A NEW COAL MINE.

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 October 1908, Page 4

A NEW COAL MINE.

THE STOCKTON OPENING. ENTHUSIASTIC PROCEEDINGS. (Our Special Reporter). WESTPORT, This Pay. The formal opening of the WestportStockton Coal Company's works took- place yesterday. The proceedings wore completely successful. There was a. large attendance of representative men and the general public, a special train running from Wcstport, Messrs Recce, McFarlane and Cowlishaw represented the Roard of Directors. INTRODUCTORY. Tho visitors, on arrival at Ngakawau. collected at the power house, where Mr Recce, in the course of an introductory speech', said that they hud met to inaugurate an event which he hoped would recur in the near future on the, West Coast. The buildings they saw were unique ill character, and would last for all time. The machinery would give the best results That day the' guests would not have an opportunity of riding on an electric car through a'mile of coal tunnel, as inspection would be confined to the power house and bins. „ T PROUD OF STOCKTON. Mr Greenwood, Mayor of Wcstport, turned on the electric power, setting the whole of the machinery in motion. He con "ra till a ted the directors, shareholders and" officials (especially Mr Broome, the managing engineer) on the successful outcome of their efforts. The residents of the district were proud to sec the sta"e the irreat enterprise had reached. He felt convinced that all concerned would have the pleasure of seeing the Wcstport-Stock-ton become one of the most prosperous collieries in New Zealand. t('beers) AN EXCELLENT CONCERN. The visitors then devoted their attention to the inspection of the power house, bins, etc., and watching the operation of the coal' tipping and the running of the tubs through the tunnel. The substantial appearance of the plant and machinery was much admired. Mr Recce, his fellow directors, and Mr Rroome were personally congratulated on all sides. A LUNCHEON.

•U 2 p.m. the. Comnnny entertained over a hundred guests. Mr Rceeo presided. Tlio orchestra played at intervals. Amonest apologies were those from Messrs Humphries, Chapman, Harris. Hood Anderson. Maxvere. Coleridee, Pam (Christehurcli), Tncon. Bishop fGreymouthl, Joachim and Holdswortli (Dnnedin), Hon. ,T. MrGownn, and Hon. A. B. Guinness (Wcllincton). The Mavor proposed "The Parliament. He snid the laws of Parliament, like the operations of the Stockton Company, nffneted everv man. woman and child in the district. He dealt approvingly with the advanced liberal measures of Ihc past, few years. He acknowledged the enterprise of the Stockton investors. Mr W. G. McDonald, in responding, furro-ested that more mifrhfc he done by Parliament to advance the mining interests. Prospecting was not so liberally encouraged as in New South Wales. He was afraid aexieultnrc was encouraged at the expense nf mining. THE MINING OUTLOOK. Mr McFarlane', a director, proposed "The Puller District." dealing with )t« scenery and wealth in coal, timber and ropper. Stockton was a new link with Canterbury. Tf the proved investments on the Coast"were laid before the people of Canterbury, there would be/ no lack of enterprise'on the part of the Canterbury people. % . , Mr F. F. Munro responded. He traced the historv of the Nrrakawau district and dwelt on the difficulties encountered in invitinf capital to develop the. Stockton until lie met Messrs Tacon and Peece. who took the matter up. If he (the speaker) bad done, any one food thinf for the dis-'-;,-t, it. was in having broucht Mr Peece into if. Stockton was a great property, and the district was sure of similar propositions. He referred especially to the vast beds of superior conl in the Mackley country, which nr.lv recmired the extension of the Puller Gor-'e railway to develop and the' crept masses of household lignite in the Charleston district. He /•welt viroro'islv with the outlook for West.port. coal in the Pacific, and contended for a. continued effort to mnVc the novt of Weslport ready for the ships of the world. "SUCCESS FOP STOCKTON." Mr John Foster proposed "The West-port-Stockton Coal Company." As a nraciicnl miner, he believed it would prove a great commercial success. There was only '■oil in the world (Cardiff) superior to ;I,p Westport mineral. Mr Peece made nn interesting address in response, and detailed the step* in taking the property and the disappointment ori'dunllv met with, but, he believed m (he undertaking as a sound business investment They bad seen ihc result of the work of the engineer, and the desire of th« directors was to instal the finest ma-r-hmerv of its class in the colonies. He believed there was plentv of coal ill the 1 >ase and a pood sale for it. They would work honourably with the Westport Coal

Company. . Mr Reooe alluded to Mr Broome abandoning a fine position in Canada to take charge of the property for which he had affection and faith. The prospects of the Company were second to none. They had a fine plant, a good engineer, a splendid staff, and trade awaiting (hem. The West Coast was teeminT with wealth. If the proved tilings were offered to investors, many more Stocktons would be devc'°PS< A REAL GOOD PROPERTY. Mr Broome also replied. He alluded to the pleasure it was to him to see the coal coming down. After three years' work he was satisfied with the nlanfc. Would he have come from Panada if he thmvrhfc there was no coal in the lease? They would get plenty of trade without entering into serious competition. He defended the new ideas in the plant. He acknowledged the kindness he had received from the directors. The Chairman was a lower of strength. Referring to the manufacturers of the plant, he made special reference to Griffiths' Birehfield Foundry and the Grevmouth Dispatch Foundry. He congratulated the shareholders on the possession of a splendid pronerty. There was sufficient coal to maintain a considerable output for the term of the lease, viz.. 60 years. The faith' of the directors and ••ifhvfilioldevs would be rewarded by early dividends. OTHER TOASTS. Mr T. P. Wiliams proposed "The Contractors." which was responded to by Gordon Schmidt and Crowe (General Electrical Co.), Griffiths (Birehfield Foundry). "The Press," proposed by Mr Corby . - Chairman) concluded the toast list. READY FOR THE MARKET. Rome details have yet to bo arranged insonarable from a new concern, but the Stockton Company will very poon have their splendid coal on the market. It shoold be mentioned that bunting was flying at Ngakawau, and the Granity Brass Band discoursed (rood music. The workmen were entertained by the Company in a large marquee There were ulso children's sports. Only light showers of rain fell.