WEST COAST

Otago Witness, Issue 2649, 21 December 1904, Page 65

WEST COAST

A conference of the principal local bodies in the Westland district was held atHokitika on the 14-th. Resolutions were carried that a prospecting association be formed, and application made for a substantial gran£ towards systematic prospeoting out of the votes passed by Parliament. The Mines Department will be asked to control the operations and indicate the niost likely localities. Several speakers pointed out that this idea originated in the last annual Mines Department report. Reference was made to the thriving Wyalong mining township in New South Wales, being the result of scientific prospecting carried out by their department. Regret was expressed nt the numbers of principal departmental heads, such as the geologist, spending the best portion of their time in an office in Wellington in place of doing work in the ranges and back country. The Premier, accompanied by prominent citizens, visited the Midland railway works, inspecting the site of the Staircase Gully viaduct and going on to Broken River. Full details of the cost and progress of the work were given by the engineer in charge, and the party was keenly interested, thanking the Premier heartily for the trip. Reptying to the toast of his health, Mr Seddon said no one could realise the great advantages to be obtained on both sides. Canterbury would send products to the West Coast, which would be able to develop its enormous sources of wealth — timber, coal, and gold — and open up rich pastoral areas in South Westland. He thought the people of Westlai"l ancl Canterbury had let interest in the railway flag, and did not urge the Governmpnt enough to push on the work. They should not bs satisfied without at least £150,000 a year, and should insist on completion at least to Oass. Ec thought the

line should reach that point in little mow than 18 months.

The coal output last week was 12.353 ions 6owt, of which 10.617 tons lOcwt uas from the Westport Coal Company's mine and 1735 tons 16ewt from the Scddonville State mine.