Materials for Pottery, Glass, &c.

Very good clays for making pottery are known from several places in the Province, and they will probably be found in all the old lake basins. A deposit of kaolin, formed from decomposing granite dykes has been discovered in Stewart Island, but I do not know its exact locality, nor its extent. Kaolin is also stated by Dr. Hector to occur at Manuherikia Plains, Arrow River, &c.^†

I have seen very good specimens of potash felspar from Stewart Island, where it is said to occur in veins in sufficient quantity for use. Mr. W. F. Kinnear has shown me water-worn specimens of page 115excellent red flint, from Tapanui, but I do not know in what quantity it occurs, nor from what formation it is derived. Flint can, however, be obtained from Amuri Bluff, in the Province of Nelson.

Quartz sand is of course common, but probably the best material would be obtained from crushing the quartz gravels of the gold washings. Oxide of lead, soda, oxide of manganese, and saltpetre, would have to be imported, but the manganese can be obtained at the Bay of Islands.

The establishment of glass works in Dunedin is an undertaking that could hardly fail to be remunerative, and is one that would be of great benefit to the whole Province. The saving effected by using up all the old glass would by itself be an important consideration.

Good fire clays are found in most of the coal fields; they are always much improved by long exposure to the weather.