Coal at Wellington

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 256, 25 July 1936, Page 19

Coal at Wellington

There are several unexplained references to the presence of coal deposits in tin, neighbourhood of Wellington by writers of the early forties. They seem to have been the victims of a most ingenious hoax for what else can justify the following letter written on April 13, 1841?—“I conclude by announcing that within the last few days coal has been found in Evan’s Bay on Mr. Revan’s section. A blacksmith who has tried it says it is the best coal for welding iron he has used in Port Nicholson. This is merely on the sur face of the ground; a few feet deep it is expected to prove of the best description. It is impossible to overrate the value of this discovery.” Another writer urged that this “discovery ’ should be followed up stating, “there is no doubt that it would be found to communicate with beds of coal, as it exists in many places around Cook s Strait in great quantities.” The Hon. Henry Petre, writing in his little book. “An Account of the Settlements of T 1 e New Zealand Company,’’ etc., doubted the extent of .the deposit, but was sure that if it “should turn out to be both good and abundant, it will confer upon the place a high degree of importance as a steamboat station.” Elsdon Bos writes that there is an old plan of tin company on which is marked in the vicinity of Wellington Road, “Coal Has Been Found Here.”—J.W. (Lyall Bay).