THE STATE COAL MINES

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 October 1908, Page 4

THE STATE COAL MINES

NO COLLIERY AT BRUNNER. THE PRESENT EXTENSION WORKS. Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Thin Day. The member for Grey asked the Minister of Mines whether, considering the great demand there is for State coal for household purposes throughout this dominion, which demand the Government is unable-to satisfy from the Point Elizabeth State collieries, (lie Minister would take into consideration and have enquiries made as to the advisability of opening at Wallscnd or Dobson, in (lie Borough of Brnnnerton, another State coal mine. The member added -.in a note that the Tyneside coal mine at Brnnncrton having closed down in consequence of its being flooded out, the revenue receipts from tlie Grey-Brunner railway and the royalty on coal which formed part of the revenues of Iho Greymonth Harbour Board and amounted to about £7,500 per annum, are lost to the Harbor Board, which renders it imperative that something should bo done by the Government to work the coal measures within the Greymonth Harbour Board’s endowment at Brnnncrton, so that the revenue of the Board may bn maintained in order to enable it to meet its obligations. The Minister of Mines replying said that when the now area belonging to the Point Elizabeth State coal mine is opened up the on!put will bo increased to such an exdent Unit it is anticipated all demands will be satisfied, and as the necessary preliminary work is now being proceeded with it does not appear to be advisable to consider Hie question of opening another Stale mine at Wallscnd or Dobson.