THE GREY VALLEY COAL COMPANY'S MINES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1905, 14 August 1890, Page 24

THE GREY VALLEY COAL COMPANY'S MINES.

Gbeymouth, August 9. All offers made by the Grey Valley Coal Company have been rejected by the coal miners. Messrs Lomas and Newton left yesterday for Wellington to interview the Ministers. The union will offer no oth r reduction than 2d per ton, while the company insist on the original demand of a 20 per cent, reduction on hewing rate?. All work at the Wallsend mine is discontinued, and the shaft will be fenced for the protection of the public. Work there will be discontinued henceforth. August 10. Tho townspeople are rapidly realising the gravity ef the situation caused by the coal miners' lockout. Stagnation prevails in all business, and everyone is complaining at the suspension of the regular trade of the place. August 11. The coal difficulty is unchanged. An intense public feeling in being rapidly developed. Scores of men are lounging about with nothing for them to do. AugU6t 12. At a representative meeting of leading citizens and business men, held thia afternoon, it was unanimously resolved that a committee con-

sisting of his Worship the Mayor, Messrs Taylor, Petrie, and Nancarrow, wait upon the executive of the Grey Valley Coal Miners' Association tomorrow, with a view to ascertaining the basis i upon which a compromise of the present difficulty can be effected. August 13. The scarcity of coal is much felt, attempts to work the machinery with wood fuel being found expensive and unsatisfactory. About 20 carters are employed along the beach gathering drift wood, and others are carting it from the bush round the town, and coal is beiDg brought in from the Nine-mile, but it goes a little wav with the publio wants. Coal is also coming from WestLater. A telegram was sent by the coal miners' executive promising to meet a committee^ of business men from town, but it miscarried. However, they will meet and confer to-morrow at 1 o'clock. The mistake was only discovered this evening, and the executive were informed of the exact explanation', which was deemed satisfactory. The miners are evidently determined to stand firm to their proposal. WBtxtHGTON, August 11. Messrs Lomas and Newton, delegates appointed by the Amalgamated Miners' and Labourers' Union of New Zealand to endeavour to bring about a settlement of the difficulty between the Grey Valley Coal Company and their miners, hays arrived in Wellington. The delegates had a lengthened interview this morning with the Hon. G. M'Lean, chairman of tb.-> Union Steam Ship Company, which is largely connected with the Brnnnerton mines, and with Mr Martin Kennedy, managing director of the Grey Valley Company. They are also anxious to interview the Premier, and it is possible that they will wait upon that gentleman to-morrow. August IS. Mr Guinness, M.H.R., and Messrs fcomas and Newton (the colliers' delegates) waited on the Minister for Public Works this morning, and urged the Government to suspend the royalty on the coal produced in the West Coast mines, or to reduce the railway rates by 6d per ton. Mr Fergus promised to lay the matter before the Cabinet, but held out little hopes of the request being granted. Heexplained that the railways are in the hands of the Commissioners, and to reduce charges on any one neotion would call forth similar applications from all parts of the colony. As to suspending the royalty, he doubted whether the Government had power to do so, as it would be a breach of faith with the debenture holders, to whom it was secured for the repayment of the money advanced on harbour works. It was suggested that the Govern-, ment should legislate specially in the matter, but the Minister doubted whether Parliament would sanction it. A private telegram from Westport states the miners have determined to take another holiday to-morrow in order to keep down the output of coal till the difficulty with the Grey Valley miners is settled.