THE STATE BRIQUETTE PLAN?.

Evening Post, Volume LXXI, Issue 81, 5 April 1906, Page 5

THE STATE BRIQUETTE PLAN?.

TO B£ ERECTED AT WESTPORT. RIVAL SITES. With a view to utilising the eoft coal in the State Coal Mine at Seddonville tenders were, called last year by the High Commissioner in London for a briquette p^int, and the tender of William Johnson and Sons, of Leeds, was accepted for a plant at £3430, and £405 for a Hatley double-cylinder non-com-pound high-pressure engine complete with condenser. The capacity of the plant is to be 200 tons of briquettes par day of eight hours. A similar plant was on view at the St. Louis Exposition, and the expert who worked the plant there was selected U, superintend the election and supervision of the plant secured for this colony. The p-ant arrived in January, but some delay has occurred in fixing on a site. However, a site at Westport was eventually decided on. Haulage rates, however, deeply affect tht> question, and unless a special rate is accorded by the Railway Department, thp industry may be very seriously retardc.l. It is contended that the site for the plant at Westporfc is entirely inadequate, and does not secure reasonable storage room. It is also contended that it is so located as to materially hamper the construction of the proposed flouting dock on the basin at Westport. A site at Seddonville, it is further contended, would be much less costly and more suitable. The Terrace at Seddonville lends itself to the economical ereption and future working of the plant in its vicinity in such a manner that the coal dust from the mine could be- emptied into shoots without expensive handling. All the coal used for the briquettes at Westport will have to be handled twice. New coal companies are hi course of development at Westport, and the point is further urged that unless briquettes can be produced at from 10s to 12s per ton f.o.b:, it will be impossible for them to compete with screened coal unless the haulage rate is sufficiently reduced by the Railway Department to give a balancing advantage. Tne officers of the State Coal Mine Department, it is understood, deny the propositions set out above, and claim that the coal or dust is handled automatically by the machine, and that briquettes con be manufactured more cheaply at Westport than at Seddonville. The expert, it is also understood, states that all briquette plants tint he knows of are erected as close to shipping as pos&ible. The plans for the buildings and foundations are well in hand. s