On Mining in New Zealand. By James Hector, M. D., F. R. S., 



Director Geological Survey of New Zealand. 



[Abstract of Lectures delivered at the Colonial Museum, Wellington, on July 24 and 31, 

 o,nd August 21 and 28, 1869.]* 



New Zealand was not, like many other countries, first colonised on account 

 of the attractions which its mineral wealth offered, and yet it is worthy of 

 remark how early in the history of its occupation we find that mining was 

 practised. 



The earliest mine opened in New Zealand was at the Island of Kawau, 

 which now belongs to Sir George Grey, where a vein of manganese ore, and 

 soon afterwards, a copper lode, was opened up in 1842. Coal was also worked 

 in New Zealand, for the first time in 1842, at Motupipi, in the Province of 

 Nelson, so that these two great elements in the manufacturing progress of a 

 country, fuel and metalliferous ores, were brought into notice at the same date, 

 but in localities far apart, within three years of the formation of the colony. 



The natives appear to have known nothing of the use of metals, and to 

 have had nothing derived from the mineral kingdom in their possession, 

 which would be deemed useful by the white man. The weapons and imple- 

 ments of the Maoris were made altogether of wood, bone, and stone, and it is 

 a very significant fact for Ethnologists that a race possessing such acute power 

 of observation, should not have made further progress ; for had they brought 

 with them to this country any traditional knowledge of the use of metals, they 

 could hardly have failed to have discovered their presence in these islands. 

 They do not, however, deserve the low status accorded to them by Professor 

 Cotta, in a recent lecture, who in describing, in a peculiarly lucid manner, the 

 steps by which man has advanced in the application of natural substances 

 to supply his wants, says : — " On account of the implements prevailing, or at 

 least preponderating in successive periods of time, the history of civilization 

 has been divided into stone, bronze, and iron ages. * * * The 



stone period was divided afterwards into an older and younger, according as 

 the workmanship was very rude or otherwise. But in some parts of the world, 

 wood, bone, and shell appear to have been used in place of stone. The New 

 Zealanders in the earliest times, and indeed till quite recently, have made 

 their implements and weapons of very hard wood. They have never had a 

 stone period." f 



And again in another passage he remarks : — " Whilst in Europe and 

 many other parts of the Old World, the age of iron had long been introduced, 

 the inhabitants of America continued for centuries to use weapons made of 

 copper, bronze, or stone, and the inhabitants of New Zealand, of hard wood." J 



As a sufficient answer to these statements, it is only necessary to point to 

 the cases in the Museum, which show every variety of stone weapon and 

 implement used by the Maoris, from the flakes of chert, belonging to a very 



* These lectures were chiefly explanatory of geological plans and sections, and having 

 been delivered from notes, and imperfectly reported, are now given in the following 

 condensed form. 



•Y "Geology and History." By Bernhard von Cotta, pp. 29-30, 



%Ib., p. 33. 



