THE BULLER COALFIELD

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 519, 19 June 1869, Page 2

THE BULLER COALFIELD

During tlio last session of the Nelson Provincial Council, a Select Committee was appointed "to consider and report on the best means of developing the coal-fields of the Province." With regard to the Buller coal-field, the Committee reported as follows : " The importance of the Buller coalfield appears to be even greater than that of the Grey, the coal measures being thicker, and the quality still better, while the superiority of the harbor would give it a further advantage for the coal trade. But the great expense of a railway to Mount ftochfort, estimated by competent authorities at not less than £IOO,OOO, appears to preclude the hope of any further realization of the benefits which may bo expected from bringing these vast deposits of coal into use. Two suggestions with reference to the Buller coal-field have come under the notice of your Committee. One is that an accredited agent bo despatched to London specially to draw the attention of capitalists to the promising nature of such an enterprise as the working of the Buller coal-field is believed to bo. Tour Committee consider that the expenditure of public money for this object would only be advisable in the improbable case of a competent agent being found willing to let his remuneration be made mainly contingent on his success. Your Committee view with more favor the other suggestion alluded to, which is that a liberal bonus be held out to any'person who may discover a scam of good coal situated within a short distance, say five miles of "Westport, as they believe such an inducement might have the effect of stimulating an active and successful search for coal."

Based upon the Committee's report a series of resolutions were introduced by Dr Irvine, and passed. Among them were the following:— " That for the purpose of offering encouragement to persons proposing

to work the coal-seams in the neighbourhood of the Buller, the Superintendent be authorised to pay a bonus, at the rate of five shillings per ton on good steam coal raised and brought into the market from any proper mine, and one calculated to be of permanent character; provided always that no such bonus shall exceed the sum of £SOO in any one year. " That the time for claiming the bonus recommended in the report of the Select Committee on the Buller and other coal-fields, adopted by the Council on the 25th of July, 1867, authorising the Superintendent to pay a bonus of five shillings per ton on good steam coal raised from any proper mine on this side of Cape Farewell, be extended to the Ist of January, 1871." J