Washbourne. — Minerals at Nelson. 



349 



for flux alone the cost came to nearly 30s. per ton of ore, out of 

 the 40s. for which he was to treat it ; and even then he did not 

 use enough to save the percentage he engaged to do. The pro- 

 portion of ore to flux and fuel in such ores may he taken roughly 

 as one to three ; so that it is cheaper to take the ore to the flux 

 and fuel than the reverse. 



At the Parapara, Colliugwood, there are immense deposits 

 of ironstone and crystalline limestone, both of first-class quality. 

 They are close to deep water in a very central position, bordering 

 on the Straits, and so in the line of vessels ; fuel and water- 

 power are cheaply and easily obtainable. If we take the cost of 

 flux and fuel at the Thames for the 181 tons of ore treated 

 there, and compare it with the cost of the same quantities at the 

 Parapara, we shall see what a difference there would be in the 

 cost of treatment. I take the following quantities and prices 

 for the Thames from the report of the Directors : — 



A difference of £294, less the freight on the ore from the Thames 

 to Parapara. 



A great consideration in favour of having one central esta- 

 blishment where the materials required are cheaply obtained is, 

 that the necessary appliances, skilled labour, and knowledge can 

 be concentrated to treat any and all ores. This cannot be done 

 with small scattered ones about the country ; and the cost of 

 treatment in the former would be much less per ton, besides the 

 fact that the mixing of different ores is often necessary and 

 generally beneficial. The opening of reduction works in a 

 position available to all New Zealand, as this would be, would 

 have a very useful and encouraging effect on mining. Ores of 

 all kinds would then have a marketable value, and it would do 

 away with the present uncertainty of the working value of an 

 ore. The length of time a mine may last is too uncertain to 

 warrant the expenditure necessary for treating the ores econo- 

 mically ; and, although a mine may have a few or even a good 

 many tons of good ore to treat, it is necessary that there should 

 be a very large quantity proved before erecting furnaces, etc. 

 The consequence of this is that much valuable ore is lost, 

 because it is scattered about the country, a few tons here and 

 a few tons there, not sufficient in any one place to put up 

 the costly plant for, but which could be brought to a central 



