9

E.—lo

AVIIANGAROA. Mr. Thomas Ball to the Minister for Public Works. Sir,— Mongonui, 22nd June, 1872. I have the honor, under instructions of a Committee formed at Mongonui for the purpose of promoting prospecting for coal in the district, to urge upon you favourable consideration of the case, as represented to the Hon. Mr. A rogel by our representative, Mr. John McLeod, in a letter officially reported to have been forwarded to you. Some desultory efforts have been made by aid of local contributions ; but neither the character of the works nor the amount of money subscribed proved adequate to the development of the hidden treasure, although affording ample encouraginent for further operations. The honorable member has himself inspected the locality, with the view of forming an opinion on its coal-bearing indications, and expressed himself very confidently in favour of its capabilities. Dr. Hector has also expressed equally favourable views, formed on personal observation. So have other scientific authorities .at different times during a period of many years. This Committee therefore hope that you will recognize the reasonableness of the grounds of their application for aid from the fund set apart for such purpose during the last Session of General Assembly, and, with as little delay as public service admits, issue instructions to Captain Hutton or others competent to visit the district, with the object of advising the Government and the Committee. Should success attend the enterprise, there is good reason to hope, from local advantages of harbour, &c, that it would bo a great colonial benefit. I have, &c, Tnos. Ball, To the Hon. the Minister for Public AA rorks. Chairman to the Committee. The Under Secretary for Public Works to Mr. Thomas Ball. Sir— AVellington, 11th July, 1572. I am directed by Mr. Ormond to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22nd ult., in which you call the attention of the Government to the importance of exploring for coal in the Mongonui district, and in reply to inform you that the Government recognize the importance of the exploration alluded to by you and recommended by Dr. Hector in the enclosed reports, and have authorized Dr. Pollen to place at the disposal of the Committee tho sum of £150 for that purpose. I have, &c, Thomas Ball, Esq., • John Knowles. Chairman of the Coal Prospecting Committee, Mongonui. Dr. Hector to the Under Secretary for Public AVorks. Sir,— Geological Survey Office, AVellington, 10th July, 1872. AVith reference to the recommendation in my letter (No. 74, 4th July, 1872, Appendix to Journal, H. of R., 1872, D. 3), respecting the further tracing of the coal seam in the Kaiou River, AVhangaroa Harbour, I have the honor to suggest that an expenditure to the amount of £150 might be authorized for the purpose, to be placed at the disposal of the Committee which has been locally constituted for the purpose of searching for coal in the district. Not having seen the place where the outcrop of tho coal has been found, I cannot offer any details of the manner in which the exploration should be conducted, but the services of a competent coal miner could easily be obtained from the Kawa Kawa. A sketch survey should be made of the place, especially showing the surface contour. The coal scam should be laid bare sufficiently to show its true strike and dip, and a cross-cut should bo made to find the nature of the strata above and below. The indications thus obtained will be quite sufficient to guide a practical miner iv a search for other outcrops of the same seam. Samples of the coal from different parts of the seam should be forwarded for analysis. If these suggestions .are acted upon, the results will greatly facilitate tho further geological examination of the coal-bearing deposits, which will be undertaken as soon as possible. I have, &c, Tho Under Secretary for Public AVorks, Wellington. James Hector. Mr. Thomas Ball to the Minister for Public Works. Sir,— Mongonui, 7th August, 1872. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your communication in reply to the application of Coal Committee for assistance in exploration, informing me that the Government have authorized Dr. Pollen to place the sum of £150 at tho disposal of the Committee. No time shall be lost in laying the communication before the Committee. AVith thanks for information and enclosure, I have, &c, To the Hon. the Minister for Public AVorks, Tuos. Ball.

APPENDIX. PROVINCE OF AUCKLAND.