Page 3 Advertisements Column 2

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 1789, 11 September 1866, Page 3

Green Island, Otago.—A correspondent of the Daily Times, writing from the above place, says The coalfields of this district are destined to become of the highest importance, not less from the quality of the coal obtained than from the evident appearance of an inexhaustible supply. From the base of the Chain Hills, all along towards the coast, strata of coal appear cropping out in every direction. Two coal mines are now in active operation, wrought by horsepower ; and although the appliances are primitive, they are enabled to supply the surrounding districts, besides sinding lurge exportation to to\yn. Mr. Pollock, the enterprising lessee of these mines, is sanguine that, with better machinery, he will be enabled to supply coal little inferior to the Newcastle, the quulity improving according to the depth. In another direction beyond Abbot's Creek, a very promising seam, nine feet thick, is being wrought on Mr. Freeman's property, the quality of the coal obtained appears to be very good, having been tested with favourable results in one of the town factories. Some years ago, a discovery of an important nature lias been made in the Saddle Hill district, the sands surrounding the shores all the way to the Taieri River being found to contain large quantities of steel particles similar to that extracted from the Taranaki sand. Mr. Jeffcoat !ws operated upon a portion of it, and obtained, without difficulty, half-a-pound weight; he is confident tlmt the steel can be separated without difficulty, and that it will form ere long ail important branch of industry. But what is more important still, is the unmistakeable indications of a stratum of clay irun ore, which in all probability, pervades the district towards Boat Harbour, clay-iron stone being generally diicovered associated with coal, forming thin beds or nodules. No locality possesses greater advantages for becoming the sent of iron manufacturesday suitable for fire bricka in every direction, abundanco of coal highly adapted for the smelting of iron, mountains of limestone in the adjacent districts, i and hills of swid adapted for the pig beds, It is by no means a premature prediction to state that before muny years elapse smelting furnaces will be in full operation in the vicinity of Stony Hill. Capital and enterprise are alone required to produce iron of superior quality, and to become a staple article of exportation. A discovery of considerable moment to agriculturists has been made by Mr. Doig, one of the principal farmers in the district. He has succeeded in defeating the