DOMINION'S COAL SUPPLY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15073, 16 August 1912, Page 9

DOMINION'S COAL SUPPLY.

HOW LONG WILL IT LAST?

THE MINES IN THE PROVINCE

Members of Parliament who took part m a discussion in ilio House of Representatives on Tuesday evening expressed the opinion that there is a danger that Now Zealand's coal supply will fail within the course of the next fifty years. The opinion of many competent to judge the prospects in Auckland, however, seems to be more optimistic.

"During 13 years we have exhausted approximately 630 acres of coal-bearing strata for a yield of 1,864.000 tons of coal," stated tho chairman of the Taupiri Coal Company during tho course of his last annual report. "The company holds mineral rights for 16,495 acres, and presuming that the output of 250,000 tons per annum is maintained, we have, enough to last for 220 years; or, if tho comparatively inaccessible country near Kimihia Lake bo omitted, for 200 years. At 275,000 tons per annum the life of our mines would bo 180 years, and at 300,000 tons per annum 170 years."

" There is no doubt that in the north good bituminous coal is scarce," said Mr. Hoi gate, managing director of tho Northern Coal Company, in answer to inquiries. "Up to tho present no very extensive deposits of that quality have boon found. So far as our company is concerned, however, there is no uneasiness as to the coal resources, but all tho same, our deposits arc not equal to the deposits of bituminous coal in the. South Bland. Wo know* very little yet of our coal resources in iho north, for prospecting has been limited to tho Whangarei and Kawakawa districts. In tho Waikato, however, large deposits of coal similar to Taupiri coal, which is an excellent household coal, have been found, and promise to yield well."