MAURICEVILLE COAL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 8944, 19 December 1907, Page 5

MAURICEVILLE COAL.

VISITS OF EXPERTS

INDICATIONS PRONOUNCED HIGHLY ENCOURAGING.

Mauricevillo, or "Coalvillo," as Mr A. W. Hogg, M.P., termed it at the Hospital opening ceremony, is not being neglected by experts anxious to view the outcrops there aud form an opinion as to the prospects of the industry. Two gentlemen of practical mining experience visited the locality of Mr Kummor's mine previously in company with a Wairarapa Daily Times' reporter, aud yostorday, a third gentleman, Mr Graham, who lias had both theoretical and practical experience, haviug been educated iv theory at the New Zealaud School of Minos and finished his studios amid tho black prociucts of Kaitaugata coal mine, beside haviug had later experience iv mines in New Zealaud aud British Columbia, accompanied a reporter on a third prospect of Mr Kummor's property.

Mr Graham was shown through the drives at the back of the homestead, aud ho aud Mr Kummer wero accompanied ou tlmir torn* by Mr J. Hayes, late Inspecting Eugiueor to the Now Zealand Government Mines Department, who is spending a holiday at Mr Kummer's. Mr Graham was also shown over tho hillsides, aud the uumoror.s interesting geological indications were pointed out by Mr Kuinmor, who facilitated the exploration iv every way. Tho appearance of the intorior of the drives, with tho seams of coal showing hetwoeu the bauds of greeu aud brown clays, aud the geuoral indications of saudstoue, aud other rocks always associated with coal deposits, struck Mr Graham forcibly, and even Mr Hayes, who would venture no other opinion uutil he has had several days' thorough investigations, admitted that there wero ample indications to justify an exhaustive prospect being made. Several pieces of what were undoubtedly coal were picked up, ancl the latest seam was inspected aud approved. Mr Hayes, weut so far as to advise Mr Kummer to obtain an inexpensive drill, aud with it bore upwards at au angle into the hill from the foot of the incline shaft. This would, he said, uot cost more thau a few pounds, aud would give au indication of whether the numerous seams overlying the prospected seams were making or losiug, and also supply othor useful information. This is probably what Mr Kummer will do, aud the two experts betweeu them supplied quite sufficient information to justify the interest being taken in the' matter which the Chamber of Commerce and private individuals are endeavouring to arouse. The condemnation of a gentleman of MiHayes' very wide experience would have great' weight, but this gentleman, even on a cursory examination, could not but admit being impressed by the indications.

The assistance of outsido capital seems to be more assured than at first appeared likely at the outset, and the appearance at Mauriceville of Mr Martin Kennedy, yesterday, may portend an early interesting development.