COAL RESOURCES.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 337, 29 August 1868, Page 6

COAL RESOURCES.

However desirable for tho best interests of Westport. the development of the resources of Mount liochfort may be, it is certain that sve shall have to -wait for some time belbre the necessary capital for the enterprise is gathered. Strangely enough a mine at the Grey, which is not only not superior in any respect, but rather the contrary, is undertaken by capitalists, and is now in a fair way of being worked to the advantage both of the district in which it is situated, and the shareholders who open it up, According to Woolwich tests the Mount Roehfort is infinitely superior to that of the Grey for shipment, being of a far harder texture, and yet capital in the one case can readily be procured, whilst in the other, though the coal was discovered -more than five years ago, no steps have been taken to utilise it. We cannot presume to give a reason for this difference beyond the fact that in one locality there are energetic men, and in the

other that class is sadly wanted. A short time ago it was rumoured that Mr N. Edwards had taken up the subject, and had gone to Wellington with the intention of forming a company for the purpose, but we fear the news was too good to be true, for we have heard no more on the subject. Messrs Burnett and Wrigg have reported so favorably on the prospects of a company of the kind that it is just possible it may yet be floated, but no immediate results arc likely to accrue apparently, Whilst waiting for the more gigantic scheme, is it not possible for the Westportians to help themselves in this respect, at all events ina lesserdegree? When Dr. Hector made a rough geological survey of the West Coast, he told us many things that have since proved true. He said that gold in leads ran northerly, and predicted the very leads now discovered in the Caledonian and other terraces. He further gave as his opinion that beach leads as at the Five Mile, Okarita would be discovered, but these as yet are unfulfilled propheies. In reference to coal how T ever, he was far more explicit, and stated positively that a vast coal bed of some sixteen miles in length, with one or two faults or breaks extended northward, and of this there cannot be the slightest doubt. Though Mouut Rochford seems to be the grand coal centre, there is no doubt that the seams run right down the coast, becoming thinner and.of an inferior quality as they proceed south. This is seen at Charleston, where the cool has hardly passed its lignite stage. About the Grey another quality seems to begin, the Razorback range probably cutting off the more mode.:; deposits. At Waimongoroa however, only nine miles from here, excellent coal can be obtained, and as a proof of this it has been tiped for some months iu the smith's forge at the quartz reef, and has proved of first class quality. The seam from which it has been taken is of great thickness, and an immense amount of coal can be procured from it with very littlo labour. A dead fiat extends from the Waimongoroa to W r estport; a tramway could with ease and at little expense, be laid down, and surely we might make a start on a small scale, as a coal producing port, from this source alone. But, irrespective of this coal actually staring us in the face, and only wanting excavation, no doubt there arc numbers of other places, even nearer, where the mineral could be procured with equal ease, and in as large quantities, if people did but take the trouble to look for it. One enterprising gentleman has offered a reward for the discovery of a coal seam within certain limits, aud has been lauded as a public benefactor in consequence, hut like many other patriotic people, he is throwing out a sprat to catch a mackerel, for if a coalfield is found, he comes in for certain advantages in connection with leases of coal reserves. Nevertheless we hope that the money will be claimed, and we are sure that that is his fondest wish, for every one would be thereby more or less advantaged. Disinterestedness is too rare a virtue in these daystoexpect it even from an M.P.C. The present question resolves itself into this. Whetheiyiswe see no present prospect of the larger undertaking being gone into at once, we shall rest contented until such is the case. We have coal in the immediate vicinity that will cost but a trifle to bring in, we have vessels of all kinds ballasting with sand for want of better material, we have steamers calling constantly that would glauly fill their holds with coal from here wheu en route to Nelson, and yet we allow them to go away empty, and sen'l West Coast sand to ornament the ballasting grounds of Sydney and Melbourne. 'Would it not be more reasonable to bring in, say Waimongoroa coal, aud rather let them carry .that away ? There has not been any

opportunity of fully testing this mineral further than iu the smith's forge above referred to, but that alone should bo a criterion of its quality. But even supposing that it is not equal to the coal of some places, and that is assuming what is not warranted by tacts, surely it would be better to ship inferior coal as ballast that would realise something over its cost, thau sand that has to be thrown away. Jt can be supplied at a very cheap rate, and whether for consumption here or elsewhere, will meet with a ready sale. Its quality of course has yet to be deter mined. In the meanwhile let those most interested reilect whether instead of waiting for capitalists, they cannot as we have before observed, help themselves on a small scale, and at once turn to account a portion of the mineral wealth lying at our very doors.

PUBLIC OFFENCES BILL. The present Postmaster-General, Mr Hall has achieved a political reputation on the most slender foundation, and his first legislative bantling, in the shape of the Public Offences Bill, has very properly been assailed from all sides of the House, though it is quite possible that it will pass in a somewhat considerably mutilated shape. At the same time, when the very existence of the Government of which Mr Hall is a member, was jeopardised, public attention was not directed specially to this "measure, which has been truly execrated throughout the colony. Its ostensible object is to create uniformity in police offences throughout the colony, but its real effect will be to create a kind of police despotism that cannot fail to prove other than highly objectionable to everyone within its range of operation. We know at present that certain districts actually require greater laxity in dealing with minor offences than others, for instance the stringent rules that would be suitable and even required in large established cities, would be absurd in some of the digging towns, but this bill, if passed in its entirety, will place all on equal terms, and what is more will compel the police to stringently carry out its provisions where it has been proclaimed. This latter condition is a fortunate one for the goldfields, for no Executive in their senses would expect such an Act to be applicable or even tolerable amongstadiggingcominunity. At the sametitne, it is possible that some enthusiastic authority or other on this Western side of the island might take a fit of activity, and by some means or other procure its proclamation, so it is just as well that that the public should at least have an outline of a few of its provisions. The first part is intended to apply to special localities, and the second has reference to the general provisions of the measure. Under these, offenders or alleged offenders may be arrested without warrant, either by a constable or the owner of the property with respect to which the offence is committed, and brought before a Magistrate, but they are not to be detained more than forty hours. The penalties vary from 10s to £5. The offences set down, and consequently the possible offenders, are legion, and should be left as has been suggested, to be dealt with by the local or municipal authorities, without the General Government stoopiug to legislate on such trifles. Their doing so is the elephant picking up pins. For instance, the above fines are to be enforced for wheeling any barrow or carriage, baby vehicles clearly coming under the latter denomination, on the footpath; dragging timber on the road or footpath, allowing eaves to drip water on the footpath, for affixing placards to any house, for rolling casks in the streets, or for beating carpets within some distance of a thoroughfare. Breaking in horses in streets is another tabooed practice, and rightly too. No less than twenty five sections follow with a multiplicity of offences contained, from which we may take flying kites, using bows and arrows, obstructing roads or footpaths by having meat over the footway, exposing horses for sale or hire in a public thoroughfare, and a variety of other matters not necc-ssaiy to detail. We have alone stated that the police will be compelled to carry the Act stringently out, should it unfortunately become law, because special provision is made in a special clause, that if any constable does not use his best endeavours to apprehend and convey before some Justice any person so offending he shall be deemed to have been guilty of neglect of duty, and shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding five pounds. In addition to the above, a Sunday afternoon clause, that would have delighted the Puritan heart, whereby the severest penalties were impossed on wicked people, who believe that Sunday was intended by the Supreme

Being, rather as a holiday than a day of penance, and who act in their helief has been thrown out in the early stage. Altogether though great modifications have already been made, though the penalties iu many cases have been reduced, still it is certain that it is a most objectionable measure, and one that will create much discontent amongst the New Zealaud population, should it become law, and but a shadow of its former self. All the petty offences to which its administration will apply, can be fifty times better dealt with by local authority, and we must say that Mr Hall's YVestland blunders have been by no means retrieved by the production of such apaltry and busybody measure as the one referred to.