TOKOMAIRIRO COALFIELDS.

Evening Star, Issue 3479, 17 April 1874, Page 2

TOKOMAIRIRO COALFIELDS.

The following report by the Provincial Geologist has been banded to us for pub< lication : Otago Museum, Dunedin. April 16, 1874. —I have the honor to inform you that I have Just returned from an examination of the Tokomairiro and Kaitaogata coalfield. I believe this to be the largest coalfield in New Zealand. It covers an extent of about sixty square miles, from the north side of the Tokomairiro river to the Molyneux, and contains several seams of workable coal from twenty-two to three feet in thickness. The total amount of coal in the field is certainly considerably over 1,000.000,000 of tons. The coal is the best kind of brown coal, and is quite suitable for all stationary engines, locomotives, &c. This field can be easily opened up by making a branch line, some'four or five miles long, from Tokomairiro down the river, and by extending the Kaitangata line another five or six miles, to Coal Point, on MrM'Parlane’s farm. Neither line presents any difficulties to the Engineer. I consider it very important for the whole Province that steps should be at once taken to open this magnificent coalfield. For when these two lines are made, Dunedin will he supplied with coal cheaper than any other city in New Zealand. Kaitangata alone can never supply the demand, neither can eoals from there be landed in Dunedin at so low a price as they could either from Tokomairiro or Coal Point, owing to the great facilities these latter places have for working them.—l am, &c., F. W. Hutton, Provincial Geologist. To the Secretary for Works.