STATE COAL DEPARTMENT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 176, 26 July 1909, Page 2

STATE COAL DEPARTMENT.

The State Coal Department is thoroughly well established as a profit making institution, and its prospects are of a most promising description. Mr Reed, inspecting engineer of mines,'has just concluded an inspection of the Seddonville mines, and reports that the output can be well maintained for a considerable time. " They are getting an excellent quality of coal," said the Hen. R. McKenzie, Minister for Mines in an interview. In fact the best coal v.-e have now. Mr Reed reports that there is a good supply in sigh:, and the condition of the mines appears to be very satisfactory. We are carrying out large development works at Pnint Elizabeth, putting in three miles of railway at a cost of about £75,000, ana opening up a second mine so that the output can be doubled. We were thi iking of starting a depot in Auckland some time ago, added the Minister, but we did not proceed though we have not dropped the idea. It would be a good thing to acquire and work a mine in the Auckland district. The new briquette making process brought under Sir Joseph Ward's notice by the inventor at Freemar.tle. is to undergo practical test in Xe.v Zealand, for, acting on the Prime Minister's advice, the originator is - n his way to the Dominion, added Mr McKenzie. He has written to the Minister for Mines, stating that he is prepared to give a demonstration of the process with slack from the StateMines, and to negotiate for the sale of the working rights either for the State Mines alone or for the v> hole of New Zealand. The process is one by which it is claimed briquettes can be made without heating the slack or using pitch, which is now the binding agency. If the process is really successful, it will be an important improvement for we spend £4OOO to £SOOO annually on pitch for briquette making under the present system.