CHRISTCHURCH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 110, 12 February 1853, Page 7

CHRISTCHURCH.

In proposing the first resolution at tlie meeting at Christchurch, with respect to developing the mineral resources of Canterbury, Mr. jPfp.BSON said,—The resolution contained two distinct parts: Ist, the assumption that we do possess mineral treasures worth working ; 2ndly, the proposition that the working of these minerals would be a benefit, and not an injury, to the settlement. He would first consider the grounds for assuming that the Canterbury Settlement contained valuable minerals, and would confine himself to three, viz.: Coal, Gold, and Copper. Coal is found at a variety of points on the Middle Island, from Massacre Bay on the North down to the Molyneux River on the South, cropping out at the Malvern Hills, about thirty miles from Christchurch, in the teds of the Hawkins and Waikirikiri. The existence of coal was an established fact. Next, as to the supposed gold field. Gold fields are of two classes :—lst, those in which the gold is found deposited in veins of quartz or some other matrix in the fissures of the primary or transition rocks ; 2nd, In the beds of rivers, and in alluvial soils formed by the decomposition of the rocks in which the gold has bieen originally deposited. In the latter state gold is found in a great many places, therebein«r very few large rivers whose sands do not afford gold, although in many cases not in sufficient quantity to pay for the labour of working. Gold seeking in alluvial soils, therefore, is a

matter of great speculation. Gold fields of the first class, however, are not so widely spread, and are only to be sought for in particular localities. Gold is chiefly found amongst the fissures of the primary and transition rocks, generally in mountain gorges, and in the craters of extinct volcanos, but not in rocks newer than the coal formation, nor in the scoriae and rubbish which usually cover the surface of volcanic districts, except in some rare instances. Now it is well known that our island contains greenstone and porphorytic rocks, and we are assured that the primary rocks are exposed to view in the deep gorges of the Bakaia. We know that our mountains present undeniable evidence of volcanic action, and many extinct craters. The exploring parties recently returned found quartz in abundance in the beds of the Hawkins and the Waikirikiri, and the specimens brought down are so similar in appearance to the gold quartz of Port Philip, that it is impossible to distinguish between them. Moreover, the coal formation, which is known to overlie the transition rocks, crops out in many points a little to the east of the spot where the quartz is found. All these circumstances, and the similarity of the geological character of the Rakaia district to that of the country enclosing the productive gold mines of Hungary and South America, lead us to the conclusion that, whether an available gold field exist or not, it is in the gorges of the Kakaia and Waikirikiri, or in similar localities, that we are to seek for it; there probably gold exists, but whether in such portions or in such quantities as will enable it to be worked profitably, a close and searching examination will alone enable us to decide. In spite of all the reports which have been flying about during the last three weeks nothing certain is yet known on the subject, although it is probable that there are parties who have private information, it being well known that one person in particular states positively that he has found gold, and that in large quantities. Lastly, with regard to copper. Almost all. gold mines yield copper, but all copper mines do not produce gold in sufficient quantities to pay for extracting the precious metal. Now the exploring parties have found, in the valley of the Waikirikiri, about three miles beyond Mr. Knight's station, and to the west of the coal-seams, umnislakeable evidences of copper, and to such an extent that it appears most probable that the metal exists in large quantities. With regard to the second part of the resolution ; namely, that the working1 of these minerals would be a benefit, and not an injury, to the settlement, Mr. Dobson considered that the discovery of a gold field was by no means an unmixed good, but that he thought the advantages far outweighed the evils. First, the revenue arising from the gold licenses would facilitate the construction of many important works. The communication between the Port and the Plains might be instanced as one most important work, the non-completion of which is a great drawback to the settlement. 2ndly. The working of the copper-mines would give us a very valuable article of export, and one which would freight well with wool. 3rdly. Tf the coal and copper-mines are worked together, it will be within our means to construct a good road from the mines to the harbour, which would enable us to supply coal in Port at a much cheaper rate than can be done in Wellington, and thus offer a strong inducement to the South Pacific Steamers to make our harbour a coaling station. Mr. Dobson concluded by observing, that having stated as concisely as he was able the advantages that would accrue to the commerce of the Settlement from the development of the mining interest, he would not detain the meeting by any observations upon the evils attendant on the discovery of a gold field, as he was aware that there were many "persons in the room who had a strong feeling that the Settlement should retain a purely pastoral and agricultural character, and that he would leave it in their hands to state all that could be said on that side of the question.