THE COAL FIELD.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1924, 4 March 1875, Page 2

THE COAL FIELD.

As soon as the miners' rights were issued, Mr Hennelly lodged his application for protection for a coal discovery made by him. There were five or six applications after his. Mr Wallnutt has pegged out a claim adjoining Hennelly's on the coal, and a number of others. Applications for registration of all the claims pegged out were lodged with the Warden, after which all those engaged in the race and pegging out went for a wash in the creek. In the first part of this communication. I said that the place was dusty and dirty, and a "place, more deserving the name could scarcely be found.,, The soil is of a loose character throughout the whole district. And Mackay Town was covered a few days ago with a heavy crop of fern which has been burned off. The ashes from the continual tramping of men and horses with the light soil has been worked into a powder rising with every breath of wind and covering everyone with a thick coating of black dust. Mr Mackay, Capt. Fraser and Mr Allom, the latter in a white coat, during the excitement presented a pretty sight, and might readily have been taken for coal heavers by anyone not knowing their exalted positions. A great number of those who went up on pleasure and business return to Grahamstown by the steamers tonight, most pleased that they had embraced the opportunity of being present to see the race for the first claim in the long expected Ohinemuri goldfields.