NOTES AND QUEIilES. 
189 
Tliese comparative analyses will show that the Drury coal is similar to the 
European brown coals iu its three princijial constituents : 
Auckland Black CoaJ 
Wood. Lignite. Brown Coal, and Anthracite. 
61-4 to 
52-6 
55 () to 
57-0 
65-0 to 
760 
73 0 to 
96-.51 
43 0 
420 
15-0 
67-0 
260 
190 
23 0 
30 
60 
6-5 
40 
130 
4-3 
2-5 
6-5 
0.5 
Although of entirely different character, and, generally speaking, of inferior 
value to the older coals of the Primary formations, there is no reason why this 
kind of coal should not be used in New Zealand for the same purposes as a 
similar brown coal in various parts of Europe, particularly in Germany, where 
it supplies the fuel for manufactures of all kinds, for locomotives and steamers, 
and for domestic purposes. Dr. Hochstetter strongly recommends that any 
company formed for the purpose of working the coal should also establish pot- 
teries for the manufacture of earthenware, llemarkably suitable clays of every 
necessary variety exist iu the immediate neighbourhood of the coal-fields. By 
the establishment of such works, the value of the coal would be made appa- 
rent to everybody, and the manufacture itself, if properly conducted, could not 
fail to be remunerative. It may be interesting to know that the far-famed 
" Bohemian poreelaui" is burnt by means of brown coal, from a seam of, in 
some places, ninety feet thickness. While stating the uses to which brown 
coal may be applied, it is necessary to warn against the idea that it is suitable 
for steamers having to make long sea voyages. The bulky nature of the 
brown-coal wiU always prevent such steamers taking it on board when they can 
procure black coal. But, on the other hand, its qualities as a gas-producing 
coal will render it valuable as an article of export. 
Of the older Tertiary strata examples are found occurring in great regularity 
on the west coast from Waikato to Kawhi. The lovvest are argillaceous, the 
middle calcareous, the upper arenaceous. 
The characteristics of the first clayey strata are a light grey coloiir, very 
few fossils, small crystals of iron pyi-ites and glaucouitic grains, which give 
these clay-marls a similarity to the gault and green-sands of the Cretaceous 
formation iu Europe. They are found on the eastern branches of Whain- 
garoa, Aotea, and Kawhia harbours. 
Of greater interest and importance are the calcareous strata, consisting of 
tabular limestone, sometimes of a conglomerate nature, sometimes more crys- 
talline, the whole mass of which is formed of fragments of shells, corals, and 
foraminifera, interspersed with perfect specimens of terebratulae, oysters and 
peetens, and other shells. This limestone, when burnt, makes excellent Hme, 
and may be wrought and polished for architectural purposes. 
The beds of limestone worked by Messrs. Smith and Cooper, in the Wairoa 
district, belong to this formation, as do also the rich fossiliferous strata from 
the Waikato Heads towards Kawhia harbour. 
Pictui'esque columnar rocks of the same nature, looking almost as if they 
were artificiidly built of tabular blocks, adorn the entrance to Whaingaroa 
harbour ; and the romantic (limestone) scenery, and the fine caves of the 
Rakaunui river, a branch of Kawhia harbour, are deservedly prized by the 
settlers of Kawhia Harbour. 
The limestone formation attains its greatest thickness (from four hundred to 
five hundred feet) in the Upper Waipa and Mokau district, between the Ran- 
gitoto range and the west coast. It has in this country many remarkable 
features. 
No one can enter without admiration the stalactite caves of Tana-uri-uri, at 
Hangatiki, and of Parianewanewa, near the soui'ces of the Waipa, the former 
haunts of the gigantic Moa. 
Dr. Hochstetter says : " I went into those caves in the hope of meeting 
