On the Coalfields of New Zealand.

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 24, 1891, Page 688

3. Sir James Hector exhibited samples of the different coals and rocks from the coalfields lately visited. With reference to the Black Ball Mine, a tunnel of 1,230ft. had been driven to reach the coal, and two seams had been cut of first-class-quality coal, making a total of about 20ft. thick of coal. Samples of the rocks from the tunnel were also described. Samples of the coal from the new Cardiff and Mokihinui Company's lease were exhibited, and also samples from the Kai-tangata Mine, Otago; and a number of fossils found in sinking the Castle Hill Company's shaft at Kaitangata were also on the table and described. Samples of coal from Orepuki were shown, together with a series of fossils from the Middle Wai-para, in the northern district of Canterbury. These latter were described as being geologically of very great importance, on account of the presence of Belemnites australis in association with dicotyledonous leaves, and in the same boulders remains of Leiodon haumuriensis, this being the first time that these Secondary fossils have been found in the Canterbury District.