THE WEST COAST COAL FIELDS.

Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue 47, 23 August 1902, Page 2

THE WES T COAST COAL FIELDS.

1 . [BT TBLEQBArH— WIKSB ABSOCIATrOM.] WESTPORT, 22nd August. At a meeting of the Westport Chamber of Commerce to-night it was resolved on j the motion of the President (Mr. Bayiie.d). "That this Chamber takes the first oppbrtunity of meeting , to convey to Sir Joseph Ward, the Acting-Premier, the thanks and appreciation of the Chamber for hi* prompt action in causing a survey to bo started of the railway Tine •to connect the port of Westport with tho railway system oi this 1 island, and i tvusbs, thafc now it is started tho work will be pushed expeditiously and continuously to completion, thus ensuring the much-needed opening up of the coal country, and also for strategic purposes relative to the proposed fortification of the port j and further, ithat the Chamber conveys' its gratification that tenders are oalkd, which it trust* will be accepted, for the railway bridge over ' the Inangnhua River at Reefy>n, as a further step towards tie accomplishment of the desired obicct." Tho President mentioned that Colonel Fox nine years ago reco-n-mended the erection of fortifications when at Westport, but nothing so far has been done. It was also resolved, on the motion of the 'President, "That the Chamber, noticing that steps arc being taken to develop the coa.fields of this district by private enterprise, respectfully conveys to the Government, both by direct communication oud through the members for BuKer and Motueka, the hope of the Chamber that 'every facility will be given to encourage such steps as will m«et Hie growing deinaud for Westport coal." Sevorai members expressed the hope thnt restrictions such as wew •'•c imposed on the Cardiff .Company, vhich was compelled to dose down, should not bo imposed on jafcW companies/ •