41

H.—23

Enclosure No. 4

ARTICLES COLLECTED IN NEW ZEALAND FOR EXHIBITION.

COAL. 1. Para Para Iron and Coal Company, Limited, Nelson. —Block of Coal taken from a 3-foot seam, a fair specimen of the general quality of the field. This coal occurs in a rugged mountain range on the north bank of the Aorere river, and is tapped by a drift or tunnel in the side of the hill, between 800 and 900 feet above the level of the sea. By actual survey the field has been proved to be of considerable extent; and ia the drift alluded to above 5 seams have been cut, varying in thickness from 18 inches to 3 feet, out of which 6 feet of workable coal is found. It is unsurpassed in the colonies for gas purposes, is an excellent household coal, and very superior for steam use. 2. Kennedy Brothers, Nelson. —Block of coal from the Brunner Mine, situated on the Grey Eiver, Nelson, seven miles from the Port of Greymouth. The seam now being worked is of a uniform thickness of 16 feet, all pure clean coal, and has been -worked on a small scale during the past 12 years. The output for the year ending July, 1875, was 20,000 tons. A railway is being constructed by the Government to connect the mine with the port, and harbour improvements whereby a larger class of vessels than at present will be enabled to enter, are in progress ; the Company can now produce 2,000 tons per week. Present price, free on board at Greymouth, is 15s. per ton. The small quantity of this coal hitherto obtainable in New Zealand and Australian markets has been eagerly bought up for gas works and iron foundries, who generally pay for it from 10 to 20 per cent, more than for any other coal. Engineers of local steamers esteem it 20 per cent, better than the best New Soath Wales coal for steam purposes. 3. Kennedy Brothers, Nelson. —Coke, made from No. 2 ; value, £3 per ton. 4. Albion Goal Company, Nelson. —'Block of coal from Ngakawau. 5. Nelson Committee. —Block of coal from Coalbrook Dale, Mount Eochfort, Nelson. Two seams, of 8 feet and 18 inches, respectively, at an elevation of 2,200 feet above the sea level. Estimated area of field, 2 square miles. 6. Nelson Committee. —Block of coal from Eeefton, Nelson. 7. Alexander W. Reid, Canterbury. —Altered brown coal, from Kowai Pass, 3.f00t seam ; area of field, 108 acres. Value at pit's mouth, £1. The pit is six miles from a railway, and 50 miles from port of shipment. 8. J. J. OaJcden, Canterbury. —Authracitic coal from Lake Coleridge, Canterbury. Two seams of 5 feet each. Supposed extent of field, 100 acres. Contains 90 per cent, of carbon. Pit is distant 28 miles from a railway, and 70 miles from port of shipment. 9. Taranaki Committee. —Lignite, from Urenui North, Taranaki. 10.— Rowley Wilson and Company, Otago. —Block of coal from Shag Point, Palmerston, Otago. Talue per ton at pit's mouth, 12s. MINEEALS AND OEES. 1. Parapara Iron and Coal Company, Nelson. —Brown Haematite Ore, found in vast quantities on the surface of the ground at Parapara, in practically unlimited quantities. In close proximity to an extensive coal field. Yields 50 per cent, of iron. 2. Johnston Brothers, Nelson. —Haematite Iron Ore, similar to No. 1 ; easily convertible into the best steel. Umber and red paints are made from this ore (see paints and dyes). 3. Nehon Committee. —Chrome Iron Ore from the Dun Mountain, Nelson. Obtainable in unlimited quantities. (Not for competition). 4. Nelson Committee. —Iron Ore from Bedstead Gully, Collingwood, Nelson. (Not for competition). 5. T. B. Louisson, Nelson. —lron Ore as found in the Parapara District, Collingwood. 6. T. B. louisson, Nelson. —Iron Ore calcined. From this ore an excellent pigment is made, being composed of pure per-oxide of iron. (See paints and dyes). 7. Nelson Committee. —Plumbago, from Pakawau, Nelson. (Not for competition). 8. Nelson Committee. —Galena, from Bedstead Gully, Collingwood. (Not for competition). 9. Nelson Committee. —Galena and Zinc Blende, from Parapapa Valley. (Not for competition). 10. Nelson Committee. —Zinc Blende and Galena, from Bedstead Gully, Collingwood. (Not for competition). 11. Nelson Committee. —Copper Ore, from the Dun Mountain at Nelson. (Not for competition). 12. Nelson Committee. —Sulphuret of Copper, from Parapara Valley. (Not for competition). 13. Nelson Committee. —Antimony Ore, from Inangahua. (Not for competition). 14. Nelson Committee. —Antimony, from Eainy Creek, Eeefton. (Not for competition). 15. W. E. Washbourne, Nelson. —Argentiferous Lead Ore, from' Eichmond Hill, Parapara, value £50 per ton. 16. Taranaki Committee. —Titanic Iron Sand. 17. A. Ross, Poverty Bay, Auckland. —Two jars of Petroleum. 18. Taranaki Committee. —Geological specimens: Older Tertiary Marl, North Taranaki; Trachyte Pebble; Trachyte, with crystals of Hornblende ; Trachyte cast, from a well in New Plymouth, ancientsea beach, 500 yards inland of present beach; Older Tertiary Marl, White Cliffs; Hornblende; Obsidian ; Nephrite ; Taranakite ; Carnelian, found on beach, New Plymouth. 11.—H. 23.