✨ Geological survey report
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article will pay for the extra expense of working, and a large quantity is not required in any one place. It is quite possible also, that in some localities a good deal might be quarried, where the dip of the strata happens to coincide pretty nearly with the slope of the hill sides.
I am sorry that after spending so much time, my knowledge of the coal-field should still be so vague and limited; but, without actual mining, it is impossible to get more than a very superficial acquaintance, even with the most regular districts.
To sum up the result of my observations in a few words, I may state that, though good coal is found in various parts of the district, so far as I have seen, there is no place where I could say with confidence, if such and such work was done, a supply of so many thousand tons of coal could be obtained, or a regular field of so many acres could be relied on as containing workable coal. I do not say such places do not exist; but that I have not found any, and the nature of the country does not encourage me to expect that they will be found; but I may be mistaken, if is merely my opinion, reasoning from the facts I have endeavoured to lay before you.
Before closing this report, I must acknowledge my obligation to Mr. Rochfort, who was my companion during the greater part of last journey; his assistance and information was of the greatest service, as he had previously explored the district, and knew so many places where coal, and indications of coal had been previously found, to all of which he kindly accompanied me. As the discoverer and first explorer of this coal-field, the Province is much indebted to him.
I have, &c.,
JAMES BURNETT.
PRINTED BY R. LUCAS, BRIDGE STREET, NELSON.
Nelson Provincial Gazette 1863, No 16
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
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Report on the Wangapeka and Baton Districts
(continued from previous page)
🗺️ Lands, Settlement & Survey5 June 1863
Geological survey, Wangapeka, Baton, Coal field, Exploration, Nelson Province
- Mr. Rochfort, Companion and explorer of coal-field
- James Burnett, Author of the geological report