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South of State coal-mine : South-west of Chasm Creek there is a considerable extent of coalbearing country, which, as already indicated, has been but little worked. This area, though not without some inconvenience, can be developed from the present workings of the State mine. Since, however, the coal-outcrops are not bo thick as in the ground now being worked, and in many cases are of poorer quality, careful exploration is accessary in order to determine whether a profitable block of coal exists or not. Between fouv and live years ago a limited portion of the area was prospected by means of hand-drilled bore-holes. In only one of these bores was coal found. The others are reported to have struck granite, but it may be questioned whether the rock penetrated was not a coarse grit, debris from which could easily be mistaken for granite. In such a case the results of the boring are quite inconclusive. It should be mentioned, however, that in workings extended towards the prospected area from Chasm Creek the coal was found to be thin. Charming Creek Area : South-westward of the last area is the valley of Charming Creek. In the central part of this valley a 2 ft. seam of coal outcrops, and below this, at depths of 37J ft. to 50 ft., boring has proved the existence of a seam reaching a thickness of 20 ft. and more. In No. 6 bore, however, the seam is only ft. thick. The geological survey, moreover, shows that to the east, south, and west this seam either thins out altogether, or is reduced to a trifling thickness. East and west this conclusion is confirmed by bores. Northward the 20ft. seam (which undoubtedly corresponds to the main seam in the, Seddonville Colliery) may be expected to extend towards Chasm Creek, and finally to connect with the outcrops in that Locality. Since Nos. 1 and 5 bores, in which 20 ft. of coal was proved, are only 21 chains apart, and No. 6 bore, with 2$ ft. of coal, is only 36 chains n> the west of No. 5, it follows that the width of the area with thick coal (say, over 6 ft.) is not likely to exceed three-quarters of a mile. Southward, the thinning out of the coal is probably rapid, so thai Hie amount of workable coal in that direction is presumably small. Northward, towards the watershed of Chasm Creek, the coal-bearing area is considerable, and, together with the area near Chasm Creek, probably exceeds 1J square miles. Thus there is scope for the opening-out of a uew mine. Systematic boring, however, is necessary in order to prove the exact extent, thickness, and quality of the coal. It may be useful here to state what could have been ascertained by a geological survey alone, and what assistance has been given by boring. Since, as already stated, the coal undoubtedly thins out to the east, south, and west of Charming ((reels valley, and since the outcrops immediately to the north are somewhat poor, the geologist could not have reasonably inferred the existence of a thick seam in the central part, though the basin character of the area might have justified a suspicion. On the other hand, the possible coal-bearing area would have been thought somewhat greater than is actually the case. Thus the boring has been useful in proving thick coal over a portion of the area, and in partly denning its limits. On the whole, the Charming Creek ooal-measures dip from north and south towards the central line of the valley. The axis of the syncline thus formed pitches gently from east and west towards a point Near No. 4 bore, so that the beds lie in an elongated basin, with its deepest part probably somewhat east of No. i bore. Owing to minor crumplings and rolls of the strata, their strike and dip are somewhat variable. A number of small faults have been observed, and there are doubtless others. In addition, a line of disturbance, passing into a considerable fault, runs north-east from the mouth of Reed Brook to a point in Chasm Creek west of the present State-mine workings. Another strong fault crosses the north-eastern pari of the area considered to be coal-bearing. It is evident that the greater part of bhe ooal-bearing area, near Charming (reek, if worked at all, would have to be exploited from a shaft. The natural outlet- for the coal is down ('harming Creek valley, and thence down the Ngakawau River to the existing railway-line between Seddonville and West port. Recommendations. The area immediately south of Chasm Creek may be prospected by further boring and by driving from the coal-outcrops. Since tiie coal horizon is for the most part less than 200 ft. and in many places must be under 100 ft. below the surface, hand-boring would be, as a rule, cheaper than machinedrilling. Samples of the drillings should be taken at regular intervals and whenever a change of rock is apparent. These should be very carefully examined, in order to determine when the coal-measures are penetrated, otherwise grit may be mistaken for granite, and nice, versa. All samples ought to be correctly labelled and preserved, so that in case of doubt they could be referred to a geologist. In order to ascertain the extent of coal in the Charming Creek basin, several more bores are necessary north and south of bores Nos. 1, 5, and 6. These bores should be approximately at 20-chain intervals, and located as systematically as the nature of the ground will permit. It is better to spend a few pounds in transporting boring machinery to the right place than to locate it at the most convenient spot and later on be compelled to drill another hole in order to obtain information that might have been obtained from a single bore. At the present moment the prospects of success in opening out the Charming Creek area an: uncertain. From the bores that are proposed data that will justify mining operations may be obtained, but on present knowledge the only expenditure warranted is that needed for prospecting operations such as boreholes, small shafts, &c. SUMMARY OF Mr. E. de C. CLARKE'S REPORT ON THK NEW PLYMOUTH SUBDIVISION. The following is a brief summary of the more important features of the detailed report which Mr, E. de C. Clarke has submitted, and which it is hoped to publish in a few months' time.

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