21

£.—9

North, about twenty chains from No. 126. Ft. in. f Clay Marls, D.R. Sandstone, Grits ... ... ... ... 20 0 (Seen.) Blaze ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 2 0 Soft Sandstone ... ... ... ... ... ... 4 0 Coal and Blaze ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 0 Fine Grits ... ... ... ... ... ... 20 0 Dark Sandstone ... ... ... ... ... ... 80 0 Sectio Band of Grits ... ... ... ... ... ... 6 0 at i O iTi 4 Soft Sandstone ... ... ... ... ... ... 8 0 No-127^ Coal ' 1 0 Blaze ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 0 Grey Grit, Shaling ... ... ... ... ... 1 0 Sandy fine Grit ... ... ... ... ... ... 30 0 Blaze ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 4 0 Fine Grit ... ... ... ... ... ... 35 0 l^Dark Sandstone ... ... ... ... ... ... 40 0 253 0 Dip W. 40°. Here no further sections could be obtained, debris and loose stones preventing my obtaining more information. N 12") 1 Coal in sidling of ridge, water-shed into Waimangaroa, surface covered with loose ' I crushed coal crops of Roche's seam. Throughout this area of country I have not been successful iu tracing coal of any great thickness; from leaving the Whareatea towards North the blaze appears to run regular throughout, holding about the same thickness, while the coal found appears to thicken upon going north, till, gaining section No. 129, at the dip of same is struck, about forty chains in low levels, Roche's mine, exposing a seam of crushed coal 18 feet, dip W. 40°, being much similar in description and quality to that of the Ngakawau Albion Mine. Kemabks. The body of coal, as may be here observed, as seen on edge of Plateau Nos. 124 and 125, being in itself crushed, inferior in quality, and thin (3 feet), from the limited information I am in possession of lam not in a position to say how tar it may extend out into the plateau. From the depth of sections obtained, showing under same thin seams of blaze, I would be of opinion that this is the only seam that may be looked for to pass through the plateau eastward (towards slate ridges). The slip country to the westward of plateau, as may be seen from sections given, hold coals to the south much crushed and thin, but upon working north appear to thicken upon nearing the Waimangaroa, still crushed, holding throughout the same steep dip as Roche's mino, 40°, the measures generally being much broken and shaken, holding quantities of debris on surface, which has prevented me much in obtaining information. The continuance of this coal to the dip leaves the same doubt as that stated regarding Albion Mine, Ngakawau. Clay marls have been observed to pass the whole way along from the Whareatea north to the Waimangaroa, and I would judge them to hold a thickness of several hundred feet. Sims and party, north side of Waimangaroa River, are still persevering with their drive, and contemplate cutting coal in about three weeks' time. As instructed by telegram, 25th June, to examine and set oft' work for a new seam of coal found by Roche and Co., I visited their mine as directed, and found that no such seam had been found, their manager knowing nothing of such. I have, Ac, R. B. Dennistok, " Camp," Waimangaroa Gorge, 31st July, 1875. Coal Viewer, By Authority i Geoegb Didsbuet, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB76. Pries Is.]