TIN, LEAD 219 



New South Wales (chiefly in the New England Tableland), 

 and Western Australia, and South Australia also have deposits 

 of tin, and it is mined in South Africa, near Stellenbosch, in 

 Cape Colony ; and in the Rustenburg and Waterburg districts, 

 in the Transvaal. 



Northern Nigeria has enormous areas of tin-bearing land, 

 and ' it is anticipated that the tin-mining industry will 

 ultimately develop into one of the greatest sources of wealth 

 of the Protectorate '. 



From these places we buy tin in the form of blocks, ingots, 

 bars, and slabs, as well as in the form of ore, to such an extent 

 that only small quantities are imported from foreign countries. 



And these foreign imports are not due to necessity, for not 

 only does the Empire produce enough tin for its own use, but 

 (including the tin used in tin-plate) foreign countries are 

 dependent on us to the extent of nearly 60 per cent, of their 

 requirements. 



LEAD (A.S. lead, Latin plumbum). 



The lazy leaden-stepping hours 



Whose speed is but the heavy plummet's pace. 



MILTON. 



This heaviness of lead is one of its best-known characteristics, 

 and one which caused it to be used from early times for all 

 kinds of weights, and, later on, for bullets and shot of every 

 description. 



Some metals, notably iron, when exposed to moist air 

 combine with its oxygen to form oxides, or as we say to rust 

 or tarnish, and though this happens at first in the case of 

 lead, so that it quickly loses its lustre and becomes dull looking 

 or wan, yet afterwards oxidation proceeds so slowly that lead 

 can be used for making cisterns, and water-pipes, and roofs, 

 and for various similar purposes. 



As neither sulphuric acid nor hydrochloric acid in the 

 dilute state act on lead, it is largely used in tho fittings of 

 chemical works. It is so soft that it can be scratched with 

 the nail and can be easily hammered into any shape required, 



