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ancient period, np to the highly-finished Mere Pounamu which is still used as 

 a weapon in warfare, and as a symbol of independence. Only the other day 

 we heard how Te Kooti, in his progress through the country, thought it of 

 importance to wrest the Meres from all chiefs through whose territory he passed, 

 which shows the traditional value attached to them. However, the Maoris 

 appear never to have passed beyond the so-called stone period, although they 

 were sufficiently advanced in intelligence to appropriate at once to their own 

 use the most improved forms of the implements of the iron age, when placed 

 in their hands by the white man. 



It is therefore since the settlement of this colony that the metallic ores, 

 already found, have been discovered, of which we have the following : — 



Gold — -nearly pure, or alloyed with silver or copper. 



Silver — in its native state, as well as sulphide, has been detected, but only 

 in small quantities. 



Mercury — both native, and as sulphuret or cinnabar. 



Copper — in its native state, and as sulphide, silicate, oxide, carbonate. 



Lead — as sulphide. 



Iron — as magnetite, hematite, bi-sulphide, carbonate, and titaniferous 

 iron. 



Together with these ores, chromium, zinc, antimony, arsenic, and others in 

 smaller quantities. 



These constitute the class of mining products that are excavated from 

 mineral lodes, occupying veins and crevices, or fissures in rocks, but we have 

 also coal and iron ores occurring, interbedded with stratified rocks, and from 

 our superficial deposits of sand and gravel, a rich harvest of gold dust has been 

 obtained. If we include the last group among the mining products, we should 

 not omit building-stones, slates, limestone, cement stone, brick clays and other 

 materials of construction ; but although these all form part of the mineral 

 wealth of a country, the term mining is usually restricted to those mining opera- 

 tions that require a command of capital and skilled labour. It is no doubt 

 true that in these colonies " diggers " of alluvial gold are termed miners, and 

 certainly the gigantic works which they sometimes undertake, may fairly 

 entitle them to be considered so ; but still I think much inconvenience will 

 arise if a distinction is not made between " diggings" and " mines," the former 

 providing employment for independent individual labour, under temporary 

 tenure, the latter only for an organized system of labour, and the speculative 

 application of capital, the condition requisite for which, is security of tenure. 



In New Zealand, as in all other parts of the world, accident has frequently 

 led to the first discovery of valuable minerals, and this is not to be wondered 

 at when we consider how many acute observers are found among the first 

 settlers in a new country, where every unfamiliar object excites wonder and 

 curiosity. 



A systematic survey, however, with the assistance of the experience 

 embodied in the sciences of geology and mineralogy, greatly increases the 

 chance of finding minerals, by indicating those areas which will reward a more 

 thorough investigation, and limiting the search to profitable fields. 



After the actual discovery of a mineral lode, scientific knowledge is also 

 equally useful in order to encourage and direct the operations when the 

 indications are favourable to success, and to repress too sanguine speculation 

 when they are the reverse. This latter duty is a thankless task, but still not 

 the less important and useful in assisting the true progress of a country. 

 It is especially important in all new countries that those mines should be first 

 worked which show the greatest chance of success, as failure is sure to create 

 distrust on the part of capitalists, and what is still worse, to discourage further 

 explorations. 



