The Southland Times. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1872.

Southland Times, Issue 1540, 20 February 1872, Page 2

The Southland Times. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1872.

A moee detailed statement of results accruing from the geological examination lately instituted into the coal resources of Southland will be found in another column. These may be briefly summed up as follows. A good brown coal of commercial importance, both as regards its own inherent qualities and the extent of its formation, has been ascertained to exist upon the western confines of the Takitimo mountains. Amongst the Hokanui ridges, on the eastern side of the district, a less definite disco very has been made, still it is nevertheless entitled to rank as a discovery of the greatest possible promise. It consists of sundry outcrops of black bituminous coal quite equal to the best description of coal produced in the home country. From what we can gather, the survey expedition made this last discovery at the close of its labors in Southland, and although its importance was fully recogDised, from some cause or another the search was not followed up to that point when a definite opinion could be given as to its extent. "We have, however, the next best assurance that could be had under the circumstances. Outcrops appear to have been found at different points along the line of country, and we are further told, on the authority of our scientific visitor, that the coal formation as indicated by the outward appearances of the country, extends a distance of 14 miles. Nothing short of the actual determination of a fact could be more encouraging, andnoone can accuse us of being oversanguine on the point when we say that that is the light in which the subject ought to present itself to the community, j We judge that the remarks made by j Captain Hutton were designed to con- I vey the impression that in quality this j coal surpassed anything of the kind that had yet been found in the Southern Hemisphere. Certainly we are right in assuming that it will bear comparison with the best description of coal produced by any one of the Australian colonies. Should its extent prove on further inquiry to be at all commensurate with its quality, no one can doubt but that Southland will achieve for itself an important place in the maritime trade of the colony. We are alive to the fact that a large amount of vexation has been encountered by inhabitants of Southland in their endeavors to find coal, and we should be very sorry indeed to encourage any project calculated to add to the disappointment already sustained. Still we feel justified in saying that no reasonable effort should be spared for deciding the real value of this deposit. The practical suggestions given for the equipment of a search party show that the effort could be made without incurring any very great expense. The information given regarding the brown coal formation, relieves it from all doubt on that point. Steps ought certainly to be taken for its development. As a preliminary, it might be well to get a few tons from the outcrop brought down to town, so as to get it tested for firing the engines on the railway Jines. We are aware that the application of an additional bar or two to the tire boxes of the engines is all the reconstruction that would be required to give justice to the trial. The latest information we have upon the point is to the effect that the Q-o---vernment railway contractor is expected to visit Southland on or about the 6th prox., and if the true character of the coal could be established in the interim, it is quite possible that he might be induced to select Southland for " establishing the fouudry works provided fur by hij,

f contract. The whole affiir would not cost more than a mere trifle, and we feel | confident that if the citizens of luvercargill give the suggestion the consideration it deserves, the proposition will nob be I made in vain.- As a further incentive to t the utilisation of this field, we beg to re- ' mind our readers that under the proj visions of the Public Works Act, the i Government is empowered to render pecuniary aid towards developing undertakings of this kind.