code: def read_properties(self):
          
          with self.__lock:
              absolute_file_path = self.__file_path
              with open(absolute_file_path, "rb") as fp:
                  local_files, dir_files, eocd = parse_zip(fp)
                  properties = read_json(fp, local_files, dir_files, b"metadata.json")
              return properties
docs: Read properties from the ndata file reference
  
              :param reference: the reference from which to read
              :return: a tuple of the item_uuid and a dict of the properties