Skey. — On the Mineral Waters of New Zealand. 



445 



The first time that this character of the water was elicited was in May, 

 1872, when I had a small phial of it presented to me by Mr. Douglas 

 McLean, and in my official report thereon I stated that it gave a good 

 reaction of iodine to the proper tests even when iinconcentrated, a proof of 

 the richness of any water in iodine, and that by chromatic tests it was 

 ascertained the quantity of this element present in a gallon of the water 

 would not be less than one grain. Further, I urgently requested a 

 sufficiency of this water, to allow of a complete analysis being made upon it, 

 and this I was promised ; but the difficulties attending the transport of 

 bulky parcels from these springs here for several years prevented this 

 promise being fulfilled until April 16, 1877, when a large keg of this water 

 (b) was delivered here by Mr. Alex. Sutherland, and I was then enabled to 

 make a very full analysis of it, and note with considerable exactitude its 

 general properties. It proved to be a clear and strongly sahne water charac- 

 terized by the presence therein of a very large proportion of sodic chloride, 

 and an amount of iodine unusual for natural water, a considerable portion of 

 which is very singularly in a free state. It manifests very distinct alkaline 

 reaction, even at common temperatures and when unconcentrated. Lithia 

 appears to be absent, at least I could not detect it, even spectroscopically, 

 in the spirituous extract of the salts contained in half a gallon of the water. 

 The total quantity of matter which I have determined in one gallon of it 

 is 1474'096 grains, the constitution of which I have made out as follows : — 



Chloride of sodium 

 ,, potassium 



,, magnesium 



,, calcium 



Iodide of magnesium . . 



Bromide of magnesium 



Sulphate of lime 



Phosphate of alumina 

 ,, iron 



,, lime 



Bi-carbonate of lime 



Silica 



Iodine, free . . 



Total quantity of iodine to the gallon (free and combined) 2-127 grains. 

 This water appears to be therefore a strongly chlorinated one, unusually 

 rich in iodine, and, as before stated, is remarkable, and I might almost say 

 unique, in having a portion of the iodine in a free state. The last circum- 

 stance has induced me to request a further sample of the water, to be taken 

 under especial precautions to avoid the introduction of anything into it 





•501 





34-960 





. 120-885 





•582 





traces 





3-026 





•641 





traces 





•430 





6^451 





1-696 





1-595 





1474-096 



