PORT MOLYNEUX.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 191, 8 March 1878, Page 6

PORT MOLYNEUX.

A meeting of the Coal "Committee was held oil Thursday, the 28th uit. , to receive a report from the party engaged in prospecting for coal. Mr Jenkinson was called to the chair, and after the usual preliminary business, the Chairman read the following report : — " Your Sub-Committee have, to report that they have visited that j>ortion of Port Molyneux Reserve where prospecting for coal had been previously carried on, and found the original holes filled up. Mr 'Henderson pointed out aplace where he had sank to a depth of 10. feet and found fire-clay ; a specimen 'of which he submitted to Captain Hiitton for his opinion. Captain Hiitton emphatically stated his belief that coal would bo found at a very little distance below the fireclay. "Upon this information your Committee determined to .open a. shaft a very short distance from the, previous ;oiie. Accordingly, two men were - -engaged with the necessary tools, who succeeded in reaching fire-clay at a distance of seven feet from the surface, and having carried on operations to a depth of 23 feet without having cut through the bed of clay, found themselves'reluctantly compelled to stop work in consequence of a portion of the shaft falling in. , • "Tom* Committee therefore found it necessary for the safe prosecution of the work to secure a quantity of slabs, so as to make the sides of the shaft secure and free from danger. , . "Our financial, position at present stands as follows-:— For labour, £6 9s • tools, £1 6d •; timber £s— total, £12 9s Gd. -. "In your Committee are •sanguine "that coal -will' be found at no great distance beloAv where the work has proceeded, but are anxious to be guided by . any- suggestions the promoters may thiiik'fit to make. " ■ • The reportwasunanimously.approved of, andrthe Chairman then suggested that a .subscription he. commenced among those -present, ?m? order, .to defray the j expense already incurred and that likely to follow. . This proposal bpihg thoroughly, approved, of'.^therlist^was at once "'commenced, and in, ; aiew minutes 'about £20. was isubscrib'ed, t most of ilie subscribers 'promising tqdouble I lir be required. 5 ; After !agreehig|tovhold7Lgie' next 5 meeting ori'Friiday the Bth.inst;- 7 -the 3 inVe ; t'ing lepai*lited.- - f -