PAKAWAU COAL MINE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 70, 25 March 1867, Page 3

PAKAWAU COAL MINE.

To _n_ Editor of the ' Evening Mail.'

8m, — I hear that several gentlemen, just returned from Pakawau, state openly, that I deceived tbe Committee in regard to the late discovery of coal on that field. A few words only will be sufficient to prove that this statement is as absurd as it is untrue. After my statement, to have found a seam of coal about eight feet thick ou the outcrop, on laud uot helot-g---ins to the old lease, and for which I made an application for a prospecting license, a gentleman from the Committee asked me under what conditions I would hand my rights to the lease over to the Committee. My proposition was to have only a certain interest, if the seam was found workable and producing marketable coal, and not. a farthing if otherwise.

These conditions were accepted, and I requested that some of the members of that committee should go to Pakawau to see if the seam was good, after it had been properly prospected.

When I left Pakawau an old coalminer was opening the seam, and he sent me soon after niue bags of coal, and the news that he had left off working ou the outcrop on account of the unsafe roof, but that he had found two more seams on the Company's lease, which looked much better than the seam I had found, and were respectively two aud five i'cet thick.

This information I laid before Dr. Irvine, the Secretary of the Committee, and said that I knew nothing of tbe new seam, but that I thought, iv spite of the above remarks, the first seam would prove workable.

This was all the knowledge and information I had of the seam, inspected by the gentlemen just returned, when I left again for Pakawau, and under these prospects the expedition went. With the opinion formed on the spot about the workable nature of these outcrops, I have nothing to do at present and am not answerable for, all I have to say is, that none of the gentlemen who went over to Pakawau ever saw the first seam I found, be it good or bad, and that this outcrop has neither yet been properly prospected, nor has even auy member of the Committee seen it ; the cause of it was that I was absent from Pakawau when the steamer arrived. I remain, &c, Charles Wiesenhav eiw*".

The latest Otago papers report the result of the O.P.Q. Company's crushing for the month of February to be 1220zs 7 dwts, from 170 tons of stone, the value being £461 17s 3d.

From the Otago papers we learn that Mr. James Howorth, the first Crown Prosecutor of the province, died on the 1 3th inst., at his resilience Walton Park, Green Islaud, in the 75th year of his age. Under the supei in tendency of Captain Cargill, Mr. Howorth held the office of Provincial Solicitor.

Mr. Hutchison, editor of the Wanganui Chronicle, and Mr. Walter Taylor, editor of the Wanganui Times, are in the field as candidates for the vacant seals in the Provincial Council, and appear to be equally ambitious for legislative houors.

We (D. S. Cross of March 16) are sure it will be a very gratifying piece of news to those of our readers who may have suffered through the absconding of E. J. Cox, to be informed that the missing law library was recovered on Wednesday, by Mr. Vernon, from a house in Parnell. Application was made at. the residence on Tuesday afternoon for the purpose of ascertaining if any of Cox's property had been removed thither, buta distinct denial was given. Mr. Veruon, however, was not satisfied with the answers accorded, and a search warrant was procured, and exercised yesterday with the above result. The library, we understand, is estimated to be worth upwards of £800.

An inquest was held at Ranginri station West Coast, ou the 18ih ultimo, on the remains of Joseph Greville, who was washed away on the 19th July last year, while crossiug the Taipo river on horseback. It was only on the loth inst. that the remains were discovered: they consisted of a skeleton, which was proved to be that of deceased by means of identification of his clothing, which was also found. A verdict of "accidentally drowned" was returned.

The Daily Southern Cross Coromandel correspondent reports a case of poisoning from the bite of a katipo spider. The sufferer, a native residing at Kauaeranga, exhibited all the symptoms of madness. He was attended by Dr. Wilson, who at last advices reported that the patient was likely to recover.

We (Daily Southern Cross) understand that about one hundred applications were sent in for land under the military settlers' clauses of the Waste Lauds Act, 1858, which expired on the Ist instant, from the time of publication of the notice by the Commissioner of Waste Lauds until its expiring.

The Postal Conference Committee in Melbourne have commenced their labors, but the Syduey papers contain no intelligence of the progress made. The Mail says : — There is considerable difficulty in harmonising the discordant interests of the different colonies, but the difficulty is not insoluble. If the conference can adjust the points that have hitherto been most in dispute, it will not only do good service in a matter of practical importance, but will encourage the hope that other disputable questions may be settled in an equitable manner if the colonies cau meet in friendly discussion. These voluntary agreements will prepare the way for regular federal action hereafter. When the colonies can adopt a common policy by choice, they will find themselves ou the road to tho adoption of a common Government. Charles Gerard, the "swell swindler," whose f .uidulent proceedings have been before the public of Melbourne so prominently of late, in connection with the passing of valueless cheques, and obtaining mouey by means of them, was sentenced to twelve and six months' imprisonment for the two offences to which he pleaded guilty at the Maryborough Circuit Court. The Geelong Advettiser learns, that private letters received by the Panama mail confirm the probabilities of Mr. Artemus Ward visiting Australia at the close of his English engagements. Operations have been commenced by the contractors for bridging the Mataura at Tuiurau, about 33 miles from Invercargill. At the place selected the river is 120 feet wide ancl of great, depth, running with an almost imperceptible current between perpendicular walls of rock. The highest known flood, it is said, would not jeopardise such a structure as the one about to be built. Forty black swans were recently imported from Victoria, and are now at the grounds of the Acclamatisation Society, Dunedin, in excellent condition.