78

movement should be conducted simultaneously with the calling out of the Militia for drill, for, although the ranks of the Volunteers would be nominally swelled by the adhesion of many who prefer that service to the Militia, a real injury would be inflicted on the Volunteer cause by this fictitious enrolment (followed as it would be by a sudden reaction as soon as practicable) in addition to the evils to which I have referred as likely to arise from calling out the Militia.

9. It is, however, impossible that a state of affairs should permanently continue here in which neither the colonists voluntarily enrol, nor the Government take any steps for calling out a Militia, and the Government fully trust that, when their intentions with respect to the organization of Volunteer Forces are generally known, the accession to these Corps will be such as to render them creditable to the colony, and effective for that object which so vitally affects the colonists themselves.

10. I am to request you to forward a copy of this letter to the Officers Commanding the Militia and Volunteers in each District, with a request that they will give it every publicity in their power.

I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient humble servant,
W. GISBORNE,
Under Secretary.

Lieut-Colonel Balneavis,
Deputy Adjutant-General of Militia and Volunteers.

No. 449 (b)
Building Stone, Spring Bay, Tasmania.

This is a very similar kind of stone to the one reported on some time since, obtained from the same country. It has, however, a finer grain, and contains a smaller quantity of soluble matters.

But, with these advantages, it is more absorbent of water, and has a greater tendency to fall to sand; indeed, in this respect, it compares unfavorably with both the Saddle Hill and Anderson’s Bay building stones. This may be attributed to the very small quantity of cementing matters present.

The base of this stone (insoluble matters in analysis) is exceedingly durable, consisting as it does of quartz and mica.

The iron exists in the form of non-magnetic black sand, so there need be no fear lest the stone should color by age.

The following is an analysis of it:—

Water of combination ... .78
Alumina, with trace of iron 1.90
Lime ... ... ... .20
Magnesia ... ... traces
Soda ... ... ... do.
Chlorine ... ... ... do.
Insoluble in acids ... 96.98
... ... 99.86

The Hygroscopic Water at time of analysis was .60 per cent.
Its Specific Gravity is 2.710.

William Skey,
Laboratory, Feb. 23, 1863.

TASMANIAN BUILDING STONE.

THE following documents are published for general information. A map, shewing the exact locality of the Quarry from which the stone was taken, may be seen at my office.

THOMAS DICK,
Provincial Secretary.

Provincial Secretary’s Office,
Dunedin, 7th March, 1863.

Dunedin, 23rd Feb., 1863.

Sir—With reference to your letter of the 18th instant (No. 1649), forwarding for examination a sample of Tasmanian Stone, I have the honor to acquaint you that the same has been fully analysed, and I beg herewith to enclose the result.

I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
Rich B. Gore,
For Dr. Hector, (Absent.)
The Provincial Secretary,
&c., &c., &c.

(From New Zealand Gazette, Feb. 14, 1863.)

WARRANT
Appointing Polling Places.

By His Excellency Sir George Grey, Knight Commander of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over Her Majesty’s Colony of New Zealand and its Dependencies, and Vice-Admiral of the same,
&c., &c., &c.

TO ALL to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting:—

WHEREAS by “The Regulation of Elections Act, 1858,” it is enacted that it shall be lawful for the Governor by Warrant under his hand, from time to time, to appoint Polling Places for each Electoral District within or without the limits thereof, and to appoint any one of such places to