CORRESPONDENCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 3427, 22 September 1885, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE KAKA.HU DISTRICT.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIJIAKU HEHALD. j Sib, — Referring to a report given bj Messrs Butler and Bowie, at a meeting held at Temuka re prospecting m the Kakahu district for coal, I see there are certain things contained therein calculated to mislead the public mind. The report states, "But upon tho general question of minerals to be found there we do not consider it to be within our I provinco to report or make any definite or particular remarks, as we submit that experts only m the various branches of mineralogy are competent to give rcliablo information." I understand that certain information had been collected by the promoters from amateurs and scientific men, and they had requested Messrs Butler and Bowie to visit the place with a view of giving a report as experts, or practical men ; instead of this they say that none but experts cun do it, and yet they cannot. As far as tho minerals aro concerned tliero is no need for any expert to visit the place, for any person can see fire clay, pipe clay, limestone, building atone, white sand and other minerals lying on tho surface and m the various cuttings on tho roadside ; also the outcrops of several seams of coal or lignite. All these minerals (with ono or two exceptions) have been analysed or otherwise tested witli very favorable results— and the coal is wanted to convert the raw material into useful articles of manufacture — and this is the thing these experts were to report upon, hut they very wisely suggest that tho outcrops should be further exposed so as to test the quality and lay of the seams, and another inspection made. Therefore I think their report just presented is premature as regards the object of their visit as experts. Tho report goes on to state : — " Wo would suggest that owners of hind or respective properties and others should first ascertain the quality and, as far as possible, the probable quantity of the various minerals supposed to be found there, and also their practical value." I was not aware that the report should have referred to tlve persons who should or should not undertake to pay tho cost of prospecting, | and if, as tho report says, that the owners of the proporty should be at tho solo cost of prospecting, is it likely, or can it bo inferred that these gentlemen, paying all cost to get a good coal and plenty of it, will invito uny person or company to join them m sharing the profits ? I think not, but, as sensible men, they would work it thomselvcs ; or, if from any circumstanco they were desirous that a company bo formed to work it, the price per aero would be a fancy one. I was led to believe that if tho report of Messrs Butler and Bowie, as experts upou the coal, won favorable, that n company would bo formed, to prospect or test the seams m some practical way at a distance from tho outcrop, and that the consent of tho owners of property was being secured not only to allow trials to bo mado on their land, but to sell at a reasonable rato providiug tho company was successful. Several othor matters m tho report arc open to great objections, such as " tho anglo of 50 degrees not being worked for practical purposes, oven if good coal was found." Many scums lying even ut a ateoper angle than this nro worked at Homo m the old country. " Natural bed of the coal is referred to';" this, to say tho least, is vory ambiguous, for tho Kakalm shows Hint tho various strata of minerals lie as regular there as they do uny where m Canterbury, for tho wholo has been subject (more or less) to volcanic action. It would be very diQicult for any mineralogist geologist, export, scientist, or uny other " ist " to say with great accuracy where the mtural bead of the coal will ho found. Tho report is premature, and very discouraging, but I would predict (although not a prophet, nor the son of a prophet) that if a report is presented after Iho scams have been fuirlv exposed, so that tho angle, thickness and quality (as an outcrop) enn bo ascertained, it will bo much nioro favorable than tho one presented on Monday lust, mid that tho kukdlui district has a bright future before it for local industries will spring up ere long m their midst from iniiicru!« ul>ne. 1 urn, &c , Lms SlO-NS. Kakahu, Sept. Oth, 1885.