similar to the European brown coals in the proportion of its three principal constituents:

I embrace here the opportunity of saying a few words on the commercial value and applicability of the New Zealand Brown Coal.

Although of entirely different character, and, generally speaking, of inferior value, to the older coals of the Primary formations, I cannot see any reason why this kind of coal should not be used in New Zealand for the same purposes as a similar brown coal is extensively applied to in various parts of Europe, and particularly in Germany, where it supplies the fuel for manufactures of all kinds, for locomotives and steamers, and for domestic purposes. I am perfectly familiar with this kind of coal, and can assure the people of Auckland, that the Brown Coal of this country is quite as good as that which is used in Germany for the purposes I have just mentioned. I would strongly recommend that any Company which may be formed for the purpose of working the coal should also at the same time establish Potteries for the manufacture of earthenware. Remarkably suitable Clays of every necessary variety have been shown to exist in the immediate neighbourhood of the coal-fields, by the borings which have been made by the Provincial Government at my request. By the establishment of such works, the value of this coal would be made apparent to everybody, and the manufacture itself, if properly conducted, cannot fail to be remunerative. It may be interesting to you to know that the far-famed “Bohemian Porcelain” is burnt by means of brown-coal, from a seam of, in some places of 90 feet thickness. While stating the uses to which brown-coal may be applied, I must warn you against thinking that it is suitable for steamers having to make long sea voyages. The bulky nature of the “brown-coal” will always prevent such steamers taking it on board when they can procure “black-coal.” (But, on the other hand, its qualities as a gas-producing coal, as the above analyses show, will render it valuable as an article of export.*)

I now come to another series of the older Tertiary strata, examples of which are found occurring in great regularity on the West Coast from Waikato to Kawhia. The lowest are argillaceous—the middle, calcareous—the upper, arenaceous.

The characteristics of the first clayey strata are, a light grey colour, very few fossils, small crystals of iron pyrites and glauconitic grains, which give these clay marks a similarity to the Gault and Green sands of the Cretaceous formation in Europe. They are found on the Eastern branches of Whaingaroa, Aotea, and Kawhia harbours.

Of greater interest and importance are the calcareous strata, consisting of tabular limestone, sometimes of a conglomerate nature, sometimes more crystalline, the whole mass of which is formed of fragments of shells, corals, and foraminifera, interspersed with perfect specimens of terebratulae, oysters and pectens, and other shells. This limestone, when burnt, makes excellent lime; and may be wrought and polished for statuary and ornamental purposes.

The Beds of Limestone worked by Messrs. Smith and Cooper, in the Wairoa district, belong to this formation, as do also the rich fossiliferous strata from the Waikato Heads towards Kawhia Harbour.

Picturesque columnar rocks of the same nature, looking almost as if they were artificially built of tabular blocks, adorn the entrance to Whaingaroa Harbour; and the romantic limestone scenery; and the fine Caves of the Rakaunui river-branch of Kawhia Harbour—are deservedly prized by the settlers of Kawhia Harbour.

The Limestone Formation attains its greatest thickness (from 400 to 500 feet) in the Upper Waipa and Mokau districts, between the Rangitoto range and the West Coast. It has in this country many remarkable features.

No one can enter without admiration the Stalactite Caves of Waitomo at Hangatiki, and of Parimahutu near the sources of the Waipa—the former-heiress of the gigantic Moa.

I went into those caves in the hope of meeting with a rich harvest of Moa skeletons, but I was sadly disappointed. Those who had been before me in the days of Moa enthusiasm having carried off every vestige of a bone. Great, however, was my labour, and not little my satisfaction, in dragging out the head-less and leg-less skeleton of a Moa from beneath the dust and filth of an old raupo hut!—The Maories,

*(The following are the results of two borings made in the flats between Drury Hotel and the Drury Ranges, under the direction of Mr. Ninnis, to whom I am indebted for the tables subjoined:—)

Boring No. I.

Feet. Inch.

1. 3. 0 Dark soil.
2. 9. 6 Plastic clay, yellow and blue.
3. 1. 6 Gravel and pebbles.
4. 1. 0 Yellow clay.
5. 3. 0 Grey clay.
6. 6. 0 Blue clay.
7. 11. 0 A renaceous clay.
8. 15. 0 Grey clay.
9. 2. 0 Greenish clay.
10. 1. 0 Dark grey clay.
11. 5. 0 Bluish grey clay.
12. 2. 0 Black clay.
13. 5. 2 Volcanic ashes and gravel.
14. 5. 6 Hard basaltic rock.

69. 8

Boring No. II.

Feet. Inch.

1. 1. 0 Dark soil.
2. 7. 0 Yellow clay.
3. 6. 6 White clay.
4. 7. 0 Yellow and red clay.
5. 1. 4 Brown clay.
6. 8. 0 Yellow clay.
7. 5. 0 Brown.
8. 4. 0 Redish.
9. 10. 0 Brown.
10. 4. 6 Calcined Volcanic ashes.
11. 9. 5 Hard basaltic rocks.

63. 10

Of these I would draw attention to No. 1, 2, for common pottery, No. 1, 6 and 8, for finer stoneware, No. I, 7, for fire bricks. The various coloured clays, No. II, 2 to 9, will be applicable to every kind of pottery. No. II, 8, may be used as a colour or pigment in the same way as ochre and umber are generally used.)