1.—6.

1418. Coming southwards from the junction of the two routes?—l have been there. 1419. How far downwards?— Not at all. 1420. We have had evidence that a reef with gold had been found. Do you know anything about it ?—-No ; the only thing I know of is a deposit of plumbago, which was found some years ago, though they have never got any more of it since. It was found in a loose boulder, and they do not seem to know where it came from. 1421. The Chairman.'] Would you kindly look at these specimens of coal found near the Ongaruhe ?—At a rough glance I should say the coal was about the same quality as on the Mokau. It is analogous, I should say, to 6-7 evaporating power found on the Mokau. But I will analyse these coals and let you know exactly.

Eesults of analysis of specimen Nos. 3858-61, forwarded by Select Committee on North Island Main Trunk Line ; locality, Upper Wanganui District; collected by Mr. Mitchelson; received 23rd September, 1884 ; reported on 24th September, 1884 :— Five Coals for Analysis. —These are all compact hydrous non-caking coals. They are much superior to the ordinary brown coal, but are correspondingly inferior to the bituminous coals. They all represent valuable fields, and certainly could be used with good effect for locomotive boilers, and, in the absence of the true bituminous non-hydrous coal, I would recommend them for this purpose. No. 3860 gives a large quantity of gas of fair quality.

Ash of 3858 (1) is white; that of the rest is red, of various shades. Colour of powder of 3858 (1) is brown; that of rest black. I also give an analysis of the samples of coal I collected at the Mokau Eiver, for comparison : — No. 2425 is a pitch coal; the powder is black, and the"fracture conchoidal, the colour of the ash being brown. The composition is as follows :— Fixed carbon ... ... ... ... ... ... 51-6 Hydro-carbon ... ... ... ... ... ... 35-7 Water ... ... ... ... ... ... 10-2 Ash 2-5 100-0 Evaporative power, 6-7. No. 2427, further specimens from the same district, yield the following results : — (1.) Main Scam (Pitch Coal). Fixed carbon ... ... ... ... ... ... 52-6 Hydro-carbon ... ... ... ... ... ... 32-3 Water ... ... ... ... ... ... 12-3 Ash 2-8 100-0 Evaporative power,.6-8. The colour of the powder was black, and of the ash buff. It frits slightly at a slow heat, forming a very incoherent coke. (2.) Upper Seam (Pitch Coal). Fixed carbon ... ... ... ... ... ... 47-6 Hydro-carbon ... ... ... ... ... ... 36- 3 Water 11-9 Ash 4-2 100-0 The powder was black, and the ash light brown; and it frits slightly, but does not cake.

Wednesday, 24th Septembee, 1884. Captain Maie, Land Purchase Officer, Wellington, examined. 1422. The' Chairman.] The Committee have been given to understand that you have traversed a great deal of the country-iffk> the nature of which we are inquiring. Will you kindly tell the Committee to what; extent you are acquainted with the district through which the several proposed lines run?—l have"Been over the whole of the Te Awamutu-Napier line by the old Maori cracks, which cross and recross -the line; also from Marton to Tamaranui on the central line, 120 miles from Marton, with the exception of a small portion of about five miles, about the 50th mile from Marton, I have only been on the Stratford line at different points to the west of the Ohura and

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Kesulti ol Analysis, oi sntesimally expressed. No. Locality. Evaporative Power. Fixed Carbon. Hydro-carbon. Water. Ash. 3858 (1) . (2) 3859 3860 Ohura, on plan Koromikio, No. 1 Seam 2 Tauaroa, up to Tangarakau .. Maraekowai, near confluence of Tangarakau Mangoane, up Tangarakau .. 87-79 46-17 48-78 34-18 25-87 37-74 33-28 48-24 1G-18 9-91 13-97 13.59 20-16 6-18 3-97 3-99 4-9 6-0 6-3 4-4 3861 48-00 33-66 14-16 4-18 6-2