MINERAL WEALTH.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 58, 8 March 1913, Page 11

MINERAL WEALTH.

GOLD, COAL AND _ON.

(By. Telegraph.—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, this day.

Some interesting facts and figures regarding the mineral wealth and resources of New Zealand were placed before the Dominions Royal Commission to-day by Mr. P. G. Morgan, Government Geologist.

. Mr. Morgan remarked that conditions in the Dominion were unfavourable for full mining, and probably only 100,000,000 tons of anthracite coal and 374,000,000 tons of proved bituminous coal would be mined. Of brown coal there were 513,000,000 tons, but not more than one-fourth? or onefifth would be mined. The total quantity of proved coal of all classes was estimated at 1,000,000;000 tons, and certainly not more than a quarter of that quantity couM be mined. Probably whole quantity of .coal in New Zealand, including proved, was 3,385,000,000 tons, of which less than one-fourth could be mined. For, present requirements there seemed to be a sufficient quantity, but the supplies of good coal that could be mined were limited, and would probably be exhausted in 100 years. THE IRON DEPOSITS. The chief iron deposits, he continued, were those at Parapara and the Taranaki ironsands. An examination of the Parapara deposits showed there were about 22,700,000 tons of iron ore, and there was said to 'be an equal quantity at an adjacent block. Taranaki ironsand made iron of good quality, but there would be great difficulty in transporting it to the smelting works. It was scattered over a great length of coast line. It contained titanium, Which made it difficult to smelt. The Taranaki district appeared most promising for petroleum, but 'the yield was not up to expectations. Oil shale existed at the south end of the South Island, and antimony in Otogo. At present gold mining was not in a particularly flourishing condition owing to the depreciation in the value of gold, but New Zealand would be a gold-mining country for many years to come. Other metals were produced in srrrall quantities, including manganese and platinum, and there were good supplies of limestone and clay. There were unlimited supplies of water power, but development would cost a good deal of money. Peat occurred in many places, but in no great quantities. so far as he knew. "GLOWING STATEMENTS." Sir Rider Haggard: Evidence has been given before this Commission which painted in glowing colours the coal and iron resources of this country as of great amounts respectively. I take it that what you have told us does not bear out these very rosy statements? •Mr. Morgan: No, they do not bear out glowing statements. Sir Rider Haggard: What you have told us is probably accurate as regards future discoveries? Mr. Morgan: As regards bituminous coal, there is very little more to be discovered. Bituminous coal in New Zealand has already 'been explored. The quantity to be discovered in the future is probably small. There will probably be greater 'dl9cb.veries df brown coal or lignite. Sir Rider Haggard: For manufacturing what .coal do you use? Mr. Morgan: Bituminous is used wherever practicable. In many places there is a supply .of brown coal. Sir Eider Haggard: Can you tell how long the coal, at your present rate of consumption, is likely to last? Mr. Morgan: I think bituminous coal will be exhausted in a hundred yeaTs. Sir Rider Haggard: That without making any extraordinary or unforeseen demands 'I Mr. MoTgan: Yes. Sir Rider Haggard: It is rather a question whether it ought not to be husbanded for national purposes? Mr. Morgan: Yes, I think it ought to be husbanded or conserved in some way. Sir Rider Haggard: Then you can't look upon New Zealand as a great mineral country? Mr. Morgan: For its size I would not say it is a great mineral country. Sir Rider HaggaTd: Exactly. It is a mineralised rather than a mineral country Mr. Morgan: Yes. Sir Rider Haggard: Are there minerals enough" in sight to justify the prediction made that it will become a country of great manufacturing and industrial activity ? Mr. Morgan: Certainly not, as regards coal and iron. To Mr. Sinclair: It was impracticable from the point of view of cost to take out all the coal. There was no proved oil in New Zealand. Taranaki could hardly be said to have " proved." The production was not sufficient to warrant plant of any great size. To Mr. Lorimer: There were no large deposits of copper known. No attempt had been made to utilise the brine on the West Ooast, which contained 7 per cent of common salt. New Zealand imported all its salt, and he thought the percentage of salt in the brine was high enough to justify the erection of a plant. There was plenty of brine. The total production of oil at present was only 689 gallons a day, and somebody was in process of erecting a refinery to deal with 10,000 gallons a day. At that rate the supply would be exhausted in two months. He did not know where supplies were to come from foT the plant to deal with 10,000 gallons a day. Deeper 'boring would be necessary, and more extensive prospecting. Already prospecting for oil was going on at Kotuku.