Otago Provincial Gazette – 1855 – No. 28

Page 59

✨ Miscellaneous Notices



99

der the “Crown Lands Ordinance,” Sess.
X. No. 1, during the absence of Mr. Commissioner Mantell.

By His Excellency’s command,

ANDREW SINCLAIR,

Colonial Secretary.

HIS HONOR THE SUPERINTENDENT has been pleased to direct the publication of the following letter from John Cargill, Esq., J.P., M.H.R., for general information.

By His Honor’s command,

JOHN LOGAN,
Clerk to Superintendent.

Meadow Bank, Tokomairiro,
16th July, 1855.

To His Honor the Superintendent.

Sir,—I have the honor to forward to you per bearer a specimen of coal that has lately been discovered in this district. Competent judges declare the coal to be of good quality. Indeed, as far as I can judge, it is the best yet found in New Zealand.

Your Honor will no doubt have observed that the scarcity of fuel was the only drawback to this fine district, that obstacle is now entirely removed, the place from which the coal was obtained being easily accessible by a level road, along which Mr. Smith brought 18 cwt. to his house last week.

The coal was found cropping out on the left bank of the river, about a mile and a half below Mr. Poppelwell’s sections, and on clearing out a small creek to make it passable for the dray, coal was again found in its bed.

Mr. Thomas Reid, who has been used to mining at home, and to whom we are indebted for having brought the coal practically into use, informs me that the seam is 3 feet thick, bedded above and below in an inferior coal, or rather anthracite, and that very superior fire clay exists in abundance.

I would only further add, that as the tide flows to where the coal is, it could be got to the mouth of the river in flat-bottomed boats, but I am not sufficiently acquainted with the mouth to say whether it is practicable to ship it from thence.

I need not point out to your Honor the advisability of having the land in question reserved from sale, and for the use of the inhabitants of the district and public generally.

I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
J. CARGILL.

P.S.—The specimen I send is rather friable, owing to its having come from the first working, and having been kept for some time in a warm dry place. The coal was hewn out in large blocks, one weighing above 3 cwt.

SUMMARY OF THE WEATHER

At Dunedin, Otago, for the Year ending 30th June 1856, compared with the Results of the Weather for the three previous years.

Months 1852-53 1853-54 1854-55 1855-56
Rain Evap Rain Evap
In. In. In. In.
July 3.52 2.56 7.83 1.47
August 1.16 2.73 2.03 1.66
Sept. 2.39 3.08 3.09 3.44
Oct. 3.52 4.54 2.35 4.14
Nov. 1.79 4.79 0.95 5.67
Dec. 2.63 5.74 3.67 5.83
Jan. 4.42 6.17 2.44 7.07
Feb. 3.68 4.94 3.47 6.07
March 2.72 3.78 1.93 4.42
April 3.86 3.26 1.40 2.80
May 3.09 2.37 3.97 1.90
June 1.92 1.89 2.19 1.93
Temperature Barometer Evaporation Rainy Days Wind Direction
Max. ... ... ... ... N., N.W.
Min. ... ... ... ... S., S.E.
Mean ... ... ... ...

Printed for the Provincial Government by DANIEL CAMPBELL, Dunedin.



Next Page →



Online Sources for this page:

VUW Te Waharoa — PDF Otago Provincial Gazette 1855, No 28




✨ LLM interpretation of page content

🗺️ Appointment as Commissioner of Crown Lands (continued from previous page)

🗺️ Lands, Settlement & Survey
12 June 1855
Crown Lands, Commissioner, Appointment
  • Mantell (Commissioner), Absent Commissioner

  • Andrew Sinclair, Colonial Secretary

🌾 Discovery of Coal in Tokomairiro District

🌾 Primary Industries & Resources
16 July 1855
Coal, Mining, Tokomairiro, Otago
  • John Cargill (Esquire, J.P., M.H.R.), Reported coal discovery
  • Smith, Transported coal
  • Poppelwell, Landowner near coal site
  • Thomas Reid, Mining expert

  • John Logan, Clerk to Superintendent

🎓 Summary of Weather for Dunedin

🎓 Education, Culture & Science
Weather, Statistics, Dunedin, Rainfall, Evaporation