HOW — ON MINERALS FOR THE PARIS EXHIBITION. 29 



The specimens of quartz and gold are from eleven districts, 

 viz : — Sherbrooke, Oldham, Tangier, the Ovens Lunenburg, 

 Waverly, Renfrew, Uniacke, Lawrencetown, Montague, Wine 

 Harbour, and Gay's Eiver. Many of these are of exceeding 

 richness, and the collection illustrates beautifully the mode in 

 which gold occurs in the Province, and the characters of the 

 metal found. The total value of the specimens is very roughly 

 estimated at not less than $1500. 



Leaving these glittering specimens, whose value is likely to 

 meet with ready appreciation, we come to 



Building Stones : Here we have three fine granites, and 

 three freestones, furnished by H. Peters, Esq., and some free- 

 stones from Hants Co., by J. Wood, Jr., which do not bear so 

 good a character as their neighbours. There is also a " firestone 

 from Falmouth," which is much used in building fireplaces, and 

 is said to stand very well, it has been approved of by judges in 

 Halifax. A very interesting addition to these rocks is made 

 by H. Webster, Esq., of Kentville, who furnishes an " oven- 

 stone " from the red sandstone of CornwaUis, which is cut to 

 any shape with the greatest ease with an axe, and answers an 

 admirable purpose in making ovens. Side by side with this are 

 remarkably fine specimens of barytes or heavy spar from Five 

 Islands. Though not very bulky, the two probably weigh 

 200 lbs ; they give the idea that the mineral is found in quantity, 

 and they are pretty free from copper pyrites, which appears to 

 be the only impurity present. I have little doubt these speci- 

 mens will be much coveted for museums when they reach Paris. 

 Close to these specimens are the 



Marbles : Here we find a specimen of the white marble, from 

 Five Islands, which unfortunately has turned out not so good 

 as the sample exhibited in 1862 ; it is of course a surface 

 specimen, and has no doubt been afiected by frost. There are 

 also two or three specimens of the very remarkable and beauti- 

 ful wave-lined grey marble from New Glasgow : these would, 

 I have little doubt, be made to go a great way in inlaid work 

 in the hands of an old-country lapidary. I have no hesitation 

 in saying that this is likely to attract considerable attention. 

 There is also a beautiful green marble from Five Islands, and 



