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C—ll

away of tailings, these can be shot into a ravine more than 500 ft. deep, along which a considerable stream flows. The water to work the auriferous deposits of the Quartz Ranges, it is intended shall be raised from Clark's River, in which, it is estimated, there is a minimum supply of forty Government heads. The race, it is said, will not exceed five miles in length, to bring it over the shoulder of Pine Ridge to the south-west end of the ground. From this it can be carried in an open race along the ridge to the south-east, so as to command with good pressure all parts of the Quartz Ranges. I must now conclude, as the mail is closing. I have, &c, Alex. McKay, H. A. Gordon, Esq., F.G.S., Inspecting Engineer, Mining Geologist. Mines Department, Wellington.

THE PROSPECTS OF FINDING WORKABLE COAL-SEAMS AT GORDON DOWNS, NELSON. Report on, by Alexander McKay, F.G.S., Mining Geologist.

Mr. A. McKay to the Under-Secretary of Mines. Sir,— Wellington, 9th June, 1896. As directed, I examined on the 18th October last the outcrops of coal exposed at the base of the northern slope of Gordon's Knob, Waimea County, Nelson, and have the honour to submit the following report on the same : — . Report. The position of the coal outcrops at Gordon Downs is such that it is not likely the seams can be profitably worked in the meantime. The supply for local needs could scarcely keep a mine going, and the transit overland to the Town of Nelson would prove too costly in competition with local and sea-borne coals. Nor is it certain that a great quantity of coal can be won from the seams, crops of which show in connection with very disturbed strata on the side of the range just where that sinks to the rolling downs that strike along the base of the mountain in this part, and its continuation northward to the gorge of the Wai-iti. In one place only did I see an outcrop of coal. This had been opened out on, by a cut being made across the strike of the seams ; but the works had so fallen in and obscured the seam that its thickness could not be determined. The coalmeasures dip at an angle of 60° into the range to the eastward, and thus appear to—and in part do—pass under the older rocks of either the Maitai or the Te Anau series. The coal itself is apparently of high quality, being black and lustrous; but owing to the heavy pressure it has sustained, and the movement of the associated strata in near contact with the older rocks, it is tender in the extreme, and the face so far as exposed showed only culm. Mr. N. D. .Cochrane, Inspector of Mines for the district, visited this outcrop when it was in a condition that better showed the thickness and character of the seam or seams. He speaks of what he saw as follows: " The highest-up coal-seam on the left-hand branch of the small stream is exposed by a short-cut, and shows coal sft. 6in. ; carbonaceous earthy parts, 2ft. ; then coal, 2ft. 6in., lying at a high angle, say, 60°, and dipping to the north-east." . . . . " The coal itself is very friable, but is bituminous, and probably of excellent quality." These coal outcrops and their associated strata are of Cretaceous or Cretaceo-tertiary age. There is here no evidence indicating their exact age; distinct evidence bearing on this question is to be found only on the Wairoa River, below the gorge, and in the Maitai Valley, near Nelson, in near connection with the area in which the Enner Glynn Coal-mine is situated. The line of outcrop, though not seen, may be traced by indications at the surface to the point where it must cross the Wai-iti River, near Mr. Ellis's Home Station. More to the northward I could not find distinct indications of a continuation of the line of outcrop, the coal-measures either underlying the Miocene gravels or abutting against the older rocks, have in this direction so been cut off or terminated. In the opposite direction, I doubt not that the coal is continued across the valley of the Motueka, and along the same line into the area of the Big Bush, within which indications of coal are to be met with on the road to Top House. The outcrop at Gordon Downs cannot be of importance, other than locally, as no great extent of coal is possible, but the same seams in their extension south-west may be found over a large area, and if of a bituminous character would be of national importance. I did not bring a sample of the coal, but do not think it is bituminous. A. McKay, Mining Geologist. The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington.