11

E.—lo

Approximate Analysis. Water ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 697 Fixed carbon ... ... ... ...• ... ... ... 4959 *Hydrocarbon ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 4011 Ash ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 333 10000 Evaporative Power ... ... ... ... ... ... 64 W. Skey. KAWA KAWA. The Under Seceetaey to the Chairman of the Kawa Kawa Coal Mixing Company. Sir, — Colonial Secretary's Office, 19th November, 1872. I am directed by the Hon. the Colonial Secretary to enclose a copy of the report of the Joint Committee of both Houses of Parliament on Colonial Industries. With reference to that portion of the report upon Coal Fields which referred to the operations of the Kawa Kawa Company, I am to request that in order to enable the Government to decide in what manner and to what extent they can best carry out the recommendation of the Committee as to affording pecuniary assistance to test the extent and quality of the mine, you will favour the Government with information as to what has been recently done in this direction by the Company; what results have attended such examination; and whether any further steps having the same object are now in progress. • I have, &c, G. S. Coopee, To tho Chairman of the Kawa Kawa Coal Mining Company. Under Secretary. Mr. J. A. Gilfillan to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaey. Bay of Islands Coal Company (Limited), Sib,— Auckland, 3rd December, 1872. Eeferring to the Under Secretary's letter of the 19th ultimo, I have the honor, by instruction of my Directors, to state in reply that very considerable sums have been expended in boring upon tho Kawa Kawa Coal Fekl, with varying results. I annex a memorandum showing the result and cost of recent borings. They have now one bore-hole in progress in the higher levels, but they regret that want of money has compelled them to abandon their intention of boring in several places to further prove the extent of the coal below the present levels. My Directors estimate that a sum of £1,500 would be required for boring explorations before the erection of the railway, and they respectfully request the assistance of the Government to that extent. I have, &c, G-. A. Gilfillan, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, "Wellington. Secretary. Memorandum of Results and Cost of Boee Holes recently sunk on tho Kawa Kawa Coal Field. £ s. d. No. 1 Bore-hole. — Total depth 174 feet; coal measure readied at 1G6 feet G inches. Manager reported, " Mud or smut mixed with a very bright coal for 7 feet 6 inches, but without any denned thickness of coal by itself. Cost ... 326 0 0 No. 2 Bore-hole.—Total depth 282 feet 4jj- inches. Hard coal of bright colour, reached at 272 feet, which continued for 5 feet, after which came fireclay and clayslate for 5 feet 4] -inches. Cost ... ... ... ... ... 519 0 0 (Of this hole a section with specimens was sent to Captain Hutton.) No. 3 Bore-hole. —Is in progress ; result not yet ascertained. Cost to date ... 110 0 0 Cost of engine purchased for boring operations ... ... ... ... 1G5 0 0 Total expenditure to date ... ... ... ... £1,120 0 0 Sites of holes Nos. 1 and 2 seen and approved of by Captain Hutton. 3rd December, 1872. J. A. Gilfillan. Mr. T. Russell to the Hon. J. Vogel. (Telegram.) Auckland, December 21st, 1S72. Kawa Kawa Coal Directors wish to know whether the Government will assist them in boring. See their letter to the Government. Reply to Mr. Firth, as I leave Auckland on Monday for one week. Hon. Julius Vogel, "Wellington. Thomas Russell. Hon. E. Richardson to the Hon. the Colonial Secretaey. Auckland, 22nd January, 1873. Can Captain Hutton be spared from "Wellington to visit Kawa Kawa, to fix sites for proposed new shafts ? Directors of Company wish it, and I think it very desirable. I purpose advancing Company about £1,000 for boring purposes. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, "Wellington. Edwabd Richardson. * With sulphur (not estimated). •