THE COAL MINES AT WESTPORT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9134, 16 August 1888, Page 6

THE COAL MINES AT WESTPORT.

In yesterday's paper we published a telegram stating that the Sydney brokers of the syndicate who have purchased, the Ngakawau coal leases have cabled that they are arranging for an extension of the railway. The syndicate which has made these purchases represents English and colonial capital. It has acquired an area of about 4500 acres of land at Ngakawau, about 18 miles north of Westport, with the view of working the numerous coal measures which exist upon the property. A short time since Dr. Robertson, a gentleman who occupies the important position of consulting engineer to some of the largest coal companies in New South Wales, visited this colony on behalf of the syndicate above mentioned, with the object of making an inspection of the area proposed to be purchased. His opinion of the country being favourable, terras were proposed to the holders of the area, and the purchase has been completed. Dr. Robertson, when interviewed by the Weatport Times, stated that he considered that the prospects of the country for coal working were excellent. Only one mine was at present being worked on the property, but- the new company would open up two at least, and there was plenty of area for opening others. He considered that the quantity of coal on the area purchased would not be worked out in the next half century. The company would have to go to considerable expense in conveying the produce of the mines to Westport, the port of output. In the first place, a tramway would have to be laid from the mine over very rugged country to the Ngakawau River, which was about a mile distant and the coal would then have to be transported by water to the Government railway line, and then on to Westport. " As to the quality of the Westport coal," said Dr. Robertson, "it is probably the finest of all I have seen in the Australasian colonies, and probably equal to any in the world. For house or steam purposes it is very much superior to other coals. It is light and not"too gaseous, so that for the purpose I have mentioned its equal could not be found. It could not be so much used for gas making, but for other uses I have a very high opinion of it. I think it superior to Newcastle, and am convinced that it would soon hold its own in a foreign market. The ruling price of the Newcastle coal will no doubt always decide the price of coal in New Zealand, but the superiority of the local article would, I think, always give it preference, and it could compete in any market with Newcastle coal. The new company intend to strike the foreign trade. They have not yet decided whether or no they will run steamers of their own, but if necessary, I have no doubt that this will be done. It is recognised that there is very little scope in New Zealand itself, and a big foreign trade is what should be aimed at. Every colliery should aim ab this. It would be necessary to encourage sailing vessels to call here to accomplish this, ana the way to do it would be for the New Zealand Government to remit the tariff, and so encourage foreign shipping to bring their cargoes here and depart again coal laden. The annual output of coal at Newcastle is nearly two million tons annually, and this is increasing at the rate of 200,000 tons a-year. Nearly every sailing vessel that arrives there goes away coal laden. The present syndicate have plenty of capital at their back, and it will be almost entirely devoted to developing trade.