COAL BORING.

Colonist, Volume LV, Issue 13843, 15 October 1913, Page 3 (Supplement)

COAL BORING.

POSSIBILITIES NEAR NELSON.

(From "The Colonist," Sept 30.)

The annual report of the Minos Department contains the following remarks by Mr P. G. -Morgan, Director .of Geological Survey, on the possibilities of boring for coal near Nelson:—

"In accordance with instructions, when returning from the Westport district to Wellington, I remained in the city of Nelson for two days (25th and 26th May, 1913), and, so far as time permitted, examined the neighbouring district with the object of forming an opinion as to its coal possibilities. "My brief examination did not leave me m a position to add materially to the extremely guarded statements made in "Bulletin No. 12 (Dun Mountain), (pp. 63—65) regarding the coal measures. _ I interpret these statements as indicating considerable doubt concerning the existence of a workable coalfield near Nelson. , The available data are such that the advisability of boring the Waimea Plain or otherwise prospecting it remains an open question, which the layman, provided he has common-sense and a clear apprehension of the geological facts, can settle for himself as well as the expert. ,

Bulletin No. 12 suggests that boring m O Brien's Creek, near Glen's bridge, or m other localities near the eastern hills, might disclose, coal seams at no very great depth, but states that the coal measures are probably much faulted in this area, and therefore that bores near the base of the Moutere Hills would afford a more thorough and convincing test. With this statement I am inclined to concur, and would therefore recommend that any further boring be done near the mouth of Eve's Valley or near Redwood Gully, as suggested in Bulletin No. 12 (p. 65). "It ought to be pointed-out, however, that a number of bores will bo required to settle the question of the existence of payable coal; that the difficulty of boring through surface gravels and the conglomerate of older ago known as the Moutere gravels is considerable; and that most of the bores will - probably require to be deep (15®0 feet or more). Some form of percussion drill will be needed to penetrate the Moutere gravels, which will probably be 500 feet or more thick. A combined percussion and rotary drill may be the most suitable form.

"I understand that the capital of the Nelson Coalfields (Limited) is but a small sum, quite insufficient for any adequate scheme of prospecting. It Is necessary, then, for the company to obtain fresh capital, but the circumstances are such that I do not wish to give any advice that will lead to thepresent shareholders or others risking their money without having a proper appreciation of the probability of failure. While prospecting for coal near Nelson may be regarded as a legitimate speculation, it is very far from being an ordinary business proposition, where the chances of suecoss of failure may be more or less closely estimated.

"The chief known facts bearing on the question of boring the Waimea. Plain and .adjoining country for coal are: —(1) Some coal haß been found near the eastern margin of the plain,in a highly disturbed and faulty state; (2) some coal probably exists beneath the Waimea Plain. Thia coal may or may not be of workable extent, thickness, etc.; (3) a number of bores will be required to give positive results; (4) boring will be expensive owing to the nature of the strata and the probable depth of any coal that may exist. "As regards further geological examination of the district near Nelson, personally I should be glad to have an opportunity of examining the important geological sections in that area, but doubt whether a brief Jbsp^ction would add materially to our positive knowledge of the coal possibilities. Tho possible roal bearing area extends westward and southward of that already geologically surveyed, and at soms* future time will require detailed examination."