Page:Transactions NZ Institute Volume 10.djvu/644

568 A short discussion took place in which Dr. W. L. Buller took part.

8. "Manibus Parkinsonibus Sacrum—A brief Memoir of the First Artist who visited New Zealand; together with several little-known Items of Interest extracted from his Journal," by W. Colenso, F.L.8. (Transactions, p. 108.)

A cordial vote of thanks was passed and ordered to be recorded to the Hon. Secretary for his papers.

SECOND MEETING. 10th September, 1877.

There being only a few members present, owing to the inclemency of the weather, no papers were read.

THIRD MEETING. 8th October, 1877. H. R. Holder in the chair.

The President, the Hon. J. D. Ormond, M.H.R., was chosen to vote in the election of the Board of Governors for the ensuing year, in accordance with clause 7 of the "New Zealand Institute Act."

1. "Notes, chiefly historical, on the ancient Dog of the New Zealanders," by W. Colenso, F.L.8. (Transactions, p. 135.)

The thanks of the meeting were unanimously accorded to the Hon. Secretary for his paper.

2. "On two indigenous Productions—Manganese and Zostera marina—which might be made fair Articles of Export," by J. A. Smith.

I beg to make a few remarks with regard to two exports from New Zealand which will repay the shipper.

The first is manganese, a mineral. It is found in France, Hungary, Brazil, Cornwall, and Devon, also in the North Island of New Zealand. A mine is now open at the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, with, I believe, success. The specimen produced is from that mine. It has been assayed by Mr. Tunny, and found to contain from 80 to 84 per cent of pure manganese. As to colour, it is found of a dark steel-grey, bluish, or iron-black. It is used for producing oxygen, chlorine, and chloride of lime, removing the brown and green tints in glass, in painting glass and enamel work, and for glazing and colouring pottery. In 1872, when in England, I visited the extensive Hebburn chemical works at Gateshead, on the Tyne, the property of Messrs Charles Tennant and Co. They occupy about 250 acres of land, of which about 18 acres are occupied by sulphuric acid chambers, which will give some idea of its vast extent. This is a branch establishment of the well-known St. Rollox chemical works in Glasgow belonging to the same firm. The principal reason for establishing these works on the Tyne was that they could get the chalk ballast brought by the colliers from London at 5s. per ton. Mr. Buchanan, the Manager of the Hebburn works, informed me that he would take any quantity of manganese of good quality that we could send from New Zealand at from £6 to £7 per ton. Besides sending it to London in our wool ships as ballast it might be shipped to Liverpool and Glasgow for the extensive chemical works in the vicinity of