The Waikato Argus [PUBLISHED DAILY.] A Guaranteed Circulation of over 8000 Weekly. TUESDAY, JAN. 7, 1908.

Waikato Argus, Volume XXIV, Issue 3675, 7 January 1908, Page 2

The Waikato Argus [PUBLISHED DAILY.] A Guaranteed Circulation of over 8000 Weekly. TUESDAY, JAN. 7, 1908.

A recent mail brought a digest of an address delivered in London by Dr J. M. Bell, director of the New Zealand Geological Survey. Much of the information afforded will come as a surprise to the great majority of New Zealanders, but now that it is in their possession it should add to their confidence in the future of this country, great as that is. In dealing with the coal deposits, Dr Bell said that perhaps in no country in the world was coal more generally distributed, it occurred in varying qualities in almost every part of the country. In many parts there was abundant evidence of petroleum, but so far in no locality has it been proved to exist in great quantity. Speaking of the iron ore deposits at Parapara, he said there were 27 million tons in sight. As to gold deposits, he pointed out that much of the wild, mountainous country of the South Island, and of the thickly wooded central and northern parts of the North Island were still unexplored; and other vast mineral wealth might be discovered in these unexplored areas. Mr J. H. Witheford opened a discussion on Dr Bell's paper. Speaking of the iron ore deposits at Parapara, he said Dr Bell had had a number of men employed, and a most careful analysis of the ore had been made arid found satisfactory. It appears, therefore, that all that iU required -"is-the appli-

cation of capital to the erection of blast furnaces and steel works and the foundation would be laid of a great iron industry,which would rival those of r:ttsburg and Middlesborough. In addition, asbestos, antimony, zinc, and mercury have been found in small quantities. Very little exploration has been done, so that the hope remains to us that these will be found in sufficient quantities and in such favourable situations as to make the working of them profitable. The farming community is deeply interested that this should be the case. A mining population are great consumers of the produce of the land, and pay prices which cannot be looked for by exportation. Dr Bell is doing good work in the way of exploration, and should have the means placed at his disposal to do it as completely as possible. Once demonstrate that there are valuable minerals in existence, and there will be no lack of capital to secure them and place them upon the markets of the world.