PORT MOLYNEUX.

Clutha Leader, Volume V, Issue 214, 16 August 1878, Page 6

PORT MOLYNEUX.

[from oue, own correspondent.] A meeting of the Coal Prospecting Committee was held on Friday last, when the folloAving letter w\is read: — " Public Works Office, " Wellington, July 26. " Sir, — I am directed by the Hon. the Minister for Public Works to acknoAvledge the receipt of your letter of the Gth inst., and to inform you in reply that the Government have no funds at their disposal out of Avhich they could grant the assistance required. The Minister desires me to express his regret that he Avas unable to obtain the services of Professor Ulrich, as he had hoped to do when he wrote to the Chairman of the Coal Committee on the 22nd May last." Mr Paterson moved, and Mr Wiley seconded—" That the Chairman be authorised to remove the property at the shaft to some safe place ; also, to have the shaft securely fenced to prevent accidents, and that the Treasurer be authorised to pay cost of the same. " Mr - Melville said he Avas sorry the Government had not been able to fulfil their promise, but if they had no control over' Professor Ulrich or other competent person, that was a sufficient excuse. The removal of the tools, &c, indicated that a. stop was to be put to the proceedings. He thought they had one chance left, and that Avas to ascertain if anything could be done with the fire-clay. At present firebricks were imported from the home country, and could not be had in Duneclin for less than sixpence each, or L 25 per thousand. He hoped the Committee would not dissolve that evening, as he had a motion to make which he thought would meet their views. He complimented the Committee for the energy they had shown in the first attempt to get coal, and considered the public deserved the thanks ,of- the Committee for the : , reciprocal manner in which they had acted. Mr. JoAvit-, their worthy member of the County Council, had promised to give LlO towards cutting through the fire-clay : on the condition that in the event of a payable seam of coal being got the amount' should be* returned to him. out' of , the..£r6--ceeds. If a number of Others .that'could would follow suit the ..Cpronlittee ' would , have no cause ..-toY<ies'p^rv.3 / .-;^_3!e --would

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move— "That a sample of fire-clay be sent to Dunedin, and that Mr Donald Henderson be requested to get the opinion of an experienced person as to the fitness of the clay for fire-bricks. " Mr Ingles having seconded the motion, the same Avas carried, and the meeting then adjourned. * The house and promises at the signal station lately occupied are noAv deserted, and the house and fences, ___„ getting out of order. Would it not be better if the River Trust, into whose hands the property has fallen, allowed some one to occupy it and keep it in order rather than let it go to ruin as at present. Your reporter .Avould confer- a boon on many of the ratepayers hero if a little I more of the business transacted at ■ the j Road . Board meetings Avas made known. What about the rate levied of 6d in the £, is it to be given effect to 1 What about a road through the Cemetery Reserve? What about grazing licenses for cattle to run on the Reserve ? and other matters equally interesting to ratepayers, who have no opportunity of getting information except through the Leader.