THE TECHNOLOGIST. [June 1, 1864. 



OIU HISTORY OF THE 



alumina in dyeing and pigment making, "but I will only make a refer- 

 ence to the metal of clay, aluminium. Take from the non-silicious 

 earth (alumina), which is one of the two constituents of clay, its oxygen, 

 and a metal remains, aluminium. It is most easily prepared lrom a 

 beautiful mineral called cryolite, from its resemblance to ice, and con- 

 taining the metal united with sodium and fluorine. Aluminium is 

 spoken of as rivalling silver in brilliancy ; but those who wish it to pass 

 for such would do well to recall what Caleb Balderstone said, when he 

 tried to make the polished pewter flagons of the Master of Ravenswood 

 pass for plate — "I think it may do; I think it might pass, if they 

 winna bring it ower muckle in the licht of the window." Aluminium cer- 

 tainly more resembles tin or pewter than silver in lustre. Its better qua- 

 lities are its little liability to tarnish, and consequent cleanliness, its great 

 lightness, which places it for the present, so far as many useful purposes 

 are concerned, above all the other metals, and its remarkable sonorous- 

 ness, which gives it a peculiar value as a material for bells, gongs, and 

 musical instruments. Should it hereafter be used instead of silver for 

 table services, it will be curious to consider how little at any time has 

 "been the difference between the poor-man's stoneware platter and the 

 rich man's plate. In the platter there are two metals united with oxygen 

 in the plate, one which is free. It is not improbable that the two metals 

 in question, aluminium and silicium, will hereafter rival silver in 

 economic, if not in monetary value. But to such speculations of indus- 

 trial science there is no end. 



HISTORY OF THE GOLD DISCOVERIES IN NEW ZEALAND. 



The early history of the discovery of gold in New Zealand is enve- 

 loped in a good deal of uncertainty. It is somewhat singular that the 

 Maoris, sprung as they are supposed to be from the Asiatics of the 

 Indian Archipelago, have no traditionary knowledge of the precious 

 metals, nor do ornaments of gold or silver appear at any time to have 

 been in their possession. There is, therefore, fair ground for supposing 

 that Europeans were the first to discover gold in New Zealand — or at 

 least the first to make any practical use of the discovery. As far as the 

 records of the colony go, gold may be said to have been first discovered 

 in New Zealand in 1842, by a small exploring party under Captain 

 Wakefield, while engaged in examining the country in Massacre Bay for 

 coal and limestone. Several specks of gold, in quantities sufficient at 

 the present day to cause a large " rush," were found, but the discovery 

 seems to have been regarded as simply an interesting and curious 

 accident. When the party returned to Nelson and mentioned having 

 found gold, the story was not considered entitled to much credit or irn- 



