soil of the Chun Land Tobacco (si\ samples) Ditto (one sample, Native manufacture) Bitter Substance of the Kohe Koho Petroleum Oil Experiments on Kla\ Petroleum 50 Colonial Secretary. The detailed results of the above analyses have either been reported at once to the persons requiring the information, or will be embodied in their proper place in the general reports on the geology of the eoantry. A large number of qualitative analyses have also been effected upon various Museum specimens which are not referred to in the above list. Mr. Skey has, moreover, used the Laboratory in the evenings in making original researches on subjects that, are suggested in the course of his ordinary duties, and the results of several of these have already beeu transmitted to England for publication. James Hectoe, F.E.S. Geological Survey Office, 11th September, 1866.