Manganese Ores.

These ores are useful for generation of chlorine for bleaching purposes, also for calico-printing, &c. The values of these common ores are from £3 to £4 per ton, and the following classes of them have been found:—

Rhodonite (silicate of manganese), at Dunstan, Otago, as rolled masses; percentage of manganese about 40.

Wad (hydrous oxide), at Port Hardy, D'Urville Island, Nelson; percentage of manganese about 45.

Braunite, or manganese oxide, on Malvern Hills, Canterbury.

Ores are also found at Whangarei in Auckland, at Ohariu near Wellington, and in Napier; the latter contains 44 per cent, of manganese oxide, the remainder being mostly clay.

The same ore, although of better quality, is at present being successfully worked in the Bay of Islands. The shipments for the year 1879 amounted to 2,140 tons, valued at £8,338. In 1881 the shipments were 1,271 tons, valued at £3,283, and in 1884 they amounted to 318 tons, valued at £808.

In 1883 a bonus of £500 was offered for the production of the first £2,500 worth of either manganeisen or manganese bronze, sold at a fair market price in a foreign market, but it lapsed without application having been made.