THIRTY FEET OF COAL.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16946, 22 September 1920, Page 8

THIRTY FEET OF COAL.

VIVID PICTURE OF CHARLESTON,

MR H. J. MARRINER'S VIEWS

It is probably quite safe to say that there was not a member of tho Canterbury delegation of business and pub* lie men which recently visited the West Coast who was not impressed with the immense possibilities of tho Charleston coal-field, not only from the point of view of considerably cheapening the oo&t of coal to the consumer, but also in regard to the lucrative investment it will prove to the company developing it. Lying on the surface, the coal \vill_ be able to be secured with the minimum of expense, whilst owing to the total absence of underground work and its attendant evils, labour friction will bo practically non-existent. Another of the Canterbury delegation to visit Charleston was Mr H. J. Marriner of Christchurch, and in an interview with a representative of this paper yesterday, ho painted a vivid picture of the possibilities of the new coal-field.

"It was on August 27th last," ho said, "that the delegation which visited the West Coast spent tho afternoon at Charleston at the invitation of the Westporfc Progress Leagu/j. We Were shown over the Charleston coal-field, and were very much impressed with the quality of excellent household coal which was lying just upon the surface and very easy of access. We were taken to ono spot just a few yards off the main road, where a culvert had been cut through by the goldminers. They had cut right through the coal seam, and shown a seam of about 20 feet of coal. This coal we traced down the creek, and were shown a face of a hill which had been washed away by the creek, and in which was a solid block of 30 feet of this coal. We then saw several other parts of the field, and were very much surprised that this valuable coal had not been utilised before, seeing how easy of access it was, and how near to a shipping port. We wero later shown in one of the houses tils coal burning, and it gave out an excellent heat, and a good flame. Being a- novice, I do not know anything about the qualities of the coal, but consider it an excellent coal for household purposes, aiwj if it can be put on the market at a low firm re, it is infinitely better than the coal we have been paving a ton for of late months; half of which is rubbish. The coal was very bright and hard, and should command a very u'leecly sale." 1