OUR ILLUSTRATIONS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIII, Issue VI, 6 August 1904, Page 47

OUR ILLUSTRATIONS.

ROTORUA SULPHUR FIELDS. Among our illustrations this week is a picture of Maori sulphur-getters at ‘•Sodom and Gomorrah,” the local name for the desolate sulphur fields whieh lie between Rotorua and Whakarewarewa. It is from here that Messrs Kempthorne, Prosser and Co. obtain some of the sulphur used at their Westfield Works in making superphosphates and sulphuric acid. The average person has little or no idea of how important a part this acid plays in the commercial world; in fact, it would not lie. overstating its importance to say that without its aid few manufacturing industries of tlie present day could exist. Most of the sulphur used in New Zealand conies from Japan, as it is purer tlian the local article. Japanese sulphur runs as high as 90 per cent., while that obtained at Rotorua varies from 40 to 50 per cent. WAIHI EXTENDED BOOM. The discovery of a big reef in the Waihi Extended mine, with every probability of it proving to be a continuation of the famous Martha lode from the Big Waihi, has electrified the Stock Exchange. After having been almost deserted for some years, save for the customary “calls” held by the Sharebrokers’ Association, the scene on ’Change reminds one somewhat of old times, when the long arcade beneath the town clock was crowded day after day by an excited throng of buyers and sellers, when every mining stock on the list was moving upward, and piles of money were made—mostly to melt again when the slump set in. Tinies have changed, and the old hands are a little bit cautious; but the excitement that has been caused by the recent developments in the Waihi Extended may be taken as a fair indication that it would not take many more such discoveries to send Aucklanders once again fairly crazy with the fever of scrip speculation. The Waihi Extended reef appears to be all that is claimed for it, and judging by the latest reports of its size it may fairly bs concluded that the lode is identical with that from whieh the parent Waihi has been paying fat dividends for many years past. The idea formerly entertained by mining men was that this reef did not exist outside of the Martha Hill. Now it is proved to live through the Grand Junction property into the Waihi Extended, and possibly beyond. The Waihi Extended was floated in the early days of the last mining boom by the late Mr Greenwood, who placed it on the. market along with the Waihi South, at about sixpence per share. The shareholders have, then, paid a fairly large amount in calls, and the share capital of the Extended was enlarged to equalise the contributing and paid-up shares; but those who have held fast to their stock have good cause to congratulate themselves. It is a fortunate thing, too, that the mine is held locally, and whatever benefit is derived from the present advance in shares will not go into the pockets of outsiders, but to Aucklanders, and will no doubt help to develop this and other mining properties that give reasonable hope of producing good returns. The Waihi Extended boom is a big thing for the Waihi district, as a whole, for of late things have not been looking too bright there, and the township is brimming over with excitement at the prospect of even greater tilings in store. The plan published gives an excellent idea of the lie of the reef and its relation to the parent lode.