44

C—4.

9. And what depth was the seam ?—From 6 ft. to 7 ft. or 8 ft. 10. Did they average that ?—Yes. 11 What was it at the beginning ?—Just the same. 12. Did you ascertain what depth !twas?-We had nothing to do with the management ° f I *lB Was the water any trouble to you?-There was a good deal of water in the dip. I think a skip of water was taken out for every ton of coal „«,«„«,«• 14. Do you know what quantity of coal was taken out?—l really could not say. 15 Were there some thousands of tons ?—Yes. 16' Is the mine worth opening again ?—Decidedly ;it is not worked out at all. It was onl } open it properly?-It ia in order now, but it would perhaps tak \™hat p£tuTdpay o you ?- 10s. would certainly pay. The raising of the rate on the railway made it worse. The rate was only 2s. at first. ~,,,.. 19 Would 6d. per ton make the difference between success and non-success ?-At he time Mr Smith stopped that 6d. would have carried him through. That would be the difference between profit and loss. There was a great deal of cutting at the time. James McKinnon, Clerk of the Whangarei County Council, examined. 1 The Chairman.} What are you in connection with this particular property called the "Whareora Coalfield''?-I am one of the members of a syndicate formed to develop it. We hold abour2.6oo acres of land, of which about 800 acres is freehold, of which we have the deeds, and the balance freehold property, over which we have an option to purchase. 21 What has been done?—We have driven 150 ft. on a coal-seam, commencing 3ft and increasing up to 7 ft. The sample of coal is very good. We have started boring, and have bored down to 110 ft. at present on the coal cover in the centre of the field 3 How far is it from any railway ?-The Whangarei-Kamo is the neares railway, some eight or nine miles distant ; but we intend to connect the field with a private line to Grahamstown —which will be about six miles in length—where there is deep water. , 4 How much money do you suppose you have expended in developing the property ?- Roughly, about £150, and £2,000 in securing freehold property. 5 Is anybody a work there now ?-Yes; a party of ten men have been working a month. 6. And in the drive what have you in the way of a seam ?-We have a 7 ft. seam, which is on the _ q{ Hikurangi ? _ lt is of Det ter quality than the Hikurangi coal. It is a brighter and a cleaner coal, with not so much sulphur. 8 What steps have you taken to form a company ?-We are first prospecting to ascertain the area of coal in the field before forming a company. We have also driven a short distance at the Waitangi Creek, where a good 6 ft. seam has been found. 9 What is the surface like ?-It is pretty even, with a green sandstone cover under the soil. 10 I suppose you cannot speak as to probable faults ?-No. On the surface there are aoout 400 acres of bush suitable for mining timber, and part of it is agricultural land occupied by four settlers. liyed m the district? _i am a native of the district, and am thoroughly acquainted with it. the whole of thi eleotora te ?_There are outcrops known in about eight different places, and the indications of coal are numerous throughout the omas } Are the 6ft and 7ft geams the same seam ?-Yes. It dips under the hill near the creek on the east of the field. , . 14 Is all your coal in the dip?-Yes, as far as we know. The dip is about linso at present 15. What is the nature of the surf ace ?—Mostly poor land covered with some bush, scrub, and fern 'l6. Are there no chasms or anything of that sort?—No ;it is the same nature of country all through, the coal cover being hard greensandstone. 17 As far as you know, the seam may thicken out as you go down .— Xes. 18. Is it pure coal?—lt is mixed with a conglomerate at the edge of outcrops, and becomes solid coal as we get lower down. 19. Mr. Proud.] You expect to have two beds of coal !— les. 20 Will you prove that by boring ?—Yes. , 21. Will the coal be suitable for household purposes ?—Yes ; I use it in my own house and it suits very well; and it is also a suitable coal for steam purposes. . 22. Will it be a smithy coal?-It acts very well as a smithy coal. I have had a trial with the local blacksmith, the results being satisfactory. 23. Would it be suitable for brick-burning?— Yes. 24. Could you load a ship of any size ?—Pretty well any size at Grahamstown, where there is 20 ft. at low water. . 25 The Chairman.] Can a vessel drawing 18 ft. go m there >— Yes. 26. Mr. Proud.} Could you load a battle-ship ?—Yes; but larger ones at the Whangarei Hea 27 Mr. Lomas.] Do you apprehend any difficulty with water ?-No. If we sink over the valley in the centre of the field we shall require a pump to pump the water out of the shaft and workings of the mine,