SHAG POINT.

Otago Witness, Issue 1880, 2 December 1887, Page 17

SHAG POINT.

November 28.— Having a few hours at command, I paid' another visit to the new coal mine at Shag Point, and was agreeably surprised at the progress made in opening out the seam since my last visit. The main or lower adit is now in some 425 ft and carrying a fine solid seam of hard brown coal 'Ift in thickness, and the mine only making some 100 gallons of water per hour. There are four men constantly employed at this place. The proprietor, Mr A. M'lntosh, has just opened out another adit (midway between the two mentioned in my last report), and Btruok the seam almost on the surface. They are now in about 15ft with the came body of coal as that in the two adits previously mentioned. Tin seam is at present 4ft 2in in width and increasing the farther it is driven upon. The above facts are proof positive that a valuable seam of coal exists in the neighbourhood. Mr M'lntosh has laid a temporary tramway from the drive to the brow of the hill, some lOoyds in length, and lias succeeded in getting an easy gradient, so that one horse can draw up a couple of trucks, each containing some Bcwt of coal, the tramway being so elevated at the outer end, that a dray caa be backed underneath the loaded trucks so that the contents are shot into the drays thereby saving a considerable amount of labour in handling the coal. The proprietor is now able to supply all-comers, and on account of the great inconvenience from drays getting to the mine, he is only charging 11s per ton. nnd has placed already a considerable amount in the market. But there is no doubt Mr M'lntosh is labouring under great disad%'antage, aud is hf-avilv haudicapped for want of a dray road to to the mine, being compelled to get his supplies, timber, &c, and the coal from the mine, by making a long detour over the crown of the leading spura, some of which are very steep, especially the one leading direct down to the mine, neoessitati g the labour of two trips for a load of coal, a dray with two horses not being able to take up more than loewt at a time, This it will be at once observed entails a great loss of time and labour. Besides this the track is some two miles longer than what a direct road would be. Some negotiations have taken place between the lessee and the County Council regarding the making of a road to the mine, and the council s engineer has been instructed to make a survey and give aa estimate, which was some £390. The council decided not to construct the road, but offered to subsidise its construction by the proprietor. He was not in a position, however, to accept the terms offered, but is, I believe, at present endeavouring to make arrangements with

the owners of the property Measra Allan Bros, to construct the road between them, so that in the event of theit coming to terms, the proposal of Mr MllntoßhM l lntoBh to the council (it they constructed tho road) to bind themselves not to charge more than 14s per ton for the coal at the pit falls through, and of course he can then charge what price he likes. It is much to be regretted that the council could not see its way to make the road for the opening out of a new coal mine, as coal supplies at a cheaper rate must ultimately have proved a blessing to the ratepayers generally. I have no desire to pose as an authority in opposition to the council's engineer, and do not say that his eitimate for the road he surveyed is excessive, but I do say, and feel confident, that a road, and one quite sufficient for all practical purposes, can be made for half the money. I would myself undertake to construct it for that amount. Tliere is not the slightest doubt whatever, but that a road must be mads by someone before the district and country can feel the benefit of the discovery, and if ouce made the proprietors, instead of only employing some eight or nine men as at present, could, if the demand required it, easily make room for some 20 or 30 hands, and could supply : anydemand made for tho coal.— Pal merston correspondent.