82

Maruia Plains. 56. Thence down the descent to the Maruia Plains
is at the rate of about one in fifty, as far as Frog's
Flat; it then passes along the banks of the War-
wick River, with very easy gradients, and over the
Maruia Plains at gradients varying from one in
90 to one in 114.

Course follows 57. From the Maruia Plains, I prefer following
River Mary. the course of the River Mary to that of the Brown
Grey River; the entire of the swampy ground
known as the "boggy saddle" is thus avoided, and
a gradient of one in about sixty-five will probably be
got down to the valley of the Upper Grey.

Difficulties on 58. From the junction of the Brown Grey with
Upper Grey. the Upper Grey to the River Alexander, the line
would in general be in side-cutting, and some diffi-
culties present themselves in the way of extensivo
land-slips, and the very peculiar formation and junc-
tion of the remarkable terraces between the Rivers
Alexander and Allen, and in other places.

To overcome 59. These difficulties could be overcome by ex-
difficulties very tensive heavy cuttings, so far as the terraces are
costly. concerned, but as land-slips appear to me to
be more numerous and more difficult to guard
against in the valley of the Upper Grey, than
in other routes I have examined, probably from
the action of the river more than any other
cause—and as the line must, in many cases, be
on the immediate bank of the river, either much
damage must frequently arise to the line so con-
structed, or expensive protective works would in the
first instance have to be provided, for the cost of
which would far exceed in amount that saved by the
remarkable easy construction of the twenty-five miles
or thereabouts, over the Maruia Plains.

To bridge 60. For these reasons as well as the absence of
River Maruia any extent of land available for agricultural pur-
very costly.

Route disap- poses in the valley of the Upper Grey, and the
proved. expensive character of the works necessary to bridge
the Maruia River, in consequence of its great
breadth and the lowness of its banks, I cannot re-
commend this route; but I have deemed it neces-
sary for your Honour's information to show its gene-
ral direction in the sketch maps (C).

Branch to 61. The branch line to Westport (described in
Westport costly. Sketch-book D) will be much more costly in con-
struction than any equal length on either of the
trunk-line examined; with the exception of the
rich flat land at "Sandy Camp," and a few miles
near Westport, the whole works consist of very
heavy side and a few full cuttings, many of which
are rock.

Chief bridge to 62. The chief bridge to be erected would be over
be over Buller. the Buller.

Line to be 63. It is necessary that the line should be to the
south of Buller south of the Buller until Grange's Point is passed,
as far as Grange's and a bed of coal from
Point, where coal near for this point is situated a bed of coal from
is found. thick protection thickness, which will probably be
of considerable value, so that easy communication
with it is of consequence.

Coal sent to 64. Regarding the value of this coal, a specimen
Dr. Hector, and which I took from the outer face of the seam has
analyzed. been submitted to Dr. Hector, Director of the Geo-
logical Survey of New Zealand, who reports as
follows:—

65. Pitch Coal.—Very similar in appearance to the Stag-point
    coal [see first Coal Report, No. XIII, pages 32 and 33].
    Homogeneous and massive, but crumbles on drying. Fracture,
    conchoidal and splintering. Colour, black in mass, but pow-
    dered brown. Lustre, pitch-like, ignites with some difficulty,
    but when kindled, burns with a strong flame; smoke has rather
    a sulphurous odour. Amount of coke, per cent, 44'18; cha-
    racter of coke, incoherent; colour of ash, white.

ANALYSIS.
Water ... 11'45
Fixed Carbon ... 38'63
Hydro Carbon, &c. ... 44'37
Ash ... 5'55

100'00

Per centage of fixed Carbon, deducting
Water and Ash ... 46'54
Ditto Hydro Carbon ditto ... 53'46

From the above analysis I am of opinion that this specimen is
of a medium value as a fuel, and from a newer formation than
the Buller and Grey coal. Its age is probably the same as the
seam near Brighton to West Coast [see page 15, Laboratory
Report, 1867].

66. It must be understood that the specimen Coal from ex-
    analyzed was taken from the surface of the coal-posed surface.
    seam where it is exposed to view, so that we may
    fairly infer that the value of the coal would improve
    as the mine is penetrated.

67. Regarding its quality for steam purposes we Quality for
    know nothing; there is reason, however, for be- steam purposes
    lieving, that unless its character changes from untried.
    hydrous to anhydrous, as the mine is opened, that
    it would not be a good steam coal. There can, how-
    ever, be no doubt that, as it is at present the nearest
    known coal-field on the Buller, it would find a ready
    sale in Nelson as a good house coal, and might pos-
    sibly compete successfully with imported coals for
    the use of coasting steam-boats, but would not be
    suitable for ocean-going steamers where space occu-
    pied is of consequence.

68. Having secured easy communication with the Buller crossed
    coal-bed at Grange's Point, the line continues on the below Grange's
    south bank of the Buller chiefly through side-cutting, Point.
    until near the Blackwater River, above which the
    Buller is crossed, and the line carried on the north
    bank in heavy side-cutting, in order to facilitate
    communication with the well-known coal-fields of
    Mount Rochfort, from which in a direct line it is
    distant about three and a-half miles.

69. The heavy side-cutting ceases within about Heavy side-
    seven miles from Westport, which town is then cutting stops 7
    reached by a flat gradient over a plain.

70. The distance of the branch to Westport may Branch to
    be taken at twenty-seven miles.

71. Considering the subject in all its bearings, I Best Route by
    am of opinion that, keeping in view what I have valleys of Inan-
    said in paragraphs 11 and 15, the best route for the gahua and Little
    main line from Nelson to Cobden, is that via the
    Valleys of the Inangahua and Little Grey.

72. Great lengths of this route are almost free Lengths free
    from cuttings and embankments, and would be exe- from cuttings &
    cuted at a small cost per mile; while the excava- embankments.
    tions on the banks of the Buller, though
    heavier and more costly than other portions of the
    line, are not by any means formidable.

73. The cost of the whole line will be influenced Cost greatly
    by the numerous heavy bridges and the tunnel that augmented by
    may be found necessary.

74. The route would, without doubt, pass through Route through
    or touch upon a greater and more valuable extent of best Land.
    flat land than any other route I have examined, and
    so I recommend its adoption.

75. Now, as to the extent of the public lands on Land available
    route available for agricultural purposes, and which for Agriculture
    would come within a belt of 19 1/2 miles broad, it is on Buller 18,000
    impossible for me to give any very reliable estimate, Acres.
    but I am safe in saying that the valley of the Buller
    below the Devil's Grip to near Westport, may be
    said to be almost devoid of any extent of flat land;
    there are here and there small patches, but the
    whole extent on the Buller would not perhaps ex-
    ceeding 18,000.