383 



among nations, and it is only when the development of mineral wealth comes 

 as an accessory to other productive industries, that it is a real advantage to the 

 country, by affording employment for labour and manufacturing ingenuity. 



I append two Tables, compiled from official returns ; the first showing 

 the amount of Coal which has been imported into the colony, chiefly from 

 New South Wales. This return shows that there is a very large annual 

 expenditure for this item, part of which, at least, might be directed to the 

 development of our own coal fields, if the difficulties of access to the coal 

 seams could be surmounted ; and also if the very unfounded prejudice which 

 prevails against the use of the better kinds of Brown coal, for domestic pur- 

 poses, was overcome. 



On the important utility of these coals I will quote the opinion of Pro- 

 fessor Hochstetter, who says : — " That those Brown coals, — being as they are, 

 of a nature and quality, far different from English coals, — should, in many 

 instances, be deemed, in New Zealand, far inferior to what they are, is 

 easily accounted for ; and years will pass away before the prejudices will be 

 overcome with a people that hitherto have only known and used the excellent 

 coal of their mother country. Time and experience, however, will show, that 

 the Brown coal in New Zealand can be used for the same purposes, for which 

 just the same coal, and sometimes of a far inferior quality, is used on a most 

 extensive scale in various parts of Germany and especially in Austria, in whole 

 provinces of which (Styria, Krain and Northern Bohemia) it constitutes the 

 almost exclusive fuel for manufacturing and railroad, as well as for domestic 

 purposes." — "New Zealand," by Dr. F. von Hochstetter, p. 90. 



The second Table shows the quantity of the different metallic ores which 

 has been exported from the colony during each year. This return is neces- 

 sarily imperfect, especially for the years prior to 1853, at which date the regular 

 publication of the statistics of the colony was commenced. They are how- 

 ever approximately correct, and show the total value of exported minerals, 

 during the past twenty-five years to be £19,652,201. 



TABLE I. — Quantity and Yalue of Coal Imported into New Zealand, 

 from 1853 to 1869, inclusive. 



Quantity 



and 

 Value. 



1853 



1854 



1855 



1856 



1857 



1858 



1859 



1860 



1861 



1862 



Tons. 



£. 



1253 

 4365 



2361 

 8454 



4085 

 10730 



3361 

 7329 



3112 

 8023 



5350 

 13854 



20140 

 43240 



16728 

 37554 



25995 

 59236 



34308 

 84401 



Quantity 



and 

 Value. 



1863 



1864 



1865 



1866 



1867 



1868 



1869 



Totals. 



Tons. 



£. 



6119: 

 133241 



! 80618 

 166255 



86172 

 159160 



101469 

 183846 



76330 

 134705 



87854 

 154628 



91874 

 139941 



702,202 

 1,348,962 



