E.—lo.

30

Samples of the iron ores which occur along with these coal seams have been analyzed by Mr. Skey:— 1. From the coal and ironstone band, which is the highest bed in the series proposed to be cut in the tunnel, a specimen of compact brown or hydrous hematite was found to contain 4606 per cent, of iron. The ore occurs in quantity immediately over the main or 3 feet 6 inch seam of coal, and is mixed with a large proportion of carbonaceous matter in irregular layers. 2. Concretionary ironstone from below the main coal. This is really a highly ferruginous shale, about 2 feet thick, but in two layers, separated by 1 foot of coal. The concretionary structure is only discernible on weathered surfaces. A fair average sample of the ironstone gave 4326 per cent, of iron. Both of these ores contain a good deal of iron-carbonate disseminated throughout. 3. From the ironstone already mentioned in this report as underlying a newly-discovered coal seam low down in the scries. The coal is only 1 foot thick, and the ironstone is about 16 inches; but its full thickness and relation to the other strata will not be known till it is cut in the tunnel, in which it should be reached at about 270 feet. The ironstone is very compact, and from the large proportion of carbonaceous matter intermixed, and from its containing carbonate of iron, could be easily smelted. The percentage of iron it gave on analysis was 42T. Several other rich iron ores are found in this district, though not immediately connected with the coal mines. Thus, along with the graphite seams in the Ruataniwha and Pakawau, and on the Otamataura Creek, red hematite ore is found, though a solid vein has not yet been discovered. A rolled fragment from the last-mentioned locality has the following composition:— Sesquioxide of iron ... ... ... ... ... ... 883 Siliceous matter ... ... ... ... ... ... 105 AVater ... ... ... ... ... ... ... -8 Loss ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... '4 i 1000 The percentage of iron contained in the ore is 6181. Within easy reach of any ironworks established in this locality would also be the valuable deposits of brown or hydrous hematite at Parapara, which is only four miles distant. This ore might be valuable to mix with other varieties of ironstone, although not well adapted by itself for the manufacture of iron of fine quality. During the past season I have twice crossed to the western slope of the range behind the coal mine, and traced the coal measures till they sloped with the surface westward towards AVest AVanganui Inlet. No other rock is seen in situ but soft brown sandstone and shales ; but iv the creek above the mine there are large masses of a fine-grained conglomerate, which prove that there are conglomerates in the upper as well as in the lower part of the formation. On the crest of the range, .at 2,000 feet altitude, the strike of the sandstones is almost N.E., with a dip of 12° to the N.W. About 400 feet below the summit, on the west side, is a 2-foot seam of bright coal, dipping 15° to N.W., the sample from which has the following composition:— AVater ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 406 Fixed carbon ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 58-65 Hydrocarbon ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 3533 Ash ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1-96 100-00 Evaporative power ... ... ... ... ... ... 7'o This coal forms a strong coke, and is quite as useful as that from the seams in the mine; but in extent, appearance, and tho high percentage of water for a bituminous coal, it resembles the seam at Pakawau. No calcareous beds were seen in the upper part of the formation on the top of the range, as stated on the authority of Mr. Marshall in a previous report, the limestone referred to by him being only the outcrop, on the spur south of the mine, of the crystalline limestone that underlies the coal formation. Coal seams have recently been found on the face of the AVhakamarama Range, about five miles south of tho coal mine, in the bed of the Otamataura Stream, by Mr. Ellis, who guided me to the locality. AYe reached it by ascending a steep spur from the Aorcre River, below the junction of the Otamataura, to the height of 1,800 feet, and then dropping into the valley of the latter stream at an altitude of 1,000 feet. Below this point the valley is precipitous, the stream leaping over precipices of conglomerate, being the " Ramparts" that are so distinctly visible from the Collingwood side of the valley. These ramparts are formed of the conglomerates at the base of the coal formation, the surface of which can be traversed by the eye along the face of the hills for many miles both to north and south. There are four coal seams cut across in the bed of the stream, which exposes the following section in its course for 200 yards back from the top of the fall: — Feet. («.) Brown sandstone, forming the upper part of the range, and almost covered with vegetation, but showing beds of rather fin 3 gravel conglomerate, at least ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,000 (&.) Coal shale ... ... ... ... ... ... ... i (c.) Gray sandstone ... ... ... ... ... . ... 2 (d.) Coal (A) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 3 (c.) Brown and gray sandstone... ... ... ... ... ... 40 if) Coal f