REPORT OP JOINT COMMITTEE

H.—No. 8,

18

spent. Then there is the superintendence of the Museum; also the Laboratory; also the Meteorological Department; together with the work of the New Zealand Institute and the Botanical Gardens. The subject upon which the most time was bestowed last year—the survey of the coal fields—is by far tho most important of our investigations for practical purposes, and one of considerable difficulty. Eeports of what has been already done in the matter have been laid before Parliament, and I am able to state that, so far as the investigation has gone, a fair amount of progress has been made. 71. How is the vote for the Geological Department divided ?—Of the sum voted by Parliament, £1,150 is appropriated for the Geological Survey, £900 for the Museum and for the expense of preparing and illustrating reports and papers for publication; £350 for the Laboratory. The £500 for the meteorological observations is paid to Observers all over the Colony, and is not part of the expense of the Geological Department. The charge existed before the institution of the Geological Department, and was transferred to it for convenience of management. It is a branch of the _ expenditure for statistics. In the same way, the £500 for the New Zealand Institute is merely a special application of a vote for printing. 72. Do you believe that there would be any advantage gained by separating the Geological Survey from that of the Museum ? I mean, to make them into two separate establishments ?—I am afraid not. There would be a difficulty in maintaining the Museum apart from the Geological Department. 73. Suppose that funds were voted for the purpose ?—I do not think that the Museum would derive the same advantage if it were altogether separated from the Geological Department. One effect of the change would be, that another set of scientific officers would be required. 74. Mr. Bathgate.] Is Mr. Haast not fully employed on the staff?—He has a permanent employment under the Canterbury Government, but his services, during the time he can spare, are lent when the work of my department requires them. 75. Captain Fraser.] Is there any person employed in Otago ? The work there, I understand, has fallen very much into arrear ? —Captain Hutton was down there last season. 76. I mean one man for Otago exclusively ? There is a great deal of work to be done in Otago in connection with the mining ?—No appointment has been made specially for that Province. Sufficient has been done towards completing the geological survey, to guide general inquiry upon the subject; but work has still to be done to enable us to determine the exact extent of the coal fields and other formations. 77. Mr. Bathgate^] Would it not be a great matter if a map of these coal fields were to be made out for general information? —That is being done. Maps showing the situation of some of these coal fields have been printed, and issued along with the papers on the subject. 78. The Chairman.] I observe that the allocation of the loan for the development of coal mines amounts to £10,000. Will you state how much of this amount has been spent ?—Only about £500 has been yet spentin explorations, chiefly in connection with the discovery of coal fields. Thus, at Collingwood, assistance is to be given towards exploring the seams, by assisting in putting in a tunnel that will cost £1,000. Work done towards actual development of the mines, and not mere survey, will be charged against this appropriation. It has also been arranged to put down a bore at the Nightcap Hills, in the District of Southland, when the proper season arrives. The further practical exploration of the Mount Bochfort Coal Field from the Ngakawau, as suggested in my report, will also be charged against this sum. 79. Captain Fraser.] —Has"there been any further exploration done at Kaitangata?—No; there is no doubt whatever about the existence of the coal in the place. The only question is, about the best arrangement to be made for connecting it with the line of railway, and this is under consideration. 80. The Chairman.] Would matters not be accelerated by the employment of more hands, seeing that you have got this money to spend ? —The expenditure for the above purpose will be for extra assistance temporarily employ&d. 81. Mr. Bathgate.] Has betting been carried on to any great extent in the Oamaru District ?— There has been no boring there that I am aware of, nor discoveries that require it. 82. What indications of coal have been found in the Oamaru District ? —Only those of the brown coal. 83. The Chairman.] Could not the exploration or development of these coal mines be accelerated? .—Some expenditure will be required upon the Greymouth side of the Eiver Grey, in order to test that mine. I propose recommending a sum to be spent upon that in boring. At the present time, the line will only connect with the one mine; but when the field has been more fully opened up, other mines will be worked. Besides, if several mines are in work in connection with the same line of railway, it will have tho effect of keeping down the price of coal in New Zealand, and put the whole thing in much better working order. 84. Captain Fraser.] Has anything further been done at Preservation Inlet ? —No; nothing. It is a very difficult place to get at. 85. Would it be worth while spending any money testing the Kowai coal seam ?—The report upon it is good, and some money might be profitably spent exploring it. 86. What sort of a seam is it:—lt is an "edge" seam. It has apparently been altered and improved in quality by a volcanic dyke. I allude to the place situated in Canterbury, on the West Coast Eoad. 87. The Chairman.] Can you suggest any means for developing the resources of the Colony in j ron p—There is a bonus already offered for its manufacture. 88. Have any discoveries been made during the past twelve months ? —I have already stated the discoveries made since giving my evidence on that subject to a previous Committee, and within the last few days another very valuable one has been sent in by Mr. Whitaker, from the Gulf of Thames. If it is found in quantities, the discovery will be a valuable one. 89. Captain Fraser.] Has mercury been found in any other' part of the Colony besides Tokomairiro ?—Tes ; it has been found at Pakaraka, near the Bay of Islands. 90. Mr. Bathgate.] Have you any suggestions to make in reference to the exploration of the Carrick Bange ? —No special suggestions.

Dr. Sector.

30th Sept, 1872,