Natural History in Colonisation. 129 
neighbourhood; for instance, between Saddlehill and Scrogg’s 
Hill on the Government Coal Reserve; in the gully in which 
M‘Coll’s and Taylor’s Stations are situated, on the seaward aspect 
of the hill; on the farm of Fairfield, and in the adjoining Abbott’s 
Creek. They are being worked also in the hills between the 
Tokomairiro Plain and the sea, on the slope of the range which 
looks towards the plain; and on the coast near the mouth of the 
Clutha. It is proposed further to work them on the Gold Fields 
—at Waitahuna and Wetherstone’s Flats. My remarks must, I 
think, have sufficiently implied that I would recommend caution in 
any speculations as to working these Lignites—especially under the | 
impression that they are true Coals. To be more specific, I would 
point to the circumstances under which the Clutha Coal-field is now 
being worked, and the Waitahuna and Wetherstone’s Fields are 
proposed to be worked. In regard to the former I have to express 
a doubt whether the considerable expenditure of capital indicated 
by the railway and other appliances will be followed by adequate 
returns—especially seeing that lignite, apparently of the same 
kind and quality, in as great, perhaps greater, abundance, 7s to be 
found within siz to eight miles of Dunedin, in what may be called 
the Saddlehill Lignite Basin. In regard to the lignite beds of 
Tuapeka Gold-field, I have to remark upon the inexpediency of 
“getting up” a company and proceeding to work a “ coal-field” 
that has not been surveyed by competent persons, While on the 
gold-fields lately, I was told, on what I cannot but consider the 
best authority, that a company has been, or is being, formed at 
the diggings, for the purpose of working the lignite of Waitahuna 
and Wetherstone’s Flats, Enormous profits are expected from its 
sale among the diggers, The whereabouts of the coal at Wether- 
stone's, at all events, and other matters therewith connected, seem 
to be kept a profound secret; the consequence whereof to me 
was, that though I searched diligently in the locality to which 
rumour pointed as its site, I failed in finding it. Iwas informed, 
further, that the extent of the field or seam is unknown; its value 
a matter of conjecture :—that neither locality has been visited by 
a geologist, nor reported upon by any competent authority. So 
far as I could learn from investigation on the spot, nobody seems 
to know anything precise regarding this so-called coal, which, as 
is the case with all latest discoveries, is said to be the finest coal 
yet found in New Zealand, but which, I fear, will prove neither 
_ better nor worse than the lignite of Saddlehill, the Clutha, and 
many other localities; and yet apparently steps are being taken 
to work this ‘‘ coal.” This is surely a kind of speculation as 
unsafe as it is unsound, I am far from saying it will necessarily 
prove unsuccessful or unfortunate ; but I do say it deserves to be, 
NEW SERIES,—=VOL. XVIII. NO. 1.—JULY 18638. R 
