NELSON COAL.

Colonist, Volume II, Issue 108, 2 November 1858, Page 2

NELSON COAL.

THE MEETING AT THE COURT HOUSE. This meeting, took place, at the Court House, as advertised, last evening, arid the, attendance was good. After a few "preliminaries, D. Sinclair, Esq., was voted to the chair. . , Mr. Jenkins'read the report of Mr. Henderson, remarking upon the exertions of the.Provisional Committee, and hoped the people of. Nelson would respond to the .wants of the Company in a way the matter deserved. The report was as follows:— •;. .',, "Copy. .. .._ . [ ■'. [ "To the Committee of the. Nelson Coal Mining Company. . , "Gentlemen,— Incompliance with your request, I proceeded on boai'd the screw steamer White Swan to-day, where, by the permission of Captain M'Lean, and Mr. Trail, Chief Engineer of the vessel, I had the opportunity of observing the cx r periment of raising steam and steaming out of port with coal from Mr. Jenkins'mine. The facts of the experiment are as follows :— "The boiler being filled and the fires laid in the usual way, they were lighted at ll a.m. The coal ignited readily, and at 12.15 p.m., or in one hour and a quarter, the fire doors were thrown open, to> reduce the action of the fires, the steam being then fully up. Mr. Trail informs me that the time occupied in getting up the steam was quite as short as on any former occasion. The arrangements of the vessel being completed, we left the. wharf at 12.50 p.m., and.in steaVning out of the port, and up to the time Mr. Cross left the vessel, the highest pressure ..which the boiler is loaded to was maintained. The engines worked out at full speed, and the steam was blowing off at the waste steam-pipe. "Just before I left the vessel with the, pilot, the following certificate was handed to me by Mr. Trail, to be placed at your disposal:— * Screw steamer White Swan, 'Off Nelson, October 28th, 1858. ; -' I hereby certify that steam has been raised in. the usual time on board this vessel with coal from

Mr. Jenkins' mine, which he informs me is from within 7 feet of the surface/and that we have steamed out with full steam up;to the .time ofthe pilot leaving. I may add~tllM~the coal ignited readily, aud is perfectly free from sulphmv . (Signed) 'James Trail, 'Chief Engineer White Swan.' "Congratulating you upon the success of the experiment,' \ " 1 have the honor to remain, "Gentlemen, " Ypuv obedient servant, 1 "G. Henderson, "Engineer. " Nelson, October 28,1858." Mr. Rankin bore testimony: to the quality of the coal, having tested it most satisfactorily. He considered it about equal to Newcastle coal, taking price into consideration. Mr. Wrey was informed by Mr. Jenkins, in answer to a question, that i>lßo was the amount deposited on shares. Mr. Wrey said that we were all talking about coal,, but he should like to see how good it could be got, and to know the probable expense for sinking a shaft a moderate depth; it need not, he thought, exceed £300, for 20 fathoms would be quite as good as 200 to test the quality at a greater depth than at present. He wished to know the probable cost. Mr. Marsden replied about ,£lO per fathom. Mr. Kingdon proposed that Mr. Henderson, who was present, should give the meeting more information, if possible. Mr. Henderson said that he had little to add to the, report, except that it was a simple statement of facts ; full steam had been procured by these coals, indeed, steam to spare, up to the time he left the White Swan; it appeared very applicable for war purposes also, asjfc had been recommended to use coals that made as little smoke as possible, and this was a great peculiarity with the , coal in question.. . :■.;■--".: jH Mr. KiNGDON wished to know the relative value of Nelson and Newcastle coals in getting up steam. Mr. Henderson said that! the difference in consumption would be about 30 per cent, more of the Nelson coal; but it was most common in England to find it varying from 30 to 40 per cent/ in quality. Mr. Elliott said that he had been assured by the engineer of the White Swan that it was the best coal in New Zealand. Captain M'Lean had seen some service on the coast of New Holland ; and some years ago the Newcastle coal was much inferior to this! After some judicious remarks, he called upon the meeting to do all in their power to induce their friends to combine in a venture calculated to advance their own interests and that of the province; so that all might put their shoulders to the wheel and see what could be done. Mr. Fearon proposed the share list should be open a fortnight longer, as he considered it the duty of every person to do their utmost; and He had no doubt that the necessary funds would be forthcoming. Mr. Lewthwaite, in seconding the proposition, remarked that question's had arose that the Provisional Committee had nothing to do with ; but hereafter responsible directors would be elected by the shareholders. - Mr. Hays proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Henderson for his gratuitous and disinterested services in witnessing the trial of the coal raised from Mr. Jenkins' land on board the White Swan, and for his valuable report thereon. Mr. Henderson replied to the effect that it was not altogether disinterested, as he felt a lively interest in the well-being of the settlement. Mr. Jenkins, in answer to a question from Mr. Hays, said that 1760 shares hacl r ,been taken up to the close of the meeting, out of the 3500 required. Mr. Travers, after some amusing remarks, proposed that the holders should, in case of the shares not being, taken up, either double their shares or amounts. The course Mr. Jenkins had takan in calling a public meeting was a very fair and proper one, but not being quite satisfactory he thought that alternative should be adopted, as he considered it most injudicious that more time should be wasted. <•-■.■■' Mr.. Fear on expressed himself quite willing to double his shares; and after a vote of thanks to the Chairman, the meeting separated.

6'itß Coal Mine.—B/ our advertising columns it will be seen that a public meeting of shareholders in the Nelson Coal Mining Company is called for Thurs<lay evening next, at the Court House, the object of such meeting being .to take the necessary stop 3 for the immediate working of the mine. Mjst earnestly do we hope that a matter of such vital and incalculable importance to the province will receive the support to which it is entitled. - ~