Correspondence of Matheson & Co. Ltd regarding the exploration and development of coalfields in China, with many related letters and papers. Much of the material concerns the investigation of coal-producing areas by David R. Davies of the Hongkong & Shanghai Mining Syndicate.

The file contains a small set of bound material regarding Sir Paul Chater's plans for the exploitation of the Shangtung Coalfields, comprised of copies and extracts of letters and telegrams exchanged between Matheson & Co. Ltd, London, Jardine Matheson, Hong Kong, and Jardine Matheson, Shanghai, 23 June-15 December 1922; a letter from D.R. Davies, Hongkong & Shanghai Mining Syndicate, Hankow, to T.C. White, Representative, Hongkong & Shanghai Mining Syndicate, Shanghai, 29 May 1922, submitting the results of his coal analysis; two letters from E.T. McCarthy, consulting engineer, London, to Matheson & Co. Ltd, 8 September 1922 (including a memorandum regarding D.R. Davies' report on the Lung Shan - Ming Shui Coal Basin) and 25 September 1922 (including a copy of a letter from McCarthy to Sir Paul Chater, London, 25 September 1922); and a letter from Matheson & Co. Ltd to Sir Paul Chater, London, 12 September 1922.

The rest of the ring-binder consists of a large set of unbound papers regarding coalfields in Shantung, Kwangtung and other parts of China. This material includes an envelope of letters and other papers addressed to D.G.M. Bernard, Matheson & Co. Ltd, labelled 'Kwangtung Coal', containing letters from D.R. Davies and R.H. Skelton, Hong Kong and Pan-tin, to Major L. Casssel, E.T. McCarthy and H.M. Morgans, Hong Kong, 10 December 1920-7 November 1921, reporting on their investigation of coal-rich areas. The letters report on a geological reconnaissance of the Mirs and Bia Bay Hinterland from 3 December 1920 to 28 February 1921; a visit to the Fa Yuen Coalfield, including an analysis of the samples taken there; a general reconnaissance of the Waichowfu District; occurrences of limonite, hematite and pyrolusite at Kwaichung, near Sha U Chung; and an expedition to Pakhoi and its environs. Two of the letters, 11 May 1921, and 7 November 1921, are incomplete, although a complete version of the second letter can be found among the loose papers in the file (see below). The envelope also includes related papers, some of which are referenced in the reports, comprised of a map of Hunan showing the location of coalfields; two copies of a map of Kwangung Province showing Mines A, B and C; a plan of Chang Chow District; two maps of Pakhoi Coalfield; an analysis of coals from Tsek Chung and Lung Ngam Districts, Fukien Province; a proximate analysis of coal samples at the North River (Shiuchow) Coalfield; a supplementary table of coal tests; manuscript extracts from D.R. Davies' reports of 8 March 1921, 22 September 1921 and 1 April 1922; and a report on coal deposits in Western Kwongtung (Kwangtung).

The remaining unbound papers are loose in the file, and consist of an extract from a despatch from Sir John Jordan, Peking, enclosing a memorandum by Major W.S. Nathan, General Manager, Kailan Mining Administration, on a proposed Chinese-British Trade Corporation, Tientsin, 10 June 1919; a letter from John Johnstone, Jardine Matheson, Shanghai, to C.H. Ross, Matheson & Co. Ltd, London, 25 June 1919, regarding the Chinese British Trade Corporation; two copies of seven letters from David R. Davies, Hong Kong, to D.G.M. Bernard and Major L. Cassel, Jardine Matheson, Hong Kong, 27 June 1921-1 April 1922, regarding the mines owned by the Kwong Wing Coal Co., his visit to Nam Hoi District, the Ling Chi Kong Mine, his expedition to Pakhoi and its environs, his visit to Pun-U and Fa Yuen Districts, the New Territory Concessions, and the coal resources of Kwangtung Province; three copies of a letter from D.R. Davies, Hongkong & Shanghai Mining Syndicate, Hong Kong, to C. Montague Ede, Hong Kong, 29 April 1922, regarding the Lung Shan - Ming Shui Coal Basin; three copies of a letter from David Davies, Gilfach Goch, near Bridgend, to Sir Paul Chater, London, 16 September 1922, enclosing his views on the Ling Shan - Ming Shui Coal Basin, with a statement of mechanical equipment for the proposed colliery in Shantung; and three copies of a map of Kwangung Province showing Mines A, B and C (also found in the envelope addressed to D.G.M. Bernard), a plan showing the proposed area for prospecting in Fa Yuen and Pun U Districts, a rough plan showing the position of coal deposits in Fa Yuen and Pun U Districts, a sketch plan and section of a mine, and a plan of the line of the section running N 20° W.

The ring-binder is labelled 'Shantung Coalfields', and is numbered '31'.