358 



Transactions. — Chemistry. 



The shipments for some years 



become a considerable item, 

 are as under : — 



Year. 



1878 ... 



1879 ... 



1880 ... 



1881 ... 



1882 ... 



1883 ... 



1884 ... ... 



Another factor which will probably determine the ship- 

 ment of a much smaller quantity than formerly is the carriage 

 of goods to New Zealand by steamers, to the displacement of 

 sailing-vessels, the latter alone reqmring ballast. 



In the event of other demands arising, and so causing an 

 increase in the price of manganese ore, it is probable that an 

 impetus will be given to its production here, in which case the 

 reduction of the cost of producing it would become a neces- 

 sity; hitherto the tools and means of dressing it being of the 

 simplest, while the high price of labour and cost of exploita- 

 tion has proved inimical to its competing with other parts of 

 the world which also produce it in large quantity and of fair 

 percentage — notably Spain, Eussia, and Italy. 



Aet. XLIV. — On the Occurrence of Tellurium in the Thames 



Lodes. 



By J. A. Pond, Colonial Analyst. 



[Read hefoix the Auckland Institute, 22nd October, 1888.] 



In the year 1884 I received some rich stone from Mr. E. H. 

 Whitaker, whose assay showed it to contain silver to the 

 extent of 3,928oz., and gold 234oz. to the ton. This 

 was from the Moa Claim, at Te Aroha. The suggestion to 

 examine these specimens for tellurium was given by Sir 

 James Hector, to whom I submitted them, and who confirmed 

 the fact of tellurium being present on his return to Wel- 

 lington. In the meantime I had determined the constituents 

 of the ore, the analysis of which I append.'' This exceptionally 

 rich stone naturally led to further investigation of the ground, 

 showing that it occurred in exceedingly narrow veins, occa- 

 sionally widening to the width of an inch, or slightly more. 

 In the richer portions the telluride is accompanied by anti- 



* Analysis not received. — Ed. 



