THE GOAL SITUATION.

Colonist, Volume LXI, Issue 151035, 29 July 1919, Page 5

THE GOAL SITUATION.

[United Press Association.]

Wellington, July 28. in a recent statement the Hon. A. M Myers mentioned that the amount of coal in sight from overseas during the next six weeks was 70,000 tons. The Minister is now able to say that suppJies from those sources have been augmented by further shipments, from both Mew-castle and Newport News, U.S.A. ex?? tent of about m >m tons! While this was gratifying, the Minister out that a ProP°sed shipment of 0500 tons by the Waitomo, of which 4500 tons was for the Railway Department, was included in the 70,000 mentioned. The Waitomo, however, was unahle to bring this cargo as intended, as the vessel is laid up at Dunedin owing to the crew refusing to go to Australia m her. Advantage is b<*ing taken of this spell to have tiie vessel surveyed. Hie coal carrier Ngakuta is also vessel winch tor a similar reason is unable to bexiscd between Newcastle and New Zealand and she is therefore being used on the West Coast run. Mr Myers furtner stated that an arrangement had been made witli the Commonwealth and Dominion Line to unload 1000 tons from the Port Victor which that vessel had available, but unfortunately, owing to the watersiders not working on Friday last only a portion of this coal would be taken off. Some 250 tons was »aloaded on Sunday, and arrangements were made for the vessel be worked up to 10 o clock to-night, but unfortunately the inclemency of the weather had prevented this from being done. If the 1 ort Victor saily. at daylight on Wednes* day which is the present intention, she will be compelled to take about 400 tons of coal with her which in the circumstances it was impossible to unload '