COAL SUPPLIES.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVIII, Issue 16829, 26 May 1919, Page 2

COAL SUPPLIES.

SEEKING NEW SOURCES. IN NEW ZEALAND. (Per Press Association). i , . AVELLINGTON, M'K" 24 Soma information, with respect to ; tlio activities of his Department in developing State coal production 'was given to a reporter by the lion. W. J). S. Mac Donald. Minister of Mines, today. The Minister said it had been decided to open up a new mine in the Nine Mile coalfield, which is really an ■extension of the Point Elizabeth mine. "We have been boring on the site for "some time. It "'is ■ Crown land, part of the State coal reserve of 350 acres, "arid is estimated to contain over four 'million tons";of coal. The matter .has ■been- gone into very carefully before coming to a decision. , It is estimated that it will take two miles of lino to carry the railway from Rnnauga to .the new mine. : I have written to "the Minister of Public Works, asking him to take the necessary steps to have »■ survey of a suitable line made, and have requested .that the.work should l>3 done with the utmost possible despatch, as the matter is one. .of extreme urgency owing to the shortage of coal. This branch i-ailway line will have to be authorised by a special Act. and at will take some considerable ' time to have the whole business Tu ; operation. It will probably take two years to open up and develop the mine, butthe main, thing was to test the held and see whether it was 'worth developing, and this been done. "We hav e also under consideration the purchase of another*coalfield, in 'the North.lsland, near Huntly. I am making a recommendation to the Cnbinet, and decision will probably be arrived at next week. . ~ ;■ , "We have been, .continuously boring, at Chamming Creek, near Seddonville for the past three years, and it was 'decided - that owing to pertain conditions the field-.- could not bo developed by -the" State, The : reservation, has "now beon ~lifted from" the land • and several parties of miners are Winning coal there and selling it to different merchants. ~ "A- . great - deal has been said about a new coa;Meld : neoir : W.eptport/ This-, field is about 18 miles from Westport, on the Westport-Inarigahua road. It would be necessary to construct twelve miles of railway over heavy country. It is known that the coalfields have, an area of about nine miles by seven but, it has never .been properly tested to get an etiniate of the" amount of coal that could be won. Until a connection by railway is made it-is of course iiTi- ; possible to work the coal deposits in: that locality.■.-■- The coalj Jhipwever, is of very good quality. I have inspected; the mine several times duirfhg the last few years, and a good many thousand tons have been mined and used for various" purposes, dredging, • and'so on.' 15 SHORTAGE OF^MppRS.'." ' Asked if anything further had been, done regarding the invitation to New South Wales miners to come to New Zealand, the Minister said the Labour Department had the matter in hand. The proposal originated with a sugges-. tiori that some of the men" thrown out of work at Cobar would come to New ■ Zealand if no obstacle were placed in, their way. The New South Wales Government had advised that it would impose no restriction, but' nothing, fur-; ther;had been heard. ..At the present time? it would be difficulty for anyi. men to come over 'owing- 'ife the effecfe„ the epidemic and quarantine had on'; shipping. . J ■'■ .-i\