THE KAWAKAWA COAL-MINES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume IV, Issue 1133, 2 July 1867, Page 4

THE KAWAKAWA COAL-MINES.

The delay caused through ,the Government not : having the right of road secured from the natives—the road or means of conveyance by which the coail could be transported to deep water in the bay—is the chief reason why; we may not expect to have coal from these mines brought to Auckland in considerable quantities within a few weeks' time. The fact is, that the lessee, after having arranged with Government, was obliged to go and make the best arrangement he could with the natives on his own account. Thus, before a footing could be obtained for commencing operations the winter rains had set in. In spite, however, of these drawbacks, there is much more done towards opening the mine than we should have expected, even if snch difficulties had not existed. It must be remembered that the winter is not the time to open up a coal mine, or, indeed, to undertake any extensive outside work of such extent. What the lessee had to contend with in the work already done may be gathered from, the fact that while he was putting down a shaft on the dip of the coal two parties of men were at work night and day, contending against 30 tubs of water to one of earth. They were overtaken by two rain storms and freshes. Another shaft on the crop was attended with better luck, as" they were not so much troubled by water. Suffice it to say, that the six tons of coal brought to Auckland for testing cost £100, but the outlay was not uselessly made, for it was proved by that test that the crop coal, or that which has only three or four feet of earth, over it, turned, out to be 10 per cent, better than that which was got in the deep shaft.

The superiority of the crop coal is owing to its having been partially drained by a small creek; No .coal, attains proper hardness until drained. The coal got from the crop was hard, and stands, while that got from the 'shaft crumbles down small.

This discovery and test is of the greatest importance, for the lessee has nothing to do but strip some acres of the crop, where he is sure of a boundless snpply of such as was tried at the Auckland Hour Mills, the report of which test will be found appended. £10,000 of an outlay might not put the dip of the coal in a position so favorable, as the crop is now in, for speedy and profitable operations. From the crop to the landing-place on the Kawakawa is 30 chains, with 74 feet fall, hence the train can be worked by gravitation; and as the lessee has got waggons, rails, and switches, sufficient,to transport 100 tons at a time, all ready for shipment from Auckland, and as the ground is favourable for laying those iron rails down, we need not fear that much time will be lost, the weather permitting, .until the line is laid.. One small barge is already built, while one 56 feet long x 10 x 4 feet deep, is nearly ready for launching attheßay. The next step will be to put an engine in her, by which the snags will be whipped out of the Kawakawa Creek. The lessee, we understand, is not prepared to say exactly when he will have coal ready for shipment, but should he succeed, as well in future as heretofore, he expects soon to have a regular supply of coal for the Auckland market from this.mine; still the winter is not the time for clearing creeks," especially a winter like this. Indeed it is questionable if the large. mining companies would carry out such an undertaking in winter, but as the great difficulty is solved, as to whether the coal is. good, there can be no great trouble now in getting a supply to market within a reasonable time.

The lessee, we learn, is now about to give out contracts to parties of well-known means and abilities, for taking the coals from the landing near the mine, to the shipping point or alongside ships. This will not only lighten the work on his hands, but mil divide the labour and outlay, seeing that the contractors will build and work their own lighters. Parties who think the mine should be made to produce immediately must not forget that there are or have been native difficulties in the way, that have gone far to retard the opening of the work. The following valuable testimony in favour of the Eawakawa coal is the report above alluded to. We may state, by the way, that we have ourselves tried it for household purposes, and that it is everything that could be desired, a clean, bright-burning, economical coal: — I

Dear Sib,—ln answer to your enquiry respeoting theresult of our trial of the coal you supplied from the Kawakawa coal mines, we have great pleasure in being able to report favorably of it, giving a most intense heat without leaving any ashes wi atever.

Our trial for economy against be3t Wallsend, Newcastle coal gave nearly 10 per cent, in lavor of the Eawakawa coal, and we belive this difference would be increased in favor of the when the firemen get the best method.of firing with it.

Our blacksmith has also used it for forge purposes, and gives, as his opinion, that ifc is . superior to any that he has used for blacksmith's use. <Jn the whole our decided impression iB that it is one of the best, if not the very beßt steam coal we have ever used, either here or at home.—"We are, dear tir, your obedient servants, _ Thorn' Ton*, Smith, aJi'd Firth, Wharf Mill, Auckland, Jfuly 1,1867. To Mr. McXieod.