DR. HECTOR ON COAL AND GOLD IN HAWKE'S BAY.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5565, 17 December 1879, Page 3

DR. HECTOR ON COAL AND GOLD IN HAWKE'S BAY.

Last evening Dr. Hector gave his promised lecture at the Athentetlm on the geology of Hawke's Bay. Dr. Spencer, President of the Athenaeum, occupied the chair, and introduced the lecturer to the audience, which "Wat* a large one. Dr. Hector,- first spoke of the general plan of geological formations with their New Zealand tfeptesetita'tives. He then came more particularly to the representatives in the Hawke's Bay district, -illustrating his Remarks by large'sectional drawings, showing a series of formations from Kuapehu, and the outline of the upper fossils found in each formation. In the course of his remarks be referred to the probability of finding valuable minerals, including gold, on the westefn slope of the Kaimanawha — riot on the eastern, where gold had generally bteen sought. He also stated hte belief that valuable coal might be discovered irt the aeeondary range running parallel with the cortsfc, afcitl indicated thospur of the hills on the Wobrirn . estate (Mr Purvis Russell's), as a place near the railwrty where the geological indications were favorable to the presence of coal. Mr Tanner had, he Said, found some excellent specimens in the Whakari river, embedded in very recent stalagmitic formation. He hoped that the ranges would soon be more fully explored for coal by local effort. Dr. Hector then referred to the history of the moa, with special reference to the remains fonnd in Hawke's Bay. We regret that extreme pressure on our space prevents a fuller report of Dr. Hector's lecture, 'which was full of valuable information, and delivered in a thoroughly interesting style, aB free from technicalities as the subject would allow. At the close Mr Celenso moved a vote of thanks to the lectnrer, which "\va3 carried by acclamation. The proceeds, which will be devoted to the purchase of books for the Athenaeum, amounted to £7 5s 6d.