COAL IN SOUTHLAND

Otago Witness, Issue 3613, 12 June 1923, Page 66

COAL IN SOUTHLAND

IMMENSE POSSIBILITIES. BORING AT BIRCH WOOD. An analysis of the coal samples recently obtained by M r A. W. Rodger, in the course of boring operations on his property at Birch wood, lias revealed that the coal is of excellent quality and that it is within a smail fraction of being classed as bituminous in character. Speaking to a representative of the Southland Tunes, Mr Rodger gave a few particulars of the operations which he has been carrying on for some years past, with a view to ascertaining what prospects there were for obtaining further supplies of coal from the Ohai Valley. For that nurpose he put down 24 bores, and coal was proved t-o exist in every bore except one. Then he put clown a further bore to a depth of 563 ft, and but for the outbreak of the vvar would have continued operations. However, very little additional work was attempted until June of last year, when the present bore was commenced, and it is now down to a depth of 1078 ft. In that distance no fewer than four large seams of coal have been found, tile first from the ground level being 12ft in thickness, the second 28, the third 9s. and the fourth 4.

,bores I have put down,” continued Mr Rodger, “prove that the ooal exists over the new area, of 2500 acres, and the result of the analysis of the samples just obtained shows that from a provincial point of view Southland will benefit very considerably from this new source of supply. The new field also corroborates Professor Park’s view tFat tho main body of the coalfield is lving to the south-west side of the present mines, but that it covers a much greater area than was originally supposed. The earbon content of the coal on my property is remarkably good, especially in the 28ft seam which was located at a depth of 332 ft. Tt is, I am informed, particularly low in moisture and ash and with an additional 2A per rent, of fixed carbon would comply with all the essentials of bituminous coal. I am confident that we mav vet find a good bituminous sample.” concluded Mr Rodger, “and I hope within the near future to take such steps as will ensure the present seams being satisfactorily and fully developed.”