sandstones flanking the coal indistinct petrifactions are found, fossil 
leaves of dicotyledon plants, 1 similar to those at Drury. The 
disturbed state of stratification and the crumbled appearance of the 
coal were not favourable to the mining enterprise, which was soon 
given up again. But various indications lead one to suppose that 
further South on the outskirts of the AVaimea plain, in the direc- 
tion of Richmond, there are also beds of coal. Experiments by 
way of boring would probably be most apt to decide the question. 
Still further South near Mount Arthur, and on the AVangapeka and 
Batten Rivers, coal seams have likewise been discovered. 
Far more favourable for the working of a mine arc the loca- 
lities on Massacre Bay, 2 West of Nelson. Near Motupipi, close by 
the sea shore, there are some coal mines which were opened under 
the able direction of Mr. James Burnett ; but by a juncture of un- 
toward circumstances wore again left to decay. There several 
strata of coal are known from one to five feet thick. The bed which 
has been worked lies just at the level of the highwater mark 
and almost horizontal. The lower beds are below the highwater 
mark. The Motupipi brown coal stands next to the Drury coal; 
it contains the same fossil resin, Ambrite; its fracture, however, is 
less glossy. It crumbles easily when exposed to the atmosphere, 
and burns with a yellowish-red flame. The strong bituminous smell 
has frequently deterred consumers from using this coal for domestic 
purposes. But, as Mr. Burnett informed me, it was used with good 
effect for a whole year (in 1854 to 1855) upon the steamer “Nelson” 
plying on the coasts of the Province of Nelson, intermixed 
with Australian coal. At the time of my visit a lime-kiln in the 
neighbourhood was carried on with it. The coal would, no doubt, 
have met with a better sale, if the shipping of it had been less 
difficult and the production of it less expensive. But on the shallow 
1 Professor Dr. Unger has named the very imperfect specimens of those fossil 
plants, contained in my collection , as Phylllles Nelsonianus , Ph. Brosinoides, Ph. 
quercoides , Ph. eucakfptroides and Ph. legiminositcs. 
2 The bay has repeatedly changed its name. “Massacre Bay'’’ was changed 
to “Tasman's 38,7'’'’, when coal was discovered to “Coal Bay" (Arrowsmitirs map), 
and upon the discovery of the Aorere gold-fields to “Golden Bay". 
