H.—52

6

Thames, which is alloyed with aboijt 30 per cent, of the less valuable metal. Within the last two years, however, several mines have been opened where the ore is argentiferous galena, that yields 20oz. to 2200z. of silver to the ton. In some cases the galena is mixed with iron-pyrites that yields a fair percentage of gold. A mine has recently been opened in Nelson, at Richmond Hill, where the ore is a form of tetrahedrite, a mixed ore, containing silver, antimony, zinc, bismuth, and copper, the silver being at the rate of from 20oz. to 1,7920z. per ton. The total quantity of silver entered for exportation from New Zealand from the year 1869, when it was first exported, up to 31st December, 1879, amounted to 490,8080z., valued at £124,721. Other valuable mineral ores are found in various parts of the colony, such as chrome, lead, zinc, antimony, and manganese. No iron-mines are at present worked, though almost every known variety of iron-Ore has been, discovered in the colony; the workings being limited to the black sands, which occur plentifully on the coasts. There are also few soils or stream-gravels that will not yield a considerable quantity when washed. The chief deposits are, however, on the sea-shore of the west coast of both Islarfds, the best known being that at Taranaki. Haematite-iron ores are largely used for the manufacture of paint. Coal. —The extensive coalfields existing in New Zealand are a most valuable possession to the colony. Coal-mines are being worked in the provinces of Auckland, Nelson, Canterbury, and Otago, including Southland ; those in the provinces of Auckland, Nelson, and Otago producing at present the largest quantities. At Mount Eochfort or Buller mines the seams are on a high plateau, are 10ft. to 40ft. thick, and from 900 ft. to 3,000 ft. above sea-level. Accurate surveys of this coalfield show it to contain 140,000,000 tons of bituminous coal of the best quality, and easily accessible. A railway seventeen miles in length is now completed along the level country at the base of the ranges in which the coal occurs. Inclines worked by steel ropes bring down the coal from an altitude of 2,000 ft. At the Brainier Coal-mine, on the Grey River, Nelson, the working-face of the seam is 18ft., and it has been proved to extend one-third of a mile on the strike without disturbance, and to be available for working in an area of thirty acres; the estimated amount of coal being 4,000,000 tons in this mine alone, most of which can be worked above the water-level. Coal-pit Heath is a second mine lying more to the dip of the same seam. A third mine is being opened on the south side of the river, which, with a 370 ft. shaft, will command 300,000 tons. The coal from the Brunner Mine, Nelson, which has now been worked for twelve years, yields vitreous coke, with brilliant metallic lustre. A railway has been constructed by Government to connect the mine with the port, and harbour improvements are in progress whereby a larger class of vessels than at present will be enabled to enter the river. The small quantity of this coal hitherto obtainable in New Zealand and Australian markets has been eagerly bought up. for gasworks and iron-foun-dries, whose managers generally pay for it from 10 to 20 per cent, more than for any other coal. Engineers of local steamers esteem it 20 per cent, better than the best New South Wales coal for steam purposes. Coke made from it is valued at £3 per ton. Coalfields in other parts of the Nelson District have also yielded excellent coal. At Pakawau, and in the same formation at Collingwood, thin seams of hard, bright, bituminous coal have been worked. The area of this coalfield is about thirty square miles. The facilities of access and shipping, and the abundance of iron-ore and limestone, will probably make this an important mining district. In the Province of Auckland, at the Kawakawa Mine, Bay of Islands, the coal is taken from a seam 13ft. thick, containing much sulphur. This coal is now very extensively used by steamers. The total consumption of coal in the colony for the year 1887 amounted to 665,850 tons, of which, 558,620 tons were derived from New Zealand mines, the balance being imported from New South Wales. The total amount of coal raised in the colony up to the present date exceeds 5,000,000 tons. Shale. —In 1866 attention was directed to the resources of the colony in respect to petroleum, and some very fine oils were found. There are three principal localities, and these produce each a distinct kind of oil —the Sugar-loaves, in the Taranaki Province ; Poverty Bay, on the east coast of the Province of Auckland; and Maunatahi, Waiapu, East Cape. The oil from the first has a very high specific gravity—o-960 to 0-964 at 60°Fahr.—water at 1. It has thus too much carbon in its composition for its commercial success as an illuminating oil, but is capable of producing a valuable lubricating oil. The second kind, from Waiapu, Poverty Bay, is a true paraffine-oil, resembling the Canadian oil. The third produces a pale-brown oil, nearly or quite transparent; specific gravity, 0-829 at 60° Fahr. ; which burns well in a kerosene-lamp for some time, and is therefore of a very superior class. It contains only traces of paraffine, and produces 84 per cent, of an illuminating oil fit for use in kerosene-lamps by means of a single distillation. Specimens of oil-shales have been found at Kaikorai and Blueskin, in Otago; and at Orepuki, in Southland, extensive and apparently valuable formations of shale have been discovered. Since 1857 the total value of minerals raised in NewZealand has been £50,981,028. Agriculture. —Allusion has been made to the area of country occupied by mountain-ranges in New Zealand, and the general position they occupy with reference to the geography of the country, and it may be further stated that, with the exception of the higher Alps, every part of the country is more or less adapted for settlement of some kind. A clearer idea of the value of the country and the purposes to which it is applicable is, however, obtained by the comparison of the rock-formations, the decomposition of which produces the soils. In the whole of the colony there are about 12,000,000 acres of land fitted for agriculture, wherein the form of surface is suitable, and about 50,000,000 acres better adapted for pasturage; but from these estimates allowance must, be made for about 20,000,000 acres of surface at present covered by forest. The greater portion of =the best and most available land has been for some time taken up, and can now only be obtained from the original settlers at enhanced prices. The Government, however, offers every facility for the acquisition of Crown lands by bond fide farmers or settlers, either by direct purchase or by a system of deferred payments spread over a period of years. The price of Crown lands varies from 10s. to £2 per acre. The progress made in agriculture has been very rapid, and the number of persons engaged in this pursuit is, as compared with other