COAL PROSPECTING.

Southland Times, Issue 1543, 27 February 1872, Page 3

COAL PROSPECTING.

Sir, — Having read the report of the very able lecture delivered by Captain Hutton on the geology of this southern portion of the Middle Island, in which the lucid lecturer alluded more particularly to the coal strata, I think ifc will be somewhat extraordinary if the diffusion of such informatiou does not lead to some well-directed and sustained action being taken to ascertain by boring what the underlie of our coal-bearing districts will yield. It is unreasonable to suppose that any permanent or large benefit can be derived from the consumption of lignite or any other mere out-crop coal, when aucb. mineral comes to be placed in juxtaposition with the coal of the Grey mines, or that of the Newcastle of either the Western or Australasian latitudes. As one who has seen a good deal of coal mining, I am quite prepared to state with some confidence, that we must look for our best and most profitable deep-sinking coal fields in the neighborhood of our lime bearing localities ; and it is surely worth the while of our landed gentry, who are, and long have been enjoying the cream of the surface value of the country at a very moderate rate, to employ a few of their realised thousands in the formation of a company having for its object the value of the underground treasures of the country in the shape of black diamonds, which, if once found, would amply repay the originators of such, both directly and indirectly. The scheme of coal prospecting, if adopted at all, should not be a spasmodic one, but made on such a scale, and with such sustained effort, as would really ascertain indubitably the resources of this part of the country in that, to us, invaluable mineral, if we are ever to take any rank at all as a manufacturing people. I do not advocate any farcical exploring party of three or four men, armed with a pick, axe, and shovel apiece, and accompanied by a half-starved pack horse or two, but the organisation of a party with proper means and appliances for finding a bed of coal with some last in it, which, as Captain Cuttle would say, " When found, it would be worth while to take a note of." That such a party would be successful, who can doubt ? if we are to place the least value upon either the dictum of scientific geologists, or the more humble conclusions of comparatively uneducated, though close observing

practical miners among our intelligent working community. Might it not be worth while to try and float such a company, with a capital of £5,000, in £2 or £5 shares, for once try and set about coal business like business men and colliers, having in view the getting of a larye supply of good coal at a moderate cost ? Trusting you may not think these few lines an unfitting commentary on Captain Hutton'a recent lecture, — I am &c, Black Diamond. Invercargill, 19th Feb., 1872.