COLONIAL EXHIBITION.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 1027, 6 December 1872, Page 2

COLONIAL EXHIBITION.

A committee meeting was held at the Empire Hotel on Tuesday evening last. The minutes of the last meeting were confirmed, and correspondence with the Christchurch Committee and, Mr Campbell of the Lyell, laid before the meeting. On the motion of Mr Whyte, seconded by Mr Bailie, accounts amounting to £5 2s 6d were passed for payment. The Secretary stated that a map of the district, to be forwarded with the exhibits, was being prepared by Messrs Trent and Heller. The meeting was then adjourned until the following day at three o'clock for the purpose of arranging specimens &c. The exhibits obtained up to date comprise specimens of quartz from the Alpine Company's, and Little Wonder claims, Lyell, forwarded by Mr Antoni Zala, and Messrs Carroll and Cairns, a choice specimen contributed by Mr Jno. Hughes, also obtained from the Lyell ; aud specimens from Messrs Overhagen and party's claim, Mount Eochfort. Messrs Eiding and party Griles Terrace, Steward and party Caledonian, Way and party Griles Terrace, Wright and M'Kenzie Caledonian, Ereeman and party of the JNorth Beach, O'Toole and party, and Moran and party, Addison s, have sent in specimens of gold, wash dirt, and sand, Mr George Miller of Addisons also contributing specimens of rubies found among the wash. Mr Thomas Taylor of Mokihinui sends cement, and Mr Smart of Waimangaroa, gold bearing sand. Erom Charleston Mr T. Dwan has forwarded some samples of cement and scoria obtained from the claim of Messrs Parker and Thompson. In coal there will be shown three good exhibits, two from Mount Eochfort and Coal Creek, obtained by Mr A. D. Dobson, and another from the Ngakawhau mine, forwarded by Messrs Chambers and party. At the adjourned meeting on Wednesday, the Secretary reported that

£3O 13s Gd had been collected aa subscriptions, and that other exhibits promised might yet bo expected. It was resolved, on the proposition of Dr Thorpe, to purchase and forward with the other specimens for exhibition, not more than six samples of alluvial gold weighing loz each, such samples to be obtained from the various alluvial the purpose of showing the different classes of gold produced in the district. It was decided that briefly summarised descriptions of each claim from whence exhibits had been sent in, should be prepared, and that the exhibits should be labelled and num. bered, corresponding with numbers on the map of the district, thus indicating the precise locality from whence each exhibit had been obtained. A sub-committee, consisting of Messrs Bayfeild, Munro, and' Ings, was appointed to carry out final arrangements. The following particulars referring to the coal deposits of the district, are extracted from notes furnished by Mr A. D. Dobson, which will he forwarded with the exhibits to Christchurch. Ngakawhau —Seam 16 feet thick, first class steam coal, area over which coal extends not yet proved, but seam cropping out at intervals on the slopes of Mount Frederick. Ngakawhau river, has 8 to 10 feet of water at spring tides. At present available for small sailing vessels and steamers. From the facility with which granite and hard sandstone grits could be obtained, harbor works could be undertaken readily, and the harbor made available for vessels drawing 12 to 14 feet of water, at comparatively little cost. / " Mokinui —Seam 6 feet 6 Good bituminous coal. Outcrop about 3 miles from mouth of river. The greater part of field as at present known is below level of river, and would require to be worked by shafts, the most advantageous position for the shaft being about two miles from the mouth of river, and from thence an easy lineof tramway might be carried. The Mokihinui is easily available for small vessels, having 10 to 12 feet of water on the bar at high water. Waimangaroa Good bituminous coal. Seam not yet sufficiently explored. Distance 12 nailes from Westport, where coal would have to be brought by rail. Coal Brook Dale. on Mount Eochfort plateau, about ISO 9 feet above sea level, seam 8 feet thick, situated about 16 miles from "Westport by projected railway Hue. Has been thoroughly explored by the late Mr James Burnett, and results published in the Nelson Provincial Gazettes, Vol. X, No. 21, 1562, also lately re-' ported on by Dr. Hector. Coal Creek.—About 20 miles from Westport up the river Buller. Seam 16 feet thick near banks of river, and 20 feet thick on the Blackwater, a small stream to the westward. The coal extends over a large area, and is a compact brown coal well ad.ipted for general purposes, but from the distance of the seam from Westport will not probably bo worked to any advantage for some years.