V. THE WORKING OF THE COAL.

There exists no doubt that the Province of Auckland is, as we have seen, rich in the possession of abundance of good workable Coal,—which will prove of the greatest importance, both for steam navigation and manufacturing purposes.

With regard to the questions, where and in what manner the working of the Drury and Hunua Coal-field should be carried on, I venture to offer the following suggestions:—

1. I consider the locality of Mr. Farmer’s place as one of the most suitable for commencing a systematic mining. For this purpose it would be desirable to construct a tunnel, commencing from the most convenient point at the foot of the range of the hills,—to be carried in an Eastern direction, inclining upwards, just enough to allow the water to drain off. This tunnel will run below the Coal, or, perhaps, strike it. A shaft should then be sunk from above to meet the tunnel, avoiding the present working (No. 1.) This shaft will pass through the Coal-seams, and the working will then be carried on in the usual manner,—the produce of the mine being removed through the tunnel, and the shaft supplying air to the workings. A railway from the mouth of the tunnel to Slippery Creek can be constructed without any difficulty.

2. In a similar way working could be carried on at Mr. Campbell’s and Mr. Fallwell’s; and a railway through the valley of Symonds’ Creek may convey the produce of both mines to the Manukau Harbour. If it would be desirable to work the lower seams in the stream itself, the water can be used as a motive power to drive the pumping machinery, which would be required in this locality.

3. It is of great importance to ascertain whether the coal is confined to the ranges, or extends underneath the plains stretching from Papakura to Karaka and Mauku, at a lower level than the above mentioned recent lignite deposit. As I was unable to see any natural section of the lower strata in these plains, I would recommend that borings be made in the following places:—

• One on the low land between Young’s Inn at Drury and the range;
• Another at Chisholm’s bush;
• A third on one of the higher undulations of the Karaka District;
• And perhaps a fourth on the flat between Papakura and Wairoa.

I would also recommend that a similar exploration by boring should be made on the widest part of the Manukau flats.

Should these suggestions be carried out, I should be highly gratified to have the results communicated to me at Vienna without delay; in order that my promised report may be made as complete as possible.

And now I conclude with the German Miner’s hearty

“Glück auf!”

FERDINAND HOCHSTETTER, Dr. Phil.
Auckland, January 4, 1859.

I have thus given a slight sketch of the geological history of Auckland and its neighbourhood; and expect to be able, on my return to Vienna, to furnish a more minute and ample description, illustrated by a map of the geological features of the country, compiled from the materials which I have now collected, and from those, which I hope hereafter, to receive from my friends in New Zealand.

In the tidal creeks, and other places where wells have been sunk, a soft lignitic deposit, nearly allied to peat, is found at different depths, and in beds varying in thickness from a few inches to twenty feet. This deposit is covered in many places by a greater or less thickness of a remarkable white siliceous matter in a state of very fine division. The latter seems to be derived from a hot lake of large extent, in connection with the recent volcanic eruptions in the neighbourhood of Auckland;—but its true nature can only be determined by future microscopic and chemical examination.

Auckland:
Printed by W. C. Wilson, for the Provincial Government.