Mr. T. H. Hustwick informed the meeting that he had recently received for examination four samples of “infusorial earth” from different parts of the colony—from Dunedin. Auckland, Taranaki, and Oamaru.

It was intended, he said, if practicable, to use the infusorial earth in connection with a patent for cheap and effective lighting. A chemical examination showed that the four samples were all pure infusorial earth, nearly as good as the kieselguhr, which was worked in Germany and else-where on the Continent for the manufacture of dynamite. The sample from Dunedin was very pure, and that from Auckland was fair, but the other two showed only a small proportion of siliceous remains. The two latter also contained a considerable quantity of carbonate of lime, on account of which it was considered unsuitable for the purposes of an absorptive. Mr. Hustwick assured the President that the earth could be obtained in quantity in New Zealand.