460 Geology of 



And finally, I wish to allude to another occurrence of coal in the 

 southern portion of Canterbury, which in years to come may be of 

 considerable importance to the district. The coal seams in question 

 are situated in the Otaio district, and exposed in the river-bed not far 

 from where it leaves the palaeozoic ranges. For about 100 yards 

 post-pliocene alluvium forms the banks of the river, after which a 

 series of deposits of shale and brown coal is exposed, but not 

 sufficiently to take any reliable measurements. 



Then follow in ascending order : — 



Shales, thickness about ... ... 4ft. 6 in. 



Brown coal ... 

 Dark sandy shale 

 Brown coal ... 

 Shale, blackish sandy , 

 Brown coal ... 



3 „ 

 2 „ 



1 „ 4 „) dip 

 1 „ 2 „ .i 13 deg, 

 6 „ „ ) to KE. 



For about six chains the continuation of these beds is covered by 

 alluvium, after which greensands capped by calcareous sandstone 

 appear, the latter forming everywhere the uppermost beds of the 

 series in the district. The principal coal seam consists of a fair brown 

 coal, with layers of glance coal interstratified. 



A number of outliers belonging to the Oamaru formation occuring 

 far in the interior, contain sometimes thick coal seams, but they are 

 generally difficult of access, and of limited extent. 



PAEEOEA POEilATION. 



No lignite seams of any value have hitherto been discovered in this 

 formation, although in many localities small deposits have been met 

 with, in which the stems of trees show conspicuously their form and 

 woody structure. 



I may mention that many of the inferior brown coals and lignites 

 are burned extensively in several parts of Germany and Austria for 

 obtaining the ashes, to be used either in the manufacture of glass or 

 as valuable manures. 



In the reports of Geological Explorations for 1S71-72, a resume of 

 all analyses made of New Zealand Coals by Mr. TV\ Skey, which are of 

 some practical value, are given. I have selected for republication 

 from that schedule those analyses having reference to Canterbury and 

 "Westland, thinking that they will be useful to the reader for com- 

 parison. 



