PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY, JULY 13, 1886.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 7115, 13 July 1886, Page 2

PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY, JULY 13, 1886.

» The mining resources of New Zealand are wonderful. The most useful minerals are the most valuable — not, it is true, estimated by pounds, shillings, and pence, but ia relation to tho -welfare of mankind. The first in utility ia coal, and already ot thi6 mineral we are sending large quantities away to other places. The mining known in this country, however, is rather scraping the earth than penetrating its depths, when compared with the Bhaffcs and workings of Great Britain. The Minister of Mines, in his annual statemeat, gave the House some very interesting particulars respecting the coal mines in New Zealand. He showed that these are year by year making Bteady and sure progress. He says that the total output in 1878 was 102,218 tons, whilst in 1884, a period of seven years — inclusive —it had reached 480,831 tons. The total production from our coal mines last year, ending 31st December, was 511,063 tons, and the quantity imported 130,202 tons ; making a total of 641,265 tons. Of this quantity 51,427 tons, are, shown in the Customs returns as exports ; but, in reality, 45,056 tons of the quantity were used for coaling the direct steamers for England, while 4000 tons were used by the s.s. Coptic when war with Busaia was threatened, thus making a total of 49,056 tons, the whole of which may be considered as having been consumed within the colony. The exports, therefore, of coal to markets outside- ot New Zealand during last year were only 2371 tons, while the actual consumption within it was 638,894 tons ; and of this quantity 124,286 tons • were imported. Tho consumption for the year 1884 was 622,921 tons, which shows an increased demand for last year of 15,973 tons. The quantity of coal imported during 1884 appears at 148,444 tons ; while last year exhibits a decrease of 18,242 tons ; leading a total of 130,202 tons imported during 1885. Mr. Larnach says ho regrets our exports of coal to other countries only amount to a- few hundred tons, when, had the question of improving the West Coast harbours of •Greymouth and Westport been taken into consideration at the time of the initiation of the public works scheme, and dealt with in a . practical manner, as was done during the Bession of 1884, these harbours would long ere this have admitted vessels capable of carrying from two to three thousand tons of coal on one bottom ; and instead of the trifling export that is now being sent away, teus of thousands of tons would be exported annually, not alone to our neighbouring colonies, but also to other countries more distant ; aud he does not hositate to predict that the progressive export of coal from this colony -annually in the future will be such as will place the status of New Zealand in respect to its total export of this commodity upon an equal footing with other portions of Australasia, where the effects of trade hitherto have placed them in an advantageous position in respect to the export of coal. It seems a pity that Mr. Larnach does not turn Lib eyes in the direction of Taranaki as well as Greymouth ; for, had the Central Railway gone this way it would have tapped several coalfields — in fact, gone through a country the mineral resources of which only v/ant developing to make it the richest part of New Zealand. However, the House for political purposes has chosen the route for the line through a barren scoria territory. We must, therefore, wait patiently till some accidental circumstance directs the attention of a more far-seeing Minister of Mines towards this part of tho colony, when thore will bo, no

doubt, many expressions of " Who'd a thought it !" amongst those who previously have had charge ot this department. Mr. Jjarnaoh says he " cannot lay too much stress on the importance of nourishing our great coal industry, both in regard to the advancement of colonisation, and concurrently with it the sound progress of New Zealand financially in respect to its future revenue." If these aye his views, then why does he seem to shun this place, and throw every obstacle in the way of the working of the coal mines, or of aiding those who are trying to work them ? Had the railway gone this way the saving the Government would have effected in using its own coal — for, as we have said, the line would have passed through more than one coal seam — would have been very great. We hope, however, that during the next recess Mr. Larnach will make a point of visiting Taranaki, and getting the surveyors to take him to those spots where the coal may be seen projocting from the soil ; and that he will also visit the Mokau" and see what a few. working men are doing there. Mr. Larn,ach says the average increase of output from our coal-mines during the last eight years appears to be 49,835 tohs per, annum ; while the decrease in coal imported for the same period shows 6278 tons per annum. Although our producing capacity under existing circumstances is enlarging.itself rapidly, the present supply is far from' sufficient to meet the demands within the colony.^ Numerous industries are quickly springing up, requiring an increased Bupply of fuel. Machinery of many kinds is constantly being erected in diff erent parts of the colony, the motive-power of which is steam, and therefore with us coal may be justly termed' "the great motor of many industries." The number of coal-mines in- operation last year was ninety-five — only one more than during the previous year ; and sixty-two of them produced 27,701 tons by employing 114 men, which gives an average of 248 tons per man ; eleven other mines produced 85,966 tons with eighty- four men employed, equalling an average of 428 tons per man ; six other mines produced 32,839 tons with 91 men employed, giving an average of 855 tons per man while sixteen mines produced 415,057^ tons with 1,194 men employed, yielding an average output of 348 tons per man. The average output per man for the whole of the mines referred to in respect to the men employed last year was 845 tons per man. The reason for the apparently low average per man in reference to some of our mines is accounted for by the large number of lignite-pits that are being irregularly worked, consequent upon the demand for this class of coal being limited to household and other local cousump.ion. The whole of Mr. Larnaoh's statement is very interesting, but he appears to have so devoted his attention to the mining in the Middle Island as to givo the impression that' he believed there were no minerals or metals in the North Island. If some of the money spent on the West Coast of the Middle Island had been used in this district, we believe that the result would have been such that very few of the chief towns of the colony would have exceeded New Plymouth in points of substantial prosperity. His Excellency the Governor has issued letters of naturalisation in favor of. Joseph Szodrowski, of New Plymouth, and the same has been gazetted. The post-office at Pungarchu has been opened as a money order and savings bank office. An account of a singular discovery' nt Tomuka (Canterbury) of a quantity of jewellery which had bacn buried, will be found on our fourth page. The House on Friday throw out the Criminal Code Bill, as tho members did not care to tackle it in Committee at the end of a a'-ssion. This makes tho fourth Bession this measuro has been shelved. In 1841 tho exports of New Zealand wero £17,717, and ia 1885, they were £6,819,939. There were only 4,065 head of cattle in New Zealand in J843 ; now there are nearly a million. Tho flocks of New Zealand consisted in 1843 of 10,255 Bhcep ; they now are represented by fourteen millions. Whilst in 18il Hire were only 96 vessels, of 17,413 ton*, entered inward at the ports ie Now Zealand, the numbers had grown in 1885 to 786 vessels, o£ 516,700 tons. Tho imports of Now Z.aland in 1841 wero only £133,358, but have risen in 1885 to £7,479,912. Tho amount of tho Customs revenue in 1841 was £3,073, whilst in 1885 it amounted to £1,428,809. An application was received by tho Borough Council on Monday, from Mr. A. Morton, on behalf of a few young men who desired tho use of the Borough Council Chambers for the purposes of draught and ohesa playing, on evenings when the room is not otherwiso engaged. A discussion ensued on the subjoct. Mr. Bellringer favored throwing the room open to the public; Mr. Corkill thought its use should be restricted to subscribers to tho Public Library. Tho question was finally deferred uutil next month for consideration, and tho room in the meantime is to be open to tho general public for the purposes of chess and draught playing. It was stated that tho cost oi lighting the room would only bo £3 a year. That tho Mayor and Borough Councillors should bo placed in tho prisoner's dock and charged with aiding and abetting, the offence of illegally removing people's horses and cattle out of their owners' bands for tho purposo of impounding them, was tho opinion which n correspondent of tho Borough Council expressed in a letter road at tho Council mooting on Monday night. The correspondent i'urther stated his belief tint it would do thw Mayor and Councillors good ; but his candid style of: writing was somewhat marred by expletives which it is believed will como within the. operation of the Police Offences Act. It was decided to refer the letter to Mr. Pardy for his opiuiou on that point. With a view to greatly reduce stock and at tho same time enable the public to procure good furniture, carpets, pianos, &c., dining the dull times, J. C. George will offer the whole of his stook at a small advance on coat, at tho old premises, corner of Devon and Liardet-streots.-Auv.