Coal at Birchwood.

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume IX, Issue 427, 15 July 1913, Page 5

Coal at Birchwood.

A MODERN BORING PLANT.

Mr A. W. Rodger, junr., who has been absent m England and Scotland for the past twelve months, has been making investigations while at Home, and has been formulating plans to go ahead with the work of fully testing the coal area which he commands. Mr Rodger told a Times reporter during the week that he had ordered, whilst at Home, tbe most modern boring plant that could be procured. It was now on its way to New Zealand, and he anticipated that everything would be m readiness to make a start m the spring. Of the coal that had been analysed, Mr Rodger said that the results of the test had turned out first-class. But there was a lower seam of coal which was certain to be the best, and that made the prospects for the future decidedly encouraging.

" If I can only prove that the quantity is there, from the investigations I have made I have tbe^issurance that tlie necessary capital can easily be raised to work the fieldi"

Mr Rodger said he knew of no men at pr.sent m New Zealand who were available to carry out the initial experknenst m boring, but he amleipated no difficulty m that respect, and he could command the services of a New Zealander who was fortified by Home experience.

Tlie very bad state of the roads leading to Birchwood during the winter months is a material factor to be considered, and consequently operations oould not be pushed ahead now if the principals were eager that suoh should be the oase. The completion of the Wairio-Birchwood railway is a big and almost necessary factor m the transport of the ooal for marketing purposes, considering the quantity that will be available, and the necess ity for having it rapidly and efficiently dealt with. Work on the railway if at present at a standstill, and the bad weather conditions have kept progress from being as rapid asjit might otherwise havejbeen.