NEW COAL FIELD.

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 November 1918, Page 6

NEW COAL FIELD.

(By ‘‘Rewanui.’’) This writer, wherever he has been, has never claimed to boom a mining proposition up—-for various reasons—above its merits, unless satisfactory evidence has been forthcoming that the show is bound to increase in value as developments proceed. I undertook the job of going out last week to the State Mine’s new proposition at the Eight Mile, chiefly to study the formation of the,country and the strata in particular. My first impressions were that the country thereabouts is in its natural condition, as Nature formed it, free from faults, such as upheavals, landslides, or disturbances, or anything that would disturb the natural state of the country, which is the; mental rock upon which mining engineers occasionally bump against, and which are a source of much worry to the person in charge, and having known this part of the country for a number of years, my opinions are backed up by the highest authorities.

Following some of the creeks, wliicli .have been named as a matter of duty, the individual will r-ome across outcrops of coal. This is a laborious and some times . dangerous job—of various thicknesses ranging from eight feet to twenty feet. But to prove this large area of country Mr James has decided to prospect the country thoroughly by means of the boring plant, so that mistakes made in previous years will not recur. So far three bores have been put down in what x may term the top coal measures, with satisfactory results, and have given on an average about 9ft of coal in each bore, which, with the outcrop, practically proves close on 400 acres. I want my readers to understand that-this is only the top coal seam. It is the intention of the management to prove at least 1200 acres by this means, so proving the larger coal measures that the future of this magnificent proposition can be assured, before boring to greater depths, and wbmh are known to exist below. While I was out there I took particular notice of the bush on this new field, which is in its virgin state, and for miles around,timber of all descriptions for mining and building purposes will be available for years to come. In fact, it looks inexhaustible and is a great asset to the mining industry

By the courtesy of Mr James, General Manager, I was supplied with the official analysis of samples of coal taken from the various measures on the field:— FIRST TEST. . Fixed carbon... ... 37.00 Hydro carbon ... 57,75 Water 6.00 Ash 5.00 Sulphur ... ... 3.25 SECOND TEST. Fixed carbon ... 40.00 Hydro carbon ... 53.00 Water 4.00 Ash 3.00 Sulphur ... ... 4.75 THJE/D TEST. Fixed carbon ... 38.00 Hydro carbon ... 54.00 Water ... ... 3.05 Ash ... ... 4.65 Sulphur 5.00 Although these figures do not seem to fit in they are official. From these figures it will be seen that very favourable results have been obtained, especially in fixed carbon,: and wherever any doubt exists as to accuracy an analysis will be taken again. In / my opinion one fault only can be; found with-the above results, that; is, sulphur is a shade highj though this is immaterial. But % just mention the fact, other critics might have some-* thing to say. If my memory! serves me right there are two or three very valuable seams of coali on the West Coast being worked! now with a bigger percentage of: sulphur in their composition. 11 would have liked to see the sul-i phur percentage keep at No. Ij test. From what I could learn it is| the intention- to put about twelve ! bores down on this field or more . if there is the least doubt as to accuracy. The coal measures, which dip unbroken towards the south-west, are quite natural and are a sure indication of permanency. The strata of which the country is composed is the usual West Coast formation of sandstone and marl, the true indications of coal bearing country. There is one item I have not mentioned, there is the fault or upheaval on what I might wwi i mi mb mmmemam wi*wmn■> ■mi i

term the boundary of the field, which is, however, insignificant, as all parties know where it is, the course it takes, and all particulars, so that it will not interfere with tiiis scheme. As regards engineering obstacles to be contended with during the. course pf railway 'construction, "it will be one of the cheapest bits of railway track in New Zealand, as the country is practically level all the way out from where the starting-point wall be on the Greymouth-Dunol-lie line.

The prospecting party, Messrs O’Brien, Ryan and MacDonald, have had some very trying experiences this last few r months, the weather being tjieir greatest enemy ever since they ' started operations. They s.eem to treat with contempt difficulties and hardships, which speak well for their abilities as prospectors. Anyhow, there is a lot of enthusiasm and confidence being put into this job -by the different parties interested, from, the General Manager, prospectors,, surveyors down to the humblest individual; From time to time complaints are heard to the effect that the State enterprise is not being given a fair run as far as State coalmining is concerned, but taking all thi’io'q into consideration our new fid I at the E’gH Mile, the rew field on the Waikato. North Island, also our new development scheme at Rewanui are not doing so badly. We will only require the _Greymouth Harbour' to provide the necessary facilities for shipping.