166

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

period, strata of which, of very various
characters, occupy a large portion of the
Northern Island. The various tertiary strata
are found for the most part in a horizontal
position—a remarkable fact, from which we
may conclude that even the numerous volcanic
eruptions which took place during and after
the period of their deposition, had not power
enough to dislocate the whole system, but
merely to produce local disturbances.

The tertiary period must be divided into two
distinct formations, which may perhaps corre-
spond to the European Eocene and Miocene.
There is an older formation which is found
principally on the West Coast, and in the
interior, on both sides of the primary ranges,
and a newer one which may be called the
Auckland Tertiary Formation.

You will probably be interested to have some
more minute description of the different strata
of the older of these formations, as to this belong
the Brown-Coal seams, to the discovery of which
I am indebted for the opportunity of investigat-
ing the Geology of this Province, and on the
intelligent working of which I believe very
much of the future welfare of this Province
depends.

The Brown-Coal Formation is of very
considerable extent both in the Northern and
Middle Islands of New Zealand, and is of
similar character everywhere.

Some months ago I furnished a Report on
the Coalfield in the neighbourhood of Auckland,
in the Drury and Hunua districts, (of which
I will repeat here the principal points. The
Drury coal belongs to a very good sort of
brown coal—to the so-called Glanzkohle*, with
conchoidal fracture. I was not able to con-
vince myself of the existence of different
series of seams, one above the other, on dif-
ferent levels. I am much rather of opinion
that the same seam, disturbed in its level,
occurs at the different localities in the Drury
and Hunua district, where coal is found. The
average thickness of that coal seam may be
estimated to amount to six feet. The section
of the seam at Mr. Fallwell's farm can be
taken as a fair average.

The seam consists there of three portions;
the upper part a laminated coal of inferior
quality, one foot; then a band of shale, two
inches; the middle part coal of a good quality,
one and a half feet; then a band of bituminous
shale, six inches; the lowest part coal of the
best quality I have seen, two and a half feet.
Thus the whole thickness of the coal itself
may be considered to amount to about five
feet. The bituminous shale accompanying the
coal contains fossil plants, principally leaves of
Dicotyledones. It is remarkable that no
fossil ferns are found in connection with the
Drury coalbeds; it is the more so, as at the
other locality which I must mention—on
the West Coast, seven miles from Waikato Heads,
—only fossil ferns, in a most beautiful state of
preservation, are imbedded in gray argillaceous
strata, alternating with sandstone and small
coal seams, of, probably, the same geological
age as the Drury coal. A considerable num-
ber of specimens from both localities will, by a
future examination, furnish the opportunity for
determining the principal features of the Flora
of the Brown Coal Period in New Zea-
land.

The fossil gum found in the coal is a kind
of "Retinite," derived from a coniferous tree, per-
haps related to the Kauri, but it is by no means
identical with the Kauri Gum, which is only
found in the surface soil in those localities
where there have been kauri forests. The
fossil gum and kauri gum are very different in
their qualities, as the most simple experiments
in their ignition will show.

The thickness of the forest and the inacces-
sibility of the country prevent our now ascer-
taining, in an exact manner, the extent of the
Drury coal-field. Still the existing openings
show an extent of the coal-field quite large
enough to encourage any Company to work
the coal in an extensive manner.

I am glad to hear that a company, under
the name of "The Waihoihoi Mining and
Coal Company," is formed, to begin the work-
ing of this coal.*)

The same kind of coal I saw again on the
northern slope of Taupiri and Hakarimata
range. At Kupakupa, on the left bank of
the Waikato, I examined a beautiful seam
about 150 feet above the level of the river.
The thickness of the seam then exposed was
about 15 feet; how much greater the thick-
ness may be it is impossible to say, as the floor
has never been uncovered.

This is the seam to which the attention of
the inhabitants of Auckland was directed
several years ago by my friend the Rev. A. G.
Purchas. I believe several tons were at that
time brought to Auckland; but, owing to
various circumstances—the chief of which was
the Native ownership,—the hope of obtaining
a supply from thence for Auckland was aban-
doned. No better position could, however, be
found for mining purposes; and the day can-
not be far distant when it will be worked to
supply fuel for the steam navigation of the
Waikato—the main artery of the Province
of Auckland.

I have reason to believe that a Coal Field of
considerable extent exists on the borders of the
wide plains on both sides of the Waikato, be-
tween Taupiri and Mangatawhiri—for which
district, shut in on all sides by ranges, I pro-
pose the general geographical name of "The
Lower Waikato Basin."

A third coal-field exists on the Western and
Southern boundaries of the very fertile alluvial
plains above the junction of the Waipa and
Waikato, which may be distinguished as "The
Middle Waikato Basin"—the future granary
of the Northern portion of this Island.

The localities in which coal has been dis-
covered are the following:—in the Hohini-
panga range, West of Karakariki on the Waipa;
near Mohoanui and Waitaiheke, in the Hauturu
range on the upper branches of the Waipa;
and again in the Whawharua and Parepare