STORAGE OF COAL.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 5308, 1 October 1885, Page 2

STORAGE OF COAL.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — The thanks of this community are due to yom correspondent, Mr Wickes, for his efforts in the direction of providing for the storage of coal ; and I am of opinion that his latest project is feasible, and deserves the very serious consideration of the powers that be. I happened to be present when Mr Harrison gave Mr Wickes the information published by the latter in his letter to you of the 26th September, and it then appeared to me that the scheme proposed afforded a solution of the difficulty which would not only be effective for some time to come, but could be almost iridtfinitely extended as necessity required. Mr Harrison stated that owners of collieries at home found the scheme to be to their advantage, and largely availed themselves of trucks made on the deferred payment or rental principle be mentioned. i It is evident tnat something must be 1 done in the matter if the coal industry is to assume the importance that the quality . and practically inexhaustible quantity of coal iv this district would warrant us in expecting. The customs 1 returns show that the yield of gold— hitherto our principal staple — is decreasing year by year ; while the export of coal and coke increased from 79,412 tons in 1883 to 100,668 tons

in 1884. Considering that, as Mr Wickes>. ... ; said in a former letter, there is generally \ either a feast ot vessels and a famine of | coals or the reverse, even an increase of over 21,000 tons is insignificant as compared with vrhat might have been done. How often during the last 12 months have v>{fr seen both steamers and sailing vessels (the latwr iall y). detained here 'an I unreasonable timer^ply b ecause no | storage for coal was p™.!lect I ||M^g a | n > on the other hand, how of tendimngSHil i same -period -haa-work been- suspended air the collieries, because in, the absence of I vessels there was no place to put the coal I to await the arrival of bottoms to carry it away. I have it on undoubted authority that sailing vessels will not come here now \ because they have previously been kept | waiting for coal so long, and I believe that i some detention has occasionally been experienced by steamers from the same cause. In conclusion, I would simply ask you if it is not absurd that a coal port should only have 900 tons of coal stored in 150 railway trucks, when we frequently see a fleet of vessels at the wharf capable of carrying away, with anything like a good bar, four or five.*.times the quantity. — I am, &c, v s ' "J. H. Kerb,. Greymouth, 30th September, 1880.