The Mokau Coal Measures.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 11665, 26 January 1901, Page 2

The Mokau Coal Measures.

DR. ROBERTSONS -REPORT. The following are the salient features of Dr. Robertson's report upon the Mokaa Coal Syndicate's estate:— These extensive coal-bearing estate* are situated in the King County of the North Island of New Zealand, and together have a frontage of about 40 miles to the Mokau River. Thft estates purchased ?» ' rider offer oomprisia total area of 12,047 acres, and are held tractor 4ease icr ,40 jean fx^m Utft?» on practically nominal rentals. v^BS* 'are no rpyalti*jbi p*^b>mooator, Jfenber, and vexueofc the paying of igojt are no conditions to fulfil The .land whea cleared of the den «c and valuable forests of timber is admirably adapted for grafting. On the 4340 nore bloaeijereral coal ftpaius hate been exposed; 7 to> Bfr. in thickness has heeno^pened by ackia.at a height above . tne .pirer sufficient to permit, of the oogl in.- tne mine truck* being emptied ,<Mr4fetlT into steamer, bq&j %fW aore*f& this coal Beaa» have been workjad^. It jdionldhniderUe almost the whole 48fQil|Mres and* large portion of the Wftj agras adjoining. The lower coal «eam^,j2ft. 9in., 3,f t. Sin-, and 4ft- 7hv, iiwok> shjenld underlie the whole,.. of hotbt-dMipsv area*. The upper seam, at prasenifceiiig worked, of excellent quality, and. t find* a ready sale in the markets of . the "West Coast, where it commands a high price. It is a black, lustrous coal with, a lptr ash, gives off neither gas nor water, tad' nqvres almost no timber to support dij»rbof. It is remarkably cheaply prodnpeo, and will, .with regular trade, . yi^ very large profits. No taxes or rates are levied in the King Country. The rivfer is navigable by steamers Of 20fr trttf'as far as the coal mine. To assist tne "rapid despatch or loading of steamers, a coal bunker has been erected on the river bank, from which coal runs 1 directly into vessels 1 holds. It' is essential that four or five steamers of the rapaeiiy mentioned, with a speed of 8} to S knots, be built in order to ensure regular* woilrtt, the colliery. The' freights b*i tins* steamers will enable satisfactory . profits being earned irrespective of,ia^diaisj9dition to, the profits derived irom wOrkdag the coal. Vessels of larger capacity 1 <4aalbe loaded a few miles- from" the >mii»4>y barges. The markets for the ooal we'the various West Coast ports, from ' Wellington ia the South to Kaipars in:. the North. Shallow draught steamers, such as it is intended to build for these collieries, will enter these ports, and so obtain the very highest price for coal. It is believed that in these markets SO to 60 thousand tons per annum can be sold. It is expected that the route of the railway to join, the Auckland with the New Plymouth railway system wjll cross the river contiguous V>, the mines, in which case the markets of Cojromandel, the Waikato, and. tven AutUintf would be opened for this cdaf. * The coal being of such excellent quality and .so simply and inexpensively worked and loaded, it is fully believed that very large profits will be made, which will pc augmented by the revenue or, profit from* the steamers, irom developing the deposits of tire-day and hydraulic Ume on the land in tho vicinity of the estates, and from the gale of timber or of hud. Inexhaustible quantities of pure titanic iron sand exist at the mouth of the Moksu River. It is reasonable to suppose that these sands will yet be utilised, and, if so, the Taramiki collieries must be largely benefited. Wfcen the colliery and fleet of steamers aro in full work, it is expected that the profi s will enable large dividends being paid— from 25 to 30 per c*nt.< may be expected. The quantity of coal ia inexhaustible, i'nd the conditions are probably more favourable for easy and profitable working thm in any colliery I have;seenin au^fof the Australian colonies*

Before Lord Roberts went out to take.co n»taud of the forces In South Africa t)> i Queen sent for him to Windsor. In s tying " Good-bye,'* her Majesty, a London paper says, took hold of both Lord Robertas hands, and, with tears in her eyes, said : " God be with you, Lord Roberts, and with all my brave men fighting for me. Please toll them sill my soldiers hjw I feel their loyalty and love. Duty will be done I know, by you and all." " Madame," steadily replied Lord Roberts, " many thousands of soldiers in England, who harep«rhape only seen their Qneen, would jtillingly die for her. I have not only ftften, bnt know my Qneen; how much more then would I jay down my life for one whoiq to know is to honour and t%lo?e ?"