132 



Lecture on the Geology of [No. 9, new series. 



I subjoin comparative average analysis of the three principal 

 kinds of fuel, from which it may be seen that the Drury Coal is 

 precisely similar to the European brown coals in the proportion of 

 its three principal constituents : 



Wood Brown Black Coal 



Coal. and Anthracite. 



Carbon 51'4 to 52'6 



Oxygen 43 42 



Hydrogen. . 6 5*5 



55 to 76 73 to 96-51 

 26 19 23 3 

 4-3 2-5 5-5 0-5*) 



1 embrace here the opportunity of saying a few words on the 



commercial value and applicability of the New Zealand Brown 



Coal. 



Although of entirely different character, and, generally speak- 

 ing, of inferior value, to the older coals of the Primary formations, 

 I cannot see any reason why this kind of coal should not be used 

 in New Zealand for the same purposes, as a similar brown coal is 

 extensively applied to in various parts of Europe, and particularly 

 in Germany, where it supplies the fuel for manufactures of all 

 kinds, for locomotives and steamers, and for domestic purposes. I 

 am perfectly familiar with this kind of coal, and can assure the 

 people of Auckland, that the brown coal of this country is quite 

 as good as that which is used in Germany for the purposes I have 

 just mentioned. I would strongly recommend that any Company 

 which may be formed for the purpose of working the coal should 

 also at the same time establish Potteries for the manufacture of 

 earthenware. Remarkably suitable Clays of every necessary va- 

 riety have been shown to exist in the immediate neighbourhood 

 of the coal-fields, by the borings which have been made by the 

 Provincial Government at my request.^ By the establishment of 



(* The following are the results of two borings made in the flats be- 

 tween Drury Hotel and the Drury Ranges, under the direction of Mr. 

 Ninnis, to whom I am indebted for the tables subjoined. 



Boring No. I. 



Feet. Inch. 



1) 2. 0 Dark soil. 



2) 9. 6 Plastic clay, yellow and blue. 



3) 1. 6 Gravel and pebbles. 



4) 1. 0 Yellow clay. 



5) 3. 0 Grey clay. 



6) 6. 0 Blue clay. 



7) 11' 0 Arenaceous clay. 



8) 15. 0 Grey clay. 



