that it can be used by ordinary vessels of two hundred
tons, and by three hundred ton vessels built for the
purpose.

Since my arrival here (the Grey) I have visited the
Coal-field, but I cannot say that I have added much
to my previous knowledge of it, for, without actual
and extensive working it is almost impossible to
form an idea of its extent and value.

The difficulty of exploring this part of the Grey
Coal-field is owing to the nature of the country,
which is so covered with dense bush and detritus
from the mountains, that the strata can only be seen
a short distance above and below where the Coal is
found in the river. However there is very little
doubt that it is a large and rich field, though how
much of it is available for present use cannot be
determined, for the above mentioned reason.

The only workable seam, at present known, crops
out on both sides of the River Grey, about seven miles
from its mouth. It is fifteen feet thick, and dips at
an angle of about ten degrees, and a large quantity
might be obtained by free level.

The reef is a strong sandstone, and would not re-
quire much timber; indeed the coal could be worked
at a very moderate expense.

The thirty tons brought to Nelson in December
last were from this seam, so it is unnecessary to say
anything about the quality, though the whole of it was
mere surface coal.

Both above and below this seam there are smaller
ones. For an account of the strata taken by Mr.
Haast and myself, I beg to refer you to his Report,
pages 43 and 104.

Here, as at the Buller, a tramway would be required
from the mine to the port, which must skirt the base
of the mountain to avoid a large tract of low land.
It will probably require a length of ten or twelve
miles, and part of this would be heavy rock cutting,
but the gradient would be very gentle, the height of
out-crop of the seam being only eighty feet above the
level of the sea.

I must again refer you to Captain Clouston for all
information with regard to the Harbor of the Grey.

In conclusion, without entering into particulars, I
think that coal can be worked and brought to the
shipping-places at the Grey and Buller, at about the
same cost, though it is probable that the Buller tram-
way will be more expensive.

This being the case, the rival claims of the Grey
and Buller can only be decided by the merits of their
harbors, and on this point there can be no doubt that
the Buller has great advantages.

The Buller has another advantage, by its position
as before pointed out; it is not so difficult to ascer-
tain its extent and value, as it is at the Grey. I do
not say that the Buller is a more valuable part, but
that we know more about it at present, and the com-
parative merits of the harbors at once decided that,
for some time at least, the Buller is the more favorable
place for working, if it is proved that the coal is of as
good quality as that from the Grey.

As the construction of the tramways, either at the
Grey or Buller, will require some considerable engi-
neering skill, I would strongly advise your Honor to
have the opinion of a competent engineer on the sub-
ject, as, after the harbor, this is the most important
point.

I have, &c.,

JAMES BURNETT,
Colliery Engineer.

Mouth of the Grey,
April 5, 1862.

To his Honor the SUPERINTENDENT, Nelson.

SIR—I have the honor to report to you that I have
cut a line, according to your directions, from the flag
erected by Mr. Brunner to the base of Mount Roch-
fort, and a considerable distance up that mountain, its
length being upwards of five miles. This line, till it
crosses the Orawiti River, passes through a great deal
of swamp, but, on the north side of the river, to the
base of the mountain, it is perfectly dry (except a
little surface water here and there), with a hard,
sound bottom.

From the base of the mountain I have continued
northward by a series of lines over the flat to the
Wariatea River, where it enters the level land from
the mountains, and, up to this point, I have met with
no swamp, both the bush and open land being quite
dry and sound. I have no hesitation in stating that,
from the Wariatea River at the base of the mountains,
to the Orawiti river at the base of the mountains,
convenient place for crossing that river, there is
nothing to prevent a railway being made at a very
trifling expense. This, I line, I think, might be per-
fectly or nearly straight, with a very gentle fall to-
wards the Buller, and that without any earthwork
worth mentioning, as the whole distance is almost
level.

From the Orawiti River to the Buller, the railway
might easily be carried along the belt of dry bush be-
tween the sea beach and the swamp passed through by
my line. The crossing of the Orawiti River is a ques-
tion entirely for the consideration of the Provincial
Engineer, but, except that, there is no difficulty what-
ever from the base of the mountains to the mouth of
the Buller.

I am now engaged cutting a path from the right
bank of the Wariatea to the table land of Mount
Rochfort, as this Coal-field is most exposed, and
can be most easily worked. And as this is the most
important part, and will require much of the atten-
tion of the Provincial Engineer, I am anxious to af-
ford him all the assistance that a bush track can afford
before proceeding to other work.

Hitherto, I have not been successful in finding
workable coal along the base of the mountains, nearer
than it was already known; the very rugged nature
of the mountain streams, the immense quantity of de-
tritus, and a very large deposit of soft sandstone of
recent formation, rendering search in this direction
difficult and unsatisfactory, as you may often clamber
up 1,000 feet without finding a piece of solid rock, ex-
cept this recent soft sandstone.

However, I have not finished my examination of
this part, and possibly I may yet find workable coal
at a lower elevation than the table land.

I have further to report to your Honor that a
fortnight ago I visited Mokihinui, and although my
examination of that part of the Coal-field was merely
preliminary (being undertaken at that time because
one of my men was sick, and I could not go on with
other work), I have great pleasure in stating that
there is a seam of workable coal of good quality,
situated about two and a-half miles from the mouth
of the river, and cropping out on its right bank. The
thickness of this seam is from six to seven feet with a
dip of about 5°; it has a good firm roof, and, a few
feet above it, there is another seam, but too small
to be of any value. I am sorry that I cannot give
your Honor minute particulars; but, as I did not
anticipate writing just now till I arrived here last
evening, I unfortunately left my note-book at the
camp; however, a general account will probably be
sufficient at present.

Though this seam is in a most favorable position,
I may state that it cannot be worked by free level,
but would require some artificial drainage, as the
most of it is below the surface of the river, but very