The Timaru Herald. TUESDAY, MAY 7, 1901.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 3559, 7 May 1901, Page 2

The Timaru Herald. TUESDAY, MAY 7, 1901.

Sir James Hector, who is Director of the New Zealand Geological Survey Department-, and probably knows a great deal more about the coal resources of the colony than anyone else does, gave some interesting and important evidence before the Coal Commission a few days ago. He first of all made a statement as to the extent of the coal surveys which had been carried out in the colony. This statement went in the direction of showing that the known coal areas had been greatly exaggerated. Mr Hazelden, the chairman of the Commission, remarked that the public were being deluded by assertions that there were half a billion tons of coal available, and Sir James Hector liad been quoted as the authority for the estimate. Sir James Hector replied at once that he had never said anything of the sort. The chairman then asked " Do you think there is any cause for apprehension that the supply of coal will not be sufficient for New Zealand requirements." The answer was that the extent of the coal supply had been grossly over-stated, and that he (Sir James) had always been opposed to any export of coal from New Zealand. He added that " we were selling what it was absolutely necessary for us to conserve for ourselves. The more we could buy from other countries the better." But although we admit the trustworthiness of the evidence supplied by Sir James Hector as far as it goes, it does |

not appear that it covers the whole ground of the controversy respecting the extent of the coal deposits of Now Zealand. The veteran scientist spoke of > lie p'ubabilities in connection •with the kr.f;wn coal areas of the colony. As a geologist he and the excellent stafi of the Department may be able with some degree of probability to estimate the extent of the future output of, say, the existing mines on the West Coast of this island, and of the mines which will yet be developed on the West Coast area that gives indications of being coal-bearing. There can, of course, be no certainty attached to the estimate, and Sir James Hector would be the last to claim absolute accuracy for his forecast. But whatever it is may be taken as approximate to the truth, and Sir James Hector says that no long time will elapse before the West Coast supply is practically exhausted. There has, however, been nothing like an exhaustive examination of the whole colony with a view of determining approximately the extent of the coal-bearing areas, and it is possible that further very important discoveries may be made—discoveries sufficient in extent to stave off the day of exhaustion almost indefinitely. But there again, Sir James Hector may say that enough has been done generally to enable a very rough estimate to be made. We shall look with much interest for the whole of his evidence before the Royal Commission, for as a geologist he has had a very wide experience extending over a> great many years. In his concluding remarks he said that there had been a good deal of muddling in coal mines, and the results generally may not have been as good as had been anticipated; "Kawakawa was the only place in which the Government had explored for coal." The words in inverted commas indicate clearly Sir James Hector s opinion that there is room for further exploration either by the Government! cr by private individuals. W-s do not think tint the public would, in these days of large surpluses, object to a reasonable expenditure by the State on, prospecting for coal on Crown lands indicated by the experts as likely to yield satisfactory results. * Indeed, it would seem to be the duty of the Government to take some steps to test the value of such lands; or at all events if they did take such steps it could scarcely be said that the Government were exceeding the legitimate scope of their functions. Summing up the case with the scanty information available, we get back to the fact that Sir James Hector does not expect the coal resources of New Zealand to last very long. There is not the smallest probability, however, of the coal-owners suspending or lessening the export trade as long as it pays. They look for present returns, and are not moved by consideration of the question of possible exhaustion and what that may mean to the cominunity at large. That concerns the general public, but not shareholders intent upon securing the best possible dividends. In view of Sir James Hector's opinion, it might be a good thing if more attention were directed to the subject of providing a substitute for coal as a source of power, and for lighting and heating, but chiefly, perhaps, for the first-named object. Electricity produced through the agency of coal may have its advantages, but it is at best a costly source of power, and all the time a nearer approach is being made to exhaustion. But there is another source which is practically inexhaustible and which costs nothing except in the initial outlay necessary to render it available. . Electricity; generated by water .power is gradually attracting attention in ivarious countries, and where the conditions are favourable the installations 'have given Unmeasured satisfaction. There is already considerable talk about utilising water power in New Zealand for the purposes mentioned. ■ The people are slow to move, and fuller information on the subject is wanted. But there are many localities in which the source of power could be utilised at a comparatively small outlay, and it can be scarcely doubted that before the lapse of many years the work will be done very much to the advantage of the public.