The Southland Times. TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1872.

Southland Times, Issue 1521, 9 January 1872, Page 2

The Southland Times. TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1872.

( "Whatever complaints are made against the Colonial Government, no one can charge it with tardiness in giving effect to the resolutions of the late session of Assembly. Alluding more particularly to Southland, the fact is conspicuous that almost as soon as the representatives themselves had returned from tbeir duties in Parliament, preparations for working plans requisite for constructing the Mataura railway were put in hand. In furtherance of tbe spirit of the Public "Works policy, a determination was come to for appropriating a sum of £10,000 for developing the coal-fields of the colony. The wisdom of such a proposal must be apparent to every one who bestows the slightest attention upon the question of material development in connection with its predisposing causes. No system of public works commensurate with the present advanced stage of civilisation could be rendered complete without the agency of coal, hence it follows that if its deposits can be developed in our midst, we give effect to a vital principle in the scheme as propounded. Besides the revolution such I a discovery would work upon the internal I trade of the colony, as a coaling station a most important branch of the maritime trade of the Southern Hemisphere would ' be linked to our shores. To give effect to the vote as passed, a geological survey, ' or perhaps it would be more correct to say examination, of the bituminous resources of the colony has been undertaken, in pursuance of which Captain Htjtton, of the geological staff, is at present on a visit to Southland. Residents ' already embarked in the search for coal have placed themselves in communication with Captain Hutton, and in another column wiil be found details of the programme decided upon for conducting the examination in this district. With respect to our prospects as a district in the examination about to be instituted, a good deal of confidence is entertained. In the evidence adduced before a select committee of the House of Representatives during the session of 1870, it was elicited that a coal formation extends westward towards Preservation Inlet, and which has been worked at several points along the southern slopes of the Hokanui and Takitimo ranges. In the latter locality, Morley creek, the seam was opened out 10 feet thick, and owing to the large quantity of resinous matter it contained, it was pronounced to be of a decidedly superior quality to that of the ordinary brown coal. In confirmation of the opinion that the seam in question is decidedly superior in this respect, it is further stated to have been made use of successfully by the locomotives on the Bluff line. Evidence is also given of a coal-seam, worked some time ago at Waikava, having been partly explored on the Otapiri creek, north from Invercargill, so that in extant these deposits have theappearanceot being highly encouraging. The late Mount Hamilton project was not very satisfactory in its results. Still coal of the right quality was found, and it is just possible that further explorations, coupled with more scientific experience than was enlisted on that occasion, would have discovered a more extensive layer. It is not, we believe, very generally known that the more energetic promoters ot the Mount Hamilton expedition have been indefatigable in their endeavors ever since, and that various likely places have been explored. It is creditable to the good sense of these parties to be able to state that they have willingly placed at the disposal of Captain Hutton all the assistance and information derived from their researches. Now that the Assistant Government Geologist is in the place, it might be I worth while devoting a little attention to the question of our auriferous resources. Unless scientific skill and practical experience be sadly at fault, the Longwood range is a quartz- bearing country. It has a configuration which bears striking ,

resemblance to some of the richest quartzreefing districts of the interior, and when we bear in mind its proximity to Orepuki, Colac's Bay, &c, it seems reasonable to suppose that it is not very remotely situated from the recurrence of wold at these places. The inhabitmts of Riverton will in all probability see their interest in this light, in which case an early move iti the matter is desirable Again, we have the long-talked-of deep sinking on the old Wakatipu flat. We learn from late advices that the country in the neighborhood is beginning to attract more attention than it has done since the earlier days of the goldfields. After having been long neglected, the Athol terraces are now being worked, and although they are situated at some considerable distance from the old Wakatipu, it nevertheless shows that mining speculation is tending in that j direction. In throwing out these hints, we do so merely as a correlative to the original project of Captain Hutton's mission, and not with any desire whatever of seeing ifc superseded.