TRIP TO FORTIFICATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2455, 3 April 1901, Page 29

TRIP TO FORTIFICATION.

(From a Correspondent.) It was a lovely morning, and the &vet day of our annual holidays. We had permission to use ths railways, but were in some doubt as to whcio to go to. On our early morning rarnbks v.-c met Mr Robert Hay, M.1.C.E., and he suggested that a trip with him to Fortification would be as good as any other idea. We fell in with the idea at once, only reserving the point that it was not to be Fortification beyond the Cairn, or Boyd Bros*, well-known station of that name, we were to be taken to. He said we knew quite well that he meant the Fortification Railway and Coal Mining Company, down the Tokomairiro River. This was right into our hands, as it was the road to the scene of many troutfifihing experiences. Monstrous fish both in reality and imagination — so Messrs Forsythv and M'Gill would say — had we taken from. • that stream, and many a jolly evening had been spent in tlife camp at Coomb Hay. Milton was reached in duo course, the only incident being an objection on the engine-driver's part to stop at Mosgiel. A slight — but veryslight — attention to inner wants, and off we started on our six-mile tramp, which, by tho way, we did in a hot sun in under 90 minutes. For the first two or three miles the line runs alongside the Coomb Hay road, and there is comparatively no grade, the line being quite lavel. There appeared ]to be due provision made for the wants of the settlers, as the principal fai'm houses have sidings laid alongside their homesteads to supply their wpnts. There is a steep cutting at Dunne's, and, after another mil© or so, the Tokomairiro is crossed by an excellent bridge, which does credit to the contractors. For the rert of the way the line runs along the left bank of the river, and from a non-expert's view seems more substantial, and built with as much care as the Government lines. On arrival at Fortification mine we were taken in hand by Mr Shore, the mine manager. Did anyone ever )?;> to a coal mine in Otago and not meet a. Shore? After some attention to the inner man, and a swim in the river, Ihe site of the new township was first visited. It consists of 60 quarter-acre sections, laid out on a flat terrace, on the south bank of the river, which, of course, is also the sunny side. The site it an ideal one for a township, and the natural facilities for drainage and water supply are all that rould be desired. Then we had an examination of the mine itself, and elicited tho fact that tho freehold upon which the prosent coal workings are is about 100 ar-res i« extent, and there appears little doubt that the whole of it i= traversed by a 13ft seam of ex-; cpHent household and steaming coal Our trip down the mine itself — the main drive is in olo.se upon 100ft — \va3 without any startling incident, if a few knocks on the top of th» head are omilterl, but v»'e paw enough to thoroughly satisfy ourselves of tho extent and quality of the coal. The eomoanv have al-r» purchased about 6000 acres of the Coomb Hay estate, where coal has already been fcamd and worked, so that it will be «een that the company have coal at their disposal for gene'-a-tionn to oonp. The chief obstacle hitherto to plating the ceil on the market has been the state of tho road, which was impassable for nenrly half the year. Now the railway line along which we travelled, and which has corI; some £15.000, will not only overcome this difficulty and enab'.e the coal to be distributed throughout Otago. but will be a real boon to the farmers and act as a fepder for the main line. At half-past 2 o'clock wo heard the whistle of the engine, and wpfp carried back in safety to Milton, having not only had a -pleasant day's outing, but also having received a little more knowledge as to tha extent and entprprise of the Fortification Railway and Coal Mining Company. Coming bad;: along the line we had a little opportunity oc observing the completed work of the railway contractors, and we thoroughly agrped with th" engine-driver when he told us t'ip> line \«" n credit to the contractors, and also with the fireman when he cracked up the steaming power of the coal. Next Wednesday, we understand, thf> company are running an informal opening trip down the line when the coal dealers and probable purchaser*, of tl)p company's sections will be a«ked to have a look at the estate and mine.

At the Hunter\i!le Court on Man h 27, before Mr Greenfield, S M . George Lvnm, of Taihape, was charged by the polio? (represented by Sergeant Dwyer) on 10 informations of sly grog-selling. The accused pleaded guilty to all the information 1 !, ancl on the first one was fined £1 and costs (£7 13s), and on the others was convicted! and discharged. MOUNTAIN KING ASTHMA POWDER, tha King of Asthma Cures. Sold all Chemists and Stores ; price 2s 6d* '