COAL FROM WEST COAST

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26127, 1 June 1950, Page 4

COAL FROM WEST COAST

DOMESTIC SUPPLY SATISFACTORY

SHIPMENT FOR RAILWAYS AND GAS COMPANY

Negotiations for a shipment of 1000 tons of coal from Westport for the Christchurch Gas Company and the New Zealand Railways Department are at present being carried out by the Slate Coal Department. This information was given yesterday by officers of the Railway Department and the gas company, but no information was available from the State Coal Department. It is not expected that there will be any coal shortage at the gas works because of the interruption on the Midland line. The company advised yesterday that precautionary measures were being taken by the State Coal Department. It depended entirely on how long the line was out of commission as far as the company was concerned, said Mr I. E. Stock for the Christchurch Gas Company. "We do not anticipate that there will be any trouble for at least two weeks,” he said. Domestic supplies are satisfactory, according to inquiries made yesterday. ana heavy industrial consumers are well stocked for emergency. ft is expected that some supplies of coal will be received in Christchurcn next week by goods train, and these supplies will augment the stocks already held. NORMAL SHIPPING FROM GREYMOUTH From Our Oren Reporter GREYMOUTH, May 31. So far no arrangements have been made for special shipping at Grey mouth because of the closing of the Midland line. Normal shipping from Greymouth has been resumed. The Omana will sail for Miramar with coal, and the Gabriella will sail at the week-end with coal and timber for Wellington The Kartigi is expected from Auckland to load coal for that port, and the Poolta is expected to return shortly from Wellington for another coal cargo