A NEW ZEALAND COAL COMPANY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 107, 22 February 1873, Page 2

A NEW ZEALAND COAL COMPANY.

An influential meeting was held on Friday afternoon at three o’clock at the office of his Honor the Superintendent, of gentlemen desirous of developing the coalfields of the West Coast, but more particularly of adopting means of creating a regular supply of coal from the Grey to Wellington. The day was singularly unfortunate to select for such a meeting, as nearly all engaged in business were occupied in preparing for the departure of the mail to England this morning per the Nebraska. However, about forty gentlemen attended, and the proceedings lasted nearly two hours. His Honor opened the meeting, and pointed out in forcible terms the great importance of the subject to the present and future interests of the colony generally, and trusted that some practical measure would result from their consideration, in which not only the people of Wellington, but others throughout the colony, would participate and assist in establishing. From calculations which had been placed in his hands there appeared to be little doubt that under existing disadvantagous circumstances there were reasonable grounds for expecting there was a good margin of profit left for the employment of one or more screw colliers being at once engaged in bringing coal from Greymouth to this port. In a short time there would be other places in the colony that would be glad to receive their supplies of coal from thence. He believed it was considered that a joint stock company might he formed, with a nominal capital of £50,000, with 5000 shares of £lO each, one-third only to be allotted to Wellington and the other two-thirds for other parts of the colony. It was nob calculated that more than £6 would be necessary to be called up. Deposit on application, Is per share ; on allottment, ss, with calls every month of 2s 6d per share until £3 per share is paid up, after which no call should exceed 5s per share or to be made at intervals of less than one month. As soon as 1000 shares are applied for a meeting of the shareholders will be called for the appointment of directors and other business. Qualification for a director to be at least the holder of fifty shares. The present consumption of coal in this port is estimated at about 2500 tons per month, which would no doubt continue to largely increase.’ Mr J. Dransfield then proposed the following resolution :—“That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable that steps should immediately be taken for the formation of a rjoint stock company to develop the West Coast Coalfields.” Mr E. W. Mills seconded the resolution. Mr C. O'Neil, Dr Hector, Mr J. Nancarrow, Mr T. Buchanan, Mr W. H. Harrison, Mr W. Allen, Mr R. J. Duncan, and others supported the resolution, which was carried unanimously. A subscription list was at once opened, and we understand that nearly one thousand shares were applied for before six o’clock. There appears therefore no room to doubt that a company will be established, and will commence active proceedings before the close of next week. At the request of the meeting Mr Duncan was asked to act as secretary until the first meeting of shareholders was called together. The following telegrams upon the subject has been handed to us for publication :

To his Honor the Superintendent, Nelson. Be good enough to inform me, if convenient, by to-morrow morning, whether you have arrived at any conclusion relative to leasing the Brunner Coal Mine referred to in my letter dated December 11th. Charles O’Neill. Wellington, 13th February. To Charles O’Neill, Esq., M.H.R., Wellington. The Brunner Coal Mine.—Negotiations with the*Colonial Government respecting the railway are only just terminated. The main condition attached to the lease hitherto has been the construction of a railway. That being otherwise provided, the question will be reconsidered by the Waste Lands Board to determine whether the mine should continue to be worked by the Provincial Government, and, if not, upon what condition it should be leased to private persons. But no decision will be come to till after the meeting of Provincial Council in April next. Oswald Curtis, Superintendent. Nelson, February 14. To the Chairman, County Council, Hokitika. Would you be inclined to let or lease to an influential public company the Grey coal reserves within the County of Westland, opposite the Brunner Mine ? An answer to-day or at the earliest convenience would be obliging. Charles O’Neill. Wellington, 13 th February. To C. O’Neill, Esq., Wellington. No. 32.—The following resolution wag passed by the Council last night. _ “ The Council will be prepared to receive an

offer from a substantial public company for the leasing of the Grey coal reserves, and will give the matter their favorable consideration.” A. E. Tennent, County Secretary. Hokitika, February 13.

Another meeting of the promoters of the New Zealand Coal Company was held on Monday at the office of his Honor the Superintendent, in the Provincial Government Buildings. There was a very full attendance, not only of those who had interested themselves in starting the company at the last meeting, but of others who were desirous of lending their help towards establishing a strong association. His Honor took the chair, and explained that the meeting had been summoned for the purpose of electing a board of provisional directors, whose duty it. would be to draw up articles of association and procure all the information procurable, to be laid before the shareholders at a future meeting. His Honor expressed his gratification that since the meeting on Friday last the amount of shares proposed to be allotted to Wellington had been provisionally applied for, the number of shares subscribed for being understood to be 1400. ’ Some discussion ensued as to the nature of the duties of the provisional directory and the number to be elected. It was ultimately decided that the provisional board should consist of nine, to act as a committee to draw up the conditions of association and to collect information for presentation to a future meeting. The election was by ballot, and the following gentlemen were chosen :—Messrs Dransfield, C. O'Neill, C.E. ; J. Henderson, C.E. ; Bannatyne, Turnbull, W. W. Johnston, Dr Johnston, Mills, and George. During the time occupied by a scrutiny of the ballot papers, Mr Seed, Secretary of Customs, who has recently returned from an official visit, was invited by his Honor to give the meeting some information regarding the West Coast coalfields Mr Seed said that he attended the meeting with the approval of the Acting Commissioner of Customs, and would be glad to afford such information as he had been able to gather during his recent visit. Whilst detained for a steamer at Westport, he had visited the mine recently opened at the Ngakawau river, about eighteen miles north of Westport, and he had brought a few bags of xhe coal, samples of which were exhibited on the table. He found that the seam, which was not less than 16ft in width, was situated a short distance up the Ngakawau, which was a small creek-river, making its outlet to the sea over a shallow bar, which at low tide was dry, but which at high water was capable of admittingvessels of four or five feet draught into a lagoon inside, where they could easily load the coal. But any considerable development of the mine would necessitate a road or railway being made along the beach to Westport, where, with some expenditure, wharf accommodation could be found for large vessels. He read two reports, one from the Harbor Master at Greymoutli, and one from the Harbor Master at Westport, regarding the general condition of the navigation of these ports, from which he deduced that the Buller was better adapted for a large coal trade. He was aware that Dr Hector had expressed the opinion that by the construction of inconsiderable protective works at Ngakawau vessels of considerable tonnage would be able to enter, but he was not of that opinion. The river was only a mountain torrent about the size of the Kaiwarra stream, and the entrance was diy at low water. He had visited the Brunner mine at Grey mouth and he could only say that he believed the supply of coal to be obtained from that mine was only limited by the extent of operations—that, in fact, it was for all present purposes practicably unlimited. Some conversation ensued, and Mr Seed was formally thanked by the meeting. His Honor made a few remarks regarding the objects of the company. Were they to be the conveyance of coal, or was it also intended that the company should be coal miners l If they were going to continue these two and dissimilar objects he was sure that the proposed capital of £50,000 was much too little. He pointed out that it would be the duty of the provisional directors very carefully to consider these matters before they submitted their report to the next meeting. It should be mentioned that several gentlemen who had been unable to attend the previous meeting, placed their names upon the share list. A cordial vote of thanks was passed to his Honor the Superintendent for the trouble and interest he had taken in the matter, and the meeting terminated. As it is desirable that the public should be supplied with all the available information regarding the West Coast coalfield we publish the following extracts from Dr Hector’s report upon those coalfields laid before Parliament last session:— The only mine of importance winch has been opened in this district is the well known

Brunner mine, six miles frem the mouth of the Grey River, There is nothing to report as to this mine in addition to what has been stated in former reports, except that the workings are still quite inadequate to supply even tlie local demand, The coal seam is 16 feet thick, and has been proved, by underground workings, to be of uniform quality, without admixture with slack or other foreign matter', throughout an area of 30 acres ; in addition to which the surface indications lead me to estimate the quantity of coal which is available without sinking as at least 4,000,000 tons, the area of undisturbed coal above the water-level being more than half a square mile. In addition to this a much larger quantity of coal can be obtained by sinking. The extension of the coal to the north is interrupted by a fault, which cuts it off; but there is no reason to doubt that the seam will be again found at a deeper level, the downthrow being in that direction. Up to the present lime the extent of this downthrow has not been determined, but, from examination of the strata, and comparison with parallel faults which can be observed in the same formation on the sea coast farther to the north, I expect it to be less than 100 feet. On the south side of the Grey River the coal appears to be also cut off by a fault, but this has not yet been proved by underground working.

The Brunner mine can never he worked to advantage, nor afford any supply of coal to other parts of the colony, until the railway connecting the mine with the mouth of the river lias been constructed ; and the amount of coal already ascertained to exist is, in my opinion, sufficient to warrant the expenditure authorised for this purpose ; and, from the' great facilities which exist for working the mine, the coal to be delivered to vessels at 8s per ton. After the construction of the railway, and tlie preliminary harbor improvements which have been recommended as part of the railway works, I believe that a good steam-tug for tlie barj3ervice would be sufficient to enable small sailing vessels, in the first instance, to carry on a profitable coal trade with other parts of the colony, and that, if the trade expands, and tlie coal proves, on working, to extend over larger areas, the depth of water on the bai- can be hereafter materially increased by proper engineering works. • This river is eighteen miles north of Westport, and is a comparatively small stream, taking its rise in the plateau to the northwest of Mount Frederic. It is tlie only locality where any mining for coal has been carried on in the district, except in the trial workings at Ooalbrookdale, and those at the Mokihinui, to which I shall afterwards refer.

The coal at this plnce was discovered many years ago, but, until four months since, was neglected, on account of the soft friable nature of the seam at the outcrop. The coal mine is 60 chains from the mouth of the river on the south side, at the head of a straight reach which runs east and west from the bar, with an extreme width of 5 chains, but narrowing very much at the outlet, as shown on the attiehed plan. At low water the river is a succession of pools and rapids, from the coal mine to where it runs over the beach ; but at high water it is a wide basin, with 8 to 10 feet of water on the entrance. The coal is within a few feet of the granite, with a sandy shale between. It dips 40° to the west, the strike varjing a little from south to south 10° west, so far as can be judged of .from the outcrop. The roof is a tough sandy grit, with mica and carbonaceous markings (20 feet), covered with micaceous flags and thin beds of brown sandstones (60 feel). These beds are followed by gritry sandstones and indurated sandy shales, the above formations forming a ridge that runs parallel with the coast to the south, rising from 300 to 1000 feet in that direction. About halfway down to the mouth of the river the grits dip for a short distance at 70 ° to the south-east, but this is probably a local disturbance, perhaps due to the undercutting of the river. The excavation that had been made in the coal was only 4 fathoms in leugth, at the time of my visit (20th May, 18720, on a steep hill side, 30 feet above the water-level, and 40 feet back from the brink, as shown in section AB. A stage and shoot has been erected, wit h a slope of 1 in 3, and a breastwork in front that will enable it to carry 100 tons of coal in such a manner that it can be discharged at once into a vessel from a height of 20 feet, above a pool 170 fe?t wide by 5 chains long, in which there is 12 feet depth at low warer. There is a pinnacled rock in this pool, which will have to be removed, after doing which any vessel of a size that can cross the bar will not only have room to swing, but may lie alongside and load during the ebb witnout taking the ground. The seam is 16 feet thick, and though, very friable and irregularly jointed, with a sooty and rather slialy fracture, it stands well in the face of the drive. There is a “ brow” fault about 15 feet from the entrance, through which the surface water leaks, but otherwise the coal is quite dry. Its quality is excellent, and I saw it tested both in a forge and on the open hearth, and nothing better could be desired. It burns freely, with a bright flame and no unpleasant smell. If allowed to remain undisturbed it forms a compact coke, which, with the addition of a little fresh coal, can be entirely consumed, leaving only a small proportion of dull grey ash. From the level at w’hich the present mine has been opened, up to the outcrop of the seam, I do not estimate more than 80,000 tons will be available, even if no break occurs between the mine and the creek at the back, and

about twice as much may be available in the block between tlie mine level and the waterlevel, so that for shipping this small quantity of coal the river in its present state is quite

sufficient. . It is easily available, in average weather, for vessels drawing 8 feet, and not over 120 feet in length. By clearing the channel of boulders, and using them for the construction of a pier-head to prevent the surf washing the beach shingle into the river, the bar could no doubt be improved. The existence of granite and good freestone in any quantity and size of blocks required for constructive works, and the circumstance that the only protection required to be provided is against the costal drift, renders t his place par tieularly favorable for harbor works. The river brings down no silt or shingle, although liable to good scouring freshets, which is proved by the existence of a 7-fathonl hole below the granite gorge, 30 chains above the coal mine. If the coal can be traced from the present ruiiie into the plateau, some harbor works should be undertaken, but even if this extension of coal is not proved, I am inclined to think that this would be a better place from which to work the high level coal on the plateau than any other which has been suggested. A granite spur from the plateau extends from the east to tlie head of the reach above tlie coal mine, and there forniß a conical bluff, about 600 feet high (Crane’s Cliff), whieh is sleep towards the water, and might be turned to account for lowering the coal to the vessels, from a level that could be reached by an easy tramway from the plateau above. The arguments in favor of using this river to export the coal from the field under consideration, are—

1. The low altitude of the plateau at this point—9oo feet. 2. The strong probability that the coal will continue and may be worked from the sea level to that of the plateau, by an incline on the east side of Mine Creek.

3. That the coal can be brought along an easy spur from part of the plateau where the best spams exist, to the top of Crane’s Cliff, and from there lowered with a self-acting apparatus. The question then remains whether it would be better to improve the harbor at this place, or to construct a railway to Westport ; which is a matter upon which an engineer’s opinion should be obtained. It may be pointed out that the facilities for harbor improvements are such that they would probably not exceed the first cost of such a railway, and that, after reaching the Buller, to supply anything like a good large coal trade, very extensive wharfage works would still be required, for which there is no material readily available, the Buller being a large, erratic river, delivering its waters in a low sandy delta, intersected by lagoons and water channels, and liable to sudden and extensive changes at its mouth. The country is, however, very favorable for the construction of a line, if required, north of Westport, as, for most of the distance, it could follow along the foot of the hills to the Waimungaroa, and from there be constructed upon a very perfect shingie terrace, covered with light timber, that runs parallel with the beach. Four or five livers will have to be crossed, but only one—the Waimungaroa—is of any importance.

The present lessees of the Ngakawau mine will, no doubt, for their own interest ascertain if tlie coal can be traced across Mine Creek ; and I recommend that, as soon as the season permits, this exploration should b 9 continued for the purpose of tracing the coal into the plateau.