5

C—2b

No. 2 seam continues throughout Morris's lease, the quality is excellent, and the thickness is maintained. Only small blocks which can be worked by rise methods remain between Stony Batter and Madman's Creeks. Ido not consider that the faulted remnants of this seam along the northern side of the Stony Batter Creek can be profitably exploited. The coal which dips beneath the alluvial flat in this locality is the finest, on the field. It is to be regretted that this block of coal is not systematically exploited on an extensive scale. The finance available to the small parties of co-operative tributers who are at present working the field is insufficient. Further capital expenditure is essential for the economical working of the field. At the present time the royalties demanded by the lessee prevent the working of dip sections on a large scale, which is justified by the comparative freedom from geological disturbances. The succession at Waitahu is not obvious, on account of the approach to the washout which extends beneath the plateau, the stratigraphio sequence is disturbed, and correlation of seams with those in other parts of the field is not clear. The higher seam which has been worked at the base of the jig is probably No. 1 and the lower No. 2 seam. These seams extend southwards towards Perfection Mine, beneath a thin covering of alluvium. They are disturbed by at least one fault (the Inglewood fault), which appears to have caused a considerable displacement of strata. This seam reappears on the Capleston field. The coal outcrop in Flower's Creek is probably No. 2 seam. Under the Boatman's River and for about 6 chains north of that river it is unworkable. In the prospectus of Hillside Collieries, Ltd. (18th August, 1927), the presence of the washout beneath the Waitahu Plateau is not mentioned. The four seams were examined farther north, and it was assumed that they continue across Boatman's River. I agree that they extend to the dip from Archer's Mine, but point out that they are generally unworkable, except in a few small isolated blocks for a distance of about 6 chains from the river. If the coal is to be worked in dip sections, it will be necessary to sink the dip from a point not less than 10 chains along a level driven in unmarketable coal from Boatman's River. The construction of this level and the haulage-costs along it will be a continual burden to a company working the dip coal on the Capleston field. An alternative is the construction of a main dip haulage-road from a point in the vicinity of Archer's Mine. On account of the extensive series of faults which would be penetrated, it is unlikely that the coal could be economically produced in large quantities in this area. In the case of the Capleston field it is even more important that the expenditure of capital should be preceded by boring than is the case with the field farther south. Both stratigraphic and structural factors are more uncertain here than elsewhere, but the coal is generally superior in quality.

Analyses* of Air-dried Coal from No. 2 Seam.

No. 3 Seam. —This seam is the most irregular of the three main seams on the field. It is separated from No. 4 seam by about 100 ft. of mudstone (the thickness varies from place to place), containing thin lenses of sandstone, which is readily distinguishable from that above No. 2 seam by the fineness of the constituent grains. In the Capleston field a coarser sandstone is the predominant rock. The seam attains a maximum thickness of 7 ft. on Archer's lease. It disappears entirely on Coghlan's lease, but reappears as a stony 4 ft. seam near Boatman's River, before splitting up and continuing through the sandstones on the southern side of that river as an irregular band of carbonaceous shale, containing some thin bands of coal which outcrop in Flower's Creek. It is again visible as a definite 5 ft. seam on the Waitahu River. The next appearance is on the hillside above Perfection Mine, and on the tramway to Morris's old workings in No. 4 seam. The continuity of the outcrop is broken south of Perfection Mine by the tongue of alluvium formed by Madman's Creek. I estimate that this seam should, outcrop at the toe of the spur separating the two branches of Madman's Creek. Two mines are at present working south of Madman's Creek —Matchless No. 3 Mine on the coal, which lies behind a small upthrow fault in the rise workings, and in Harris's Mine where the seam is being worked to the dip. In both of these mines the coal is clean, exceedingly hard, about 6 ft. thick, and contains no visible sulphide. The proportion of screened coal produced is higher than thatobtained in any other mine in the district.

Fiver! Volatile Sulphur Locality. Hydro- A,- 1in o Ash. Per- Colour of Ash. Coking Properties. Remarks, oaroon. carbons . iuo-hu centage. ! ! Stony Batter Creek 38-45 50-90 8-45 2-20 4-21 Dark red .. Dense, firm .. Upper half of seam. ,, 43-81 44-49 9-52 2-18 5-06 Dark red .. Dense, weak .. Lower half of seam. Surprise Mine .. 39-98 51-11 7-86 1-05 5-37 Dark red .. Dense, firm .. Upper half of seam. ,, .. 45-04 43-58 10-06 1-32 4-61 Brownish red Dense, firm .. Lower half of seam. Archer's Mine .. 43-68 47-17 6-97 2-18 5-12 Brick-red .. Dense, firm .. Waitahu .. 43-25 48-48 5-85 2-42 5-98 Brown .. Dense, firm .. Seam at top of jig. Morrisvale Mine 43-44 46-02 9-50 1-04 4-92 Reddish brown Dense, weak .. Upper half of seam. ,, 46-67 40-95 11-49 0-89 4-07 Reddish brown Dense, weak .. Lower half of seam. Coghlan's Mine .. 43-26 48-45 5-85 2-43 4-82 Brick-red .. Dense, firm Svenson's Mine .. 41-38 45-39 11-05 2-18 4-50 Grey .. Dense, weak .. * Analyses by Dominion Analyst.