Canterbury ami Westland. 451 



on the western slopes of the Southern Alps, the first locality where 

 coalfields — one of the best in the Colony — exist is situated about 

 six miles above Grreymouth. The principal seam of these coal measures 

 was discovered by me in 1860, and described in my report on the 

 western districts of the Nelson Province, published by the Provincial 

 Government in 1861. Owing to the many faults existing, and the 

 density of the forest, it then appeared that besides the principal seam, 

 several others were in existence. However, a careful examination of the 

 Greological Survey Department, extending over a number of years, has 

 proved that there are only two workable seams, an upper seam of about 

 three feet, and a lower or main seam of 16 feet in thickness, 

 separated from the upper by about 35 feet of grit. The principal 

 and most accessible portion of this coalfield, although considerably 

 faulted, is situated on the northern side of the Grrey river, the 

 coal on the southern or "Westland side being more limited in extent. 

 Several shafts, of which the principal one is 635 feet deep, have 

 here been sunk, the coal having been reached at various depths. 

 It is a fine bituminous coal, clear and homogeneous, burning to a 

 fine metallic coke, about 66 degs. in the average, and very useful 

 for steam, manufacturing, and home purposes. Prom the Table 

 of Analyses of coal made at the Colonial Laboratory it will be seen 

 that it is in every respect a very superior coal, the value of which 

 together with that of the Buller coal measures cannot be overrated. 



It is a remarkable fact that this coal, although not being of greater 

 age than the principal brown coal seams on the eastern side of the 

 dividing range, has nevertheless undergone such an enormous altera- 

 tion throughout, that it has the character of coal of far greater age, 

 and in some respects is superior to coals from New South Wales. 

 It is, therefore, evident that some abysso-dynamic agencies have been 

 at work to accomplish this metamorphism throughout the whole Grrey 

 and Buller coalfields, which did not extend to the eastern side of the 

 Alps, where the coal is only locally altered, the cause of the alteration 

 being always traceable to volcanic rocks in close proximity, erupted 

 during or after the formation of the coal seams. The seams existing 

 near Lake Kanieri, at the Paringa, and near Jackson's Bay, although 

 containing coal of good quality, are too thin for practical use, but I 

 have no doubt that the extensive Waipara beds near the Paringa river 

 will yield in years to come workable seams, by means of which 

 the central portion of Westland will be settled by a population more 

 stationary than a gold mining community generally is. 



