AUCKLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 360, 23 October 1858, Page 6

AUCKLAND.

In Auckland the chief subject of attraction was the discovery of excellent coal in the Hunua and Opaheka districts, which promises to besome a far more productive source of wealth to that province than its Coromandel goldfields. A trial of the coal had been made by the White Swan, and the following is the opinion given of it : —

To the Editor of the New Zealaudek,

Sir, — I have witnessed another experiment with the Drury coal which has proved highly satisfactory in its results. Mr Turnbull sent two tons of the coal on board the Screw Steamer White Swan for the purpose of having its qualities tested. On Wednesday about half-past twelve o'clock the fire* were lit. We looked with no little anxiety for the ignition of the coal, as rumours were very prevalent that it was difficult to light; to us it seemed to ignite with ease, and the chief engineer's opinion was that it lit as easily as English or New South Wales Coal. In an hour and a half there was sufficient steam for working the vessel ; and the time, the engineer informed us, was rather under than over that usually taken in getting up the steam. This gentleman's opinion of the coals was in every respect highly favourable • he said he had every confidence in them, and from what he had seen he should not hesitate to go to sea with them alone.

Mr. Turnbult obtained from him a certificate in writing, a copy of w hich I enclose, for the purpose of showing to the owner; and on giving it to him the engineer said " I think more of the coals than what I have said, but I like to keep on the safe side."

Whilst we were on board (and the <( we " consisted of Messrs. Turnbull, F. Rich, H. B. Johnstone, Captain Wing the pilot, and myself) it was blowing so hard that neither the captain, owner, nor passengers could come off, and on our return to the Onehunga beach, Mr. Kirkwood (the owner) received with a smile of incredulity what he evidently thought to be the statements of sanguine people. But the written opinion of his chief engineer altered the state of affairs to such a degree that, after some conversation with Mr. Turnbull, he ordered one hundred tons of coal, for the White Swan's next trip, at 30a per ton.

Verily, the existence of " good coal '• in the neighbourhood of Auckland is an " established fact. 1 ' I am, &c, &c,

Reader Wood.

Auckland, September 23rd, 1858.

Copy of the report of the Chief Engineer of the " White Swan " upon the Drury Coal. " Manukau Harbour, September 22nd 1858. " Having received a small quantity of the newly discovered Auckland Coal for ihe purpose of trying its qualities, I, after having obtained from them sufficient steam for working the vessel, have no hesitation in saying that they are much superior to that procured from Nelson, and that I should feel perfectly satisfied if they were the only coals supplied for a sea voyage ; also 1 can assert that it did not take more coal to get the steam up than usu.il. " (Signed) " James Traill, Chief Engineer of S.S. White Swan, One immediate result of this trial, then, is a contract entered into by Mr. Turnbull, to supply 100 tons of the Opaheke Coal, at 30s. a ton, for the next trip of the " White Swan."