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Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1082, 3 May 1882, Page 2

When the present iMinister of Mines, Mr Kolleston, was here a short time ago, he agreed that a Museum was one of the necessities of a mining centre like Reefton, and what is more he has kept faith with the public here in permitting 1 the services of an expert, Mr M'Kay, to be utilised for the purpose of gathering the nucleus of the new collection. Mr M'Kay is now amongst us, and has already given proof of his fitness for the task he has undertaken, the beneficial results of whieh can hardly be over-estimated. At the same time a Museum, however perfect, is only a step in the direction of giving people resident in mining districts, a mining education, and much remains to be done to teach people the value of the places in which they live. Up to the present time, though New Zealand is known to abound in metals and minerals of the highest commercial value, there has been no attempt to educate the population so as to utilise them. Though the State has spent and is spending hundreds of thousands of pounds in general, and, indeed, high class education, there has as yet been no attempt to teach metallurgical chemistry, or to instruct the young in the value of the various ores that are scattered broadcast over the mining portions of the colony. Such a thing as a School of Mines has never been projected, either for the rising generation or for adults, whilst the value of such a branch of instruction could not be over-estimated. At the present time, coal and gold are the only valuable products sought for, though it is notorious that others, nearly, if not WWy^iSHe iJotraSlc kno^vfep.to bring them into notice. In the old days of gold WJT4&& we speak say of thirty Wrl agd, in Victoria, hundreds' of highly payable claims were bottomed by new chum diggers who threw away the washdirt without knowing what they were doing, and only stoppedisinking when they got to the rock.' So in a lesser degree miners of the present day in this very district pass by metals and minerals of whose worth they are ignorant, though possibly the gold that they are searching for, is very little superior to what they, through their want of knowledge, ignore. The foundation of a Museum will, no doubt, do great good to those who are anxious to learn, and will show to the inexperienced what they frequently throw away as worthless to be possessed of a high value. But still the great want of something still more instructive in the shape of lectures with striking illustrations will be felt, and till a generation be educated in this direction, the vast wealth of New Zealand will never be properly developed. Mr M'Kay has already commenced a good work, and as far as we are able to judge, a more fit person to inaugurate the future Reefton Museum could not have been selected. But before he leaves the district we would suggest that he be asked to favor the public with a course of practical lectures that cannot fail to be of the greatest benefit to the mining community, and will certainiy be listened to with the most intense and absorbing irterest. Those who would appreciate such addresses do not want high flown or super-super scientific terms. They would be quite satisfied, indeed more than satisfied to have plain facts stated in a plain way, to obtain information in any homely guise, and to gather instruction in such simple language as the lecturer might choose to employ. The advantage that would be derived would speedily be felt. It would rouse a spirit of enquiry, it would be the means of setting the miners thinking, and the results in time to come would be speedily apparent. We are quite sure that Mr M'Kay possesses all the requisite knowledge to acquit himself creditably in such a role, and we have little doubt that he possesses all the inclination to do good in this direction provided he be invited 1 so to do. Aft inserting the thin edge of the wt*lge, as a commencement towards dissipating some of the ignorance that unfortunaly prevails in reference to our mining wealth, we hope that this suggestion will not be made in vain. We feel confident that Mr M'Kay's chief would gladly consent to such a duty if he himself would kindly undertake to lighten the darkness of his fellow men. We trust that a suitable invitation will be sent to him, and have little doubt that his good natur will induce him to accept it With

the formation of a Museum, a more fitting introduction could not be giyen, nor one more welcome and useful to the general public.

It will be satisfactdry to the many friends of Mr Charles M'Gaffin to hear that he is progressing most favorably to convalescence, in Westport, and there is every reason to believe that in a few weeks he will be again amongst us, restored to perfect health. We hope that the present favorable change will be maintained, and that present hopes will not be entertained in vain. Telegraph stations have been opened at Paerua, and Turua, both in the County of Thames. Though Mr M'Kay has only been a short time in the Inangahua, he has not been idle during his stay, and has already procured mineral samples that will go far to prove the wealth of tbe district. We understand that he haa amongst other things obtained stream tin, which he is engaged in tracing to its source. Should he be successful in his quest, a new industry, little inferior to our golden products, will be added to the district's resources, (s Mr T. S. Weston, M.H.R., may be expected by to-morrow's coach, and will address the electors the same evening. As has already been stated, he will interview all hia constituents who may wish to see him prior to Parliament meeting. We are pleased to be able to state that the Rainy Creek Gold Mining Company struck a good reef in the northern part of their claim on Thursday last. One shot only was put in, but it dislodged a lot of payable stone, and tho prospects of the company are in the ascendant. The first snow of the season was visible on the hills yesterday morning, and the cold was intense. The glass was lower than it has been for some time, but the weather was by no means as bad as its reading would indicate. The inception of winter has had the effect of producing a number of invalids suffering from colds in the head, and other similar ailments. Mr Williams' photographic studio will be opened on Thursday or Friday. Since his last visit to this town Mr Williams has gained a first-prize medal at the Melbourne International Exhibition, as well as certificates from the Dunedin, and Invercargill Industrial Exhibitions, for his own work in photography while he now introduces to the public Mr George Gregory, one of the most eminent photographerf from the Old Country, who accompanies him as operator, and whose work in portraiture, we believe, is unsurpassed in the Colonies. Though heartily congratulating Mr C. F. A. Broad of the National Bank on his promotion, we are exceedingly sorry to say that he is about to leave Reefton, having been appointed agent for his bank at Waimea. Mr Broad has been for a period oftnine years, with short intervals, connected with Reef ton, and during that time has beettaever BflQgj|ggnt , in JEpi*^. l^ffl^l^'^^^lWteriainmen^ foi- charitable^bjarts,* and* in anything yVhere there was good to do. Though regretting his loss, we are glad to find that he has taken an upward step, and hope that it is only one rung on the ladder. He leaves, we understand, for his new sphereearly next week. Aswukbe seen by advertisement in another column, the Keep-it-Dark Company have declared a thirtieth dividend. This time it is ls 6d per share, and will be payable on the 4th instant, at Mr Bowman's office, Broadway. The number of dividend paying mines is steadily increasing, and will be largely augmented within a month or two. Constable Kelso will go baok to Hokitika in a few days, Constable Bamford having recovered sufficiently from his late injuries to resume duty in that time. A foot-constable is, we understand, to be sent up at once, so that our want at least bids fair to be supplied. Mr Ring has arrived in Reefton, and will open his photographic establishment on Friday next, adjoining Dawson's Hotel. He is well known as a first-class artist, and is especially happy in taking children of all ages, so those having youngsters can depend on justice being done to the little ones. He is in possession of the latest apparatus, and can take sun pictures, whether the sun itself shows or otherwise. He is in possession of a number of views of the West Coast and Hot Springs, all of which are on sale, and cannot be otherwise than most interesting to people at a distance. Taranaki iron sand appears to be attracting a good deal of attention outside the colony at the present time. Recently the Harbor Board received an application from a firm in England for a lease of the sea beach with the object of erecting smelting works and manufacturing the iron sand. An application was received from a firm in Sydney, also applying for a lease, and giving very satisfactory references. It is to be hoped that the interest which bas again been manifested in the smelting of iron sand will this time lead to satisfactory and permanent results. The local Company would probably combine with a foreign Company, and thus more capital would be available, and the success of the scheme no doubt secured.

Tne largest room in the world, under one roof and unbroken by pillars, is at St. Petersburg. By day it is used for military displays, by night for a vast ball-room. Twenty thousand wax tapers are required to light it The perambulation of camels has been prohibited in Paris. Of late several persons had used camels, surmounted by a kiosk, and led by a negro for advertising purposes. The unusual sight attracted attention, but it frightened the horses. The ingenious I advertisers have substituted donkeys for the camels.