OTAGO INSTITUTE

Otago Witness, Issue 3514, 19 July 1921, Page 25

OTAGO INSTITUTE

AN INTERESTING EVENING. The third meeting of the Otago Institute this season was held at the Museum last week, when the audience was so large that an adjournment had to be made to the new classroom, which is considerably larger. Thy president, Mr W. G. Howes, occupied the chair, and one new member was elected. Two addresses had been arranged for the evening, the first by Miss Edith Howes, entitled "Rumblings by the Seashore,” and th c second by Mr L. H. Beal, whose subject was “The Coal Deposits of Otago and Southland, W ith Notes in Connection With Their Working.” Miss Howes began by disclaiming all standing as a scientist. She said she was not, even a collector, and suffered from a constitutional inability to remember big name®. She had, however, gleaned enough to show children the beauty and the wonder of the things strewn about the world, and especially about seashores, where the treasures were inexhaustible. She proceeded to describe various common sea creatures, of which she had specimens on view. She drew attention to the peculiarities and habits of the limpet, and showed that tiny limpets have tongues of Sin or 9in in length, all set with teeih. She discussed and described the periwinkle and “the tiger of the beach,” the purpura, which drills neat little holes in the shell of the periwinkle, and devours it. All these things were found above low-water mark. The starfish were other very interesting creatures found on the beach, some of whose extraordinary habits she described. Anemones. crabs, sea urchins, sea worms, sea slugs, and prawns were all made the subject, of witertaining and instructive remarks b.v the lecturer, who to'd of the beautiful colours of the anemone®, worms, and slugs; and of such curious tricks a® c-rahs, planting seaweed on their own backs for camouflage, and prawns building their own bearing apparatus with sand and 1 iny hair®. Mr Beal, in opening his remarks, pointed out that in these times everyone was interested in coal, and ho thought, the subject of Otago and Southland coal deposits would be a suitable one. He showed by use of a geological survey map that Otago and Southland are particularly rich in coal deposits. Coder present conditions it required a fair thickness of coal to make it payable to work. Much of the country, particularly at Nugget Point and near Pukerau, was standing right on end. Central Otago was not so much disturbed, and it fortunately contained many coal seams. The two largest and best coal deposits in Otago and Southland were in the district about Kaitangata. where the main seam was pretty deep below the surface, and in the area, extending from the Nightcaps mine to Mount Linton, about eight, miles by three in extent. The class of coal from Nightcaps was very similar to that from Kaitangata. He handed round a number of samples to illustrate his remarks. The coalfields of Otago were much more extensive than was generally imagined. He predicted that a big mine would yet be developed under the sea at Shag Point at a depth of about 300 ft, where it would be safe, to work. The Ida Valley. Nasehy, Gore, Mataura.. Pukerau, Waiknia, and Waikaka districts all contained large deposits of good coal. In the best coals as they broke out one could distinguish sections of timber, and it, was the heavy timber that mu-do the best coal. It was an indication of coal country when slips were found. At Kaitangata. seams had been found up to a thickness of 52ft, and at JVairio up to 42ft. They were always tilt, 1 up, sometimes at an angle of lin 3. Tie explained the terms “ line of strike ” and “line of dip” as used in tracing the extent and direction of a coal deposit, and described the usual plan of working a mine. Tie spoke of the danger of spontaneous comhustion in Otago mines, and of the precautionary measures being adopted. Votes of (hanks were accorded the speakers of the evening on the motion of the TTon. G. M. Thomson, after which the majority of those present adjourned for supper.