CORRESPONDENCE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 12, 15 January 1915, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE

DEFENCE OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC TO THB EDITOR. Sir, — Mr. F. F. Munro, in his letter appearing in your issue of 13th instant, opens up a subject which is worth more attention. With your permission. I should like to add some^ information on the matter. The question of a deep sea harbour on the West Coast was officially dealt with during 1907 and 1908 Captain R. W. Rentick, of H.M.S Prometheus, made a preliminary investigation on be- ( half of the British Admiralty. Mr John Thomson, 8.E., M.1.C.E., reported to tho Engineer-in-Chief of the Public Works Department^ Both these reports were apparently in. the possession of the New Zealand Government in 1908, but they were not made public until in 1913 the late Sir Arthur Guinness was able to obtain copies, and he got both reports published in the Greymouth Star of 2nd April, 1913. There are three points in the Admiralty report which I propose to refer to and comment upon. 1. "My investigations convinced me of one fact, viz., that the industrial future of the West Coast is a very bright, one, and, in consequence, the existence of a large, capacious, safe, and non-tidal harbour is an absolute necessity to that future." This statement is in accordance with Mr. Munro's ideas. 2. "With the above point (1) conceded, the position of the harbour has then to be determined." Captain _ Bentick deals wjth proposed harbour sites at Cape Foulwind and Point Elizabeth. _ The chart of the coast gave no indication of any additional sites, and he could not hear of others although he enquired- As between Cape Foulwind and Point Elizabeth, the Admiralty report says: — "I consider Point Elizabeth to be by far the more central and the more suitable." Again-— "I visited this site (Cape Foulwind), and consider it far inferior to that at Point Elizabeth. An inspection , of the chart shows this clearly, and I believe that the idea of a harbour here (Cape Foulwind) was originated only by the proposal to build one at Point Elizabeth." This points to local jealousy between Westport and Greymouth, but I think Mr. Munro will concede that, according to the Admiralty expert, he is wrong in considering Cape Foulwind as the "most profitable site." He writes from an Imperial and national standpoint, so no more need be said. 3. The Admiralty authorities consider that a harbour at Point Elizabeth would be a great advantage, especially if the coal in the vicinity proves to compare favourably with Westport coal. Their expert indicates that the New Zealand Government Analyst had tested the anthracitio coal as to its steaming power and smokeless nature^ I have not seen the results of these particular tests, but the samo Government Analyst, in the 40th annual report of the Dominion Laboratory, gives analyses and heat values of bituminous coal from Westport, and of anthracitio and bituminous coals from the Paparoa ranges near Point Elizabeth These analyses and heat values show that coals from the vicinity of Point Elizabeth compare more than favourably with Westport coals. The heat units per pound of Westport coals, from the West-Sort-Stockton, Millerton, and Denniston ollieries, an average of 8 analyses amount to 14,409. .From the Paparoa Ranges, the average of 2 analyses of anthracitic coal is 15,108 _ heat units, and of 14 analyses of bituminous coals, 14,740 heat units As to the smokeless nature of coal from the vicinity of Point Elizabeth, I gather that its superiority over Wostport coal in this respect is now definitely established. A colliery working in the Paparo* Ranges has for some years been marketing a coal of anfhracitio nature which has proved to bo practically smokeless, especially when compared with Westport coals. Considerable quantities of this smokeless coal were, prior to tho war, supplied to H.M. ships for trial purposes; the British Admiralty had not on tho outbreak of war concluded its trials, and for obvious reasons did not deem it advisable to continue its trials during hostilities; and the only official report that_ tho colliery has received from tho British Admiralty authorities states that " this coal was tried under various conditions and found suitable for use in H.M. ships." In conclusion, 1 trust this subject will receive more attention It it worth it both from a naval and commercial standpoint. Tho necessity for such a harbour is clearly proved; the British Admiralty indicates the most suitable site for it, and its preference is confirmed by tho established fact that coals from tho vicinity of Point Elizabeth aro equal in steaming value to Westport coals, and possess an additional advantago in being practically smokeless. — Yours, etc., G. TOWNSEND. Wellington, 14th Jan., 1915.'