E.—9

2

8. Orikaka Saddle. —I have made another observation of the height of the saddle between the Orikaka and a tributary of the Ngakawau, alluded to in my report of 15th June, 1874, and make the height, by the mean of the two observations, 1,318 feet above sea level. I was unable to spare time to go through to the Mokihinui, but, from the observations I made, my former good impressions of the country to the north and east, both as to coal-producing probabilities and the quality and easy lie of the land, were confirmed. (See my recommendation in paragraph 11 of this Eeport.) To the south and southeast, on the other hand, the country becomes very rugged, and inferior I think in both these respects, as well as difficult of access and densely timbered. II. —FxjTTJEE OpEEATIONS. 9. After the work on the sea face alluded to in paragraph 1 is finished, which will probably occupy from two to three months, the portions of the coal field which I think merit the next attention are, Cascade Creek, head of Orikaka, and Mokihinui. 10. Cascade Creek rises between the summits of Mounts William aud Rochfort, and pursues a southerly course to the Kiver Buller, into which it falls about ten miles above Westport. Several good-looking outcrops of coal have been found in the upper parts of the valley near the level of the creek; but of the extent of the seam or seams) no definite opinion can be formed without spending a considerable time in exploring, the valley being over 1,000 feet deep, and the sides steep, much furrowed, and thickly timbered. The amount of time which it would be worth expending upon its exploration would depend upon the results obtained, and could only be judged as the work progressed. Mr. Denniston, who has spent about a week in a cursory examination, is of opinion that to explore the valley thoroughly would occupy three months. The only outlet for the coal when raised would be by tram or railway down the creek and alongside the north bank of the Buller to Westport, a distance of say fourteen miles, six of which, at the Westport end, being of easy construction, and the remainder over sideling ground more or less steep. 11. Head of Orikaka. —Near the divide spoken of in paragraph 8, an outcrop of coal was found of good quality, superior hardness, and slight dip, having the appearance of being steady, and of considerable extent {vide Mr. Denniston's General Report, 30th June, 1875, p. 19). The country hereabouts is flatter and much less broken than any ground I have yet been over ; on the other hand it would be somewhat troublesome and expensive carrying stores so far inland; but on the whole I think it is desirable to extend the survey in this direction, and proceed as far as good indications of coal are found. The adoption of this course would, moreover, afford a favourable opportunity of carrying out the suggestion made by Mr. Denniston in the last paragraph of his report, that a bore should be put down near the crossing of the main track and Pouri Creek, in order to decide whether or not there is in that part of the coal field a finer seam, of the existence of which there is some indication. In that suggestion I concur, as my impression has always been that workable coal would be found here, and the map of it is at present a blank as far as this is concerned. 12. JSLokihinui. —A mine was opened here last year near the bank of the river, and about three miles from the mouth, and the results were encouraging, but nothing of consequence has been done for the last six months. Good samples have been found cropping out at various points, from which tramways could be laid down without any unusual expense to the mouth of the river, a distance of from three to six miles. As the river has a good entrance, and is generally available for vessels drawing eight feet of water, a moderate trade could be carried on in the meantime ; and the Westport and Ngakawau Railway could be ultimately extended to the Mokihinui, at a moderate cost, if the results of the mining operations there were found to be such as warranted, the outlay. I should recommend that the block of country intervening between the Ngakawau and the Mokihinui, and extending say five or six miles inland, should be surveyed as far as the results obtained appeared to warrant. It might be desirable also to extend the survey for same distance north of the Mokihinui. As, however, the whole of this country is covered with bush, the cost would be much greater than that of the work I have already done. 13. If the three localities I have named were surveyed, the survey would then embrace all those portions of the coal field which have as yet been prospected with any success. lll.—Mmxa Operations. 14. Of all the large number of lease and license holders on the Buller Coal Field, only three have to my knowledge done anything towards prospecting for or developing the coal within their areas since I made my last general report on this subject, dated 31st December, 1874—viz., Roche, Mulholland, and Overhagen. 15. Roche and party, who held a prospecting license on the south side of the Waimangaroa near its outlet from the Gorge, have put in a drive 200 feet long into the seam which cropped out upon their ground near the bank of the river. The coal, which was at first mere dust, has improved somewhat as they have driven into the hill; but though it is, I believe, good enough for use on the spot, it is still too soft for export. They are now about, lam informed, to test the quality of another outcrop, a little higher up the hill, and they express the hope that this will prove a harder coal. 16. Mullholland (or Sims and party) hold a prospecting license on the north bank of the river, immediately opposite Roche's. It is on their ground that the drive put in under Dr. Hector's directions, three years ago, is situated ; and to the remarks made in my report of 31st December I have only to add that Sims and party have lately commenced to put iu a fresh drive somewhat higher up the hill, the result of which will not probably be known for a month or two (vide Mr. Denniston's Report for June, 1875, last paragraph). 17. Overhagen and party, Cascade Creek. Since my report of 31st December, they have had a surveyor upou the ground and made their selection for lease. Overhagen has again proceeded to Melbourne with plans and other information on the capabilities of the ground, and has not yet returned.