24

C.—4

has been paid. The output so far has been so small that it is impossible to g ather .^. m . a fi st t^w of cost hitherto what the price for large quantities would be. Mr. Taylor says that the tiamway and new pier will be finished before the end of the year. _ We entered three short drives, which have been put in on a seam varying from 7 ft. 6 in. to say 9ft • the longest of these has been driven 400 ft. on coal. The coal appears to be of very good quality for household purposes, and not unsuited for steam. As a steam-coal it would rank as somewhat inferior to Grey or Westport, but in the absence of a better quality at a low price would be valuable for steam purposes. There are only a few men employed in coal-getting at present and were the quantity ascertained it would be quite right to defer mining until he means oi transrt are completed This is a dilemma in which mine-owners frequently find themselves. To drive tai on the coal without being able to profitably sell the output means great loss, and to first provide railway-carriage and means of loading, involves the risk of finding all such expenditure wasted ,f the quantity of coal in the mine turns out to be insufficient. Between Mr. Taylor, who professes great expert knowledge on the subject, and Mr. A. McKay, F.G.S., Government Geologist," there appears to be a sharp difference of opinion as to the conformity- of the seam and the° quantity of coal likely to be obtained. We beg to refer lency to Mr. McKay's report (1900, C.-6) on the Puponga Coalfields, and to say that, so far as we have been able to judge, Mr. McKay's conclusions are probably the sounder of the two. It is greatly to be desired that this coalfield should prove a source of supply, not only to Nelson, but also the country round that city, and every possible consideration should be shown to those who are endeavouring to establish a coal-supply within the area of Golden Bay Care should, however, be taken that while allowing each person or company interested access to the foreshore and anchorage, no concession should be granted that would prejudice the right of all to such Taylors > leases is the lease held by the Cape Coal Prospecting Company in the name of Alfred Peart. The area is 400 acres, and it lies to the north and west of the Taylor leases, and is believed to take the coal to the dip of Taylors seam; but, although some £400 has been spent, the party have not been so far successful in striking the seam. A shaft 66 ft. deep has been sunk, passing through four small seams, the thickest of which is said 2ft Sixteen shafts have been sunk on this area, but without success Efforts are now being made to provide new capital and continue the operations. The Puponga field appears to be especially one in which no speculations as to what is beneath the surface can be of any use, and therefore one in which the pick alone can solve the question. , ... ~ llf u rf Pakaivau.-We also visited the mine at this place, which is some seven miles south o Puponga There is an area of 39 acres actually granted, and the owners—Messrs. Caldwell Brothers-have applied for another 100 acres. The mine has been open five or six years, but m a very intermittent sort of way. Eight men and a boy are at present employed on the coal, and three truckers, but we understood that this number has not been employed regularly. The output rose to 400 tons during April, but this was an exceptional output. The drive has been carried fn 150 ft., and the mine is worked on the usual pillar- and- bord system. The coal is put on board vessels a a small wharf erected on the foreshore of the bay, and is charged for f-°;b.-15s. *or screened, and 10s. for nuts. The slack is washed away at the tiphead and sent into the creek The mine is a mile and a quarter from the wharf, and there is a good iron tramway. Ihe width of the seam is from 2 ft. 6 in. to 4 ft., and there are two bands of clayey pug running through the seam which detracts from its value. The coal is a semi-bituminous coal, and answers very well for household purposes; its place as a steam-coal depends upon the supply of better coal for steam purposes A few years ago it would not be used ; a few years hence it may be gladly taken. Mines near Nelson City. We took evidence respecting the mine known as the Enner Glynn Mine, situated some four miles from Nelson, on the freehold property of Mr. Alexander O'Brien, and one of our number (Mr. Proud) visited it. This mine produced a lignite of rather low quality and the seam being nearly vertical and the method of working it unscientific, difficulties occurred culminating in a fire taking place, and the shaft and workings being flooded. The whole method of working appears to have been as primitive as possible, and the statements made to us concerning it are conflicting. If the coal is as the owner of the freehold asserts, it is extraordinary that he does not make use of the wealth nature has so bountifully given him. If the quality and quantity are as some statements made to us declare it to be, his inaction so far is explainable. We could not enter the workings and we are not sufficiently satisfied with the evidence procurable to make any further observations UP ° n We also visited a bore which is being put down at Brightwater, 14* miles from Nelson City We can only report that there are indications of coal, but, though a depth of 113 ft. has been attained, there is nothing at present on which any judgment can be formed. Ihe operations of those engaged in boring appear to be conducted with considerable skill, and though the appliances are simple and, indeed, primitive in appearance, they are in reality ingenious and effective. The coal supply of the City of Nelson is apparently worked upon lines which would appear stran-e elsewhere, but which are accepted by the residents to a large extent, as the natural outtheir desire to keep their trade to their own people. It appears that, owing to agreements between shipowners, no vessels other than those of a certain line can take coal to Nelson from either the West Coast or Golden Bay Mines ; that the Nelson City Gasworks pay £1 Bs. 6d. for screened Westport, and £1 Is. for slack ; that the same party has been the contractor for many years past, and that no one else apparently can compete. The same thing exists with regard to Pakawau and Puponga coal, which can only be purchased at Nelson Wharf at from £1 4s. to £1 6s. per ton,