460 | Proceedings. 
tions. They hal thus squandered the means at their disposal, and they 
sought assistance to prosecute their investigations. Now, the most super- 
ficial acquaintance with mineralogy or chemistry, by themselves or their 
neighbours, would have saved these men from grievous disappointment and 
serious loss. A tyro in mineralogy could have told them that the supposed 
quartz was carbonate of lime, and the supposed highly valuable gold nothing 
more valuable than delusive iron pyrites. A slight knowledge of the use of 
some of the most readily obtained chemicals would, without difficulty, have 
enabled them to obtain the same information . 
Again, how many experiments have been tried during the last twenty- 
five years on the Phormium tenax. How many men have wasted their time 
and their money on a process which a very slight acquaintance with science 
would have warned them to eschew. These are but two of the many 
instances that are occurring in which science would have liberally repaid 
attentions bestowed on her. 
It may be affirmed, as a proposition universally true, that science is of 
great practical value; how peculiarly important.is it that in this colony it 
should be generally cultivated. Here we are in a land abounding in raw 
materials of every description, of the greatest value and importance. Trea- 
sures of all kinds are spread with an unsparing hand around us in every 
direction, inviting us to accept the wealth, which, if properly used, they will 
bestow. Why do we not avail ourselves of the opportunity? Science and 
the arts are required to lend their aid, and we neglect to avail ourselves of 
their use. In a colony like this, men no doubt have serious disadvantages 
to contend with. They cannot, as in a highly civilized community, obtain 
that advice and assistance of which they often stand in need, and they are 
compelled to rely on their own resources. 
Take, for an instance, what is daily advancing towards becoming one of 
the most important and prosperous industries in this part of the colony—I 
mean gold-producing. How little do we know about it; how much have we 
to learn! There are peculiarities about the Thames Gold Field which render 
experience gained elsewhere in some measure inapplicable, and it may, 1 am 
certain, be safely affirmed that at least one-third to one-half in value is daily 
lost in the inartistie and inefficient manner in which the gold is attempted to 
be extracted from the mine, and afterwards separated from the dunt. 
material with which it is mixed. 
as He ene means ean this loss - vest: or, at all events, mitigated ? 
: of th y SA e A W 
ore E 
n. 
J d at present there are but few—there 
are are several, I feel assured, who know, at all events, some little that would 
e SS chia "were brought together, 
