THE COAL AREAS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2159, 27 May 1914, Page 12

THE COAL AREAS

» —„ j LIFE BLOOD OF TBABE THEIR EXTENT AND PROBABLE DURATION ■ v mmnwi need® Steam coal is the .foundation »f modern eommurw and industry. Wit-lkout jt~-jis jfonv SSen-kud was in a fair way to- (feeorcr somo anmith.s ago —no trains i oould Mm, shipping vronkl !w Mte i« the i ports, the fftMWH uioat and *laiv,v- Pμ? ■{ duiMi tvsefas would Iw at a tititmlsiift, mnj almost every fa-oto-rv iu tii.« Dotiiiih ien wonltl hiivi! to ckvso its floors, Ami in wn-r tfmo nls» a jik-titii'«!.siijipiy of j ftiitel coal is flip first, psseulial to suiv j cess so for as 'the- Navy jmtl mu Im* | ptiriat sujM'WUfiG}' a«> ceucprned. Tlic first diwovwy of the Wtssi Coast tail fie? ■posits li.y J.U-. Thowas- Brumscr, <» July--16, siwiild- therefore,, raiik iio.oM ef tiis.i't'd-tettoi: days in 'the history of j tJie'iDeniiiKum. It is tliilieiitt to fccliyvo j tn-ihy that Is the vcfry ftiri.v year-d of j siiK-loißotik sojsie cai-goes rf coal *er*f j .-actJtolly sent <i«t to' Ncir Zsnkftd frew j England, and that W ponl-miiimg was (talis fer newly t«eiily-(« r o years after t'lio teiosisation of th& ootllitsy, Bimp tlio coal.-sjSiiftS of t-j.io Danmiien were first opr-wjil up <m a coniDWreial basis, swm 854 jtti'Hiwi te»s ■« coal

littd hcM olittt&bcl tfp'fo t)iG--cji.(t ol 1912, awl of this (jftantity 18i mittioft tons tfiimo train tlijs mbios of tko West Coast, ft is estiffin-tal by Mr. tliij* GeVcrriiwat Gcojosfeti that tlio Kij'ikf eoftlfickl oripiially cauteiiMHl if 43 «ifflii» tone «f e&iil. .W this quantity 12 miiliiai tons have Sae.wi- wiiicrt, teav»i.g 231 million tens in situ. Tfio gvoatoipart- trf tlus eaal coiiM not pnofit-a-Mj' lio miiiatl, exwpt ljiuk-i' grftntlj- olwi.isgod comlitieiis, attiil Xlr. Morgafl c-stitflates tlwt two-tJtiids (jf it will Iki left in tiw 0-uHiJtl. It is in liis. optaten higlil) , optnnisUo iu plftee tl-re- <i\iiiuHt.v <if isstrttflthl)li> !Ui(l biiWffiilflMS coal at pCBSOIIt 'iil Uto Bullor Md at, CO miHicJM tons. Oft tjiis bivsis Jw ptite tlto iifo of the field at t'roffi 45 to oft jwftrs.

Swtiii.naris.iftg the' »ositk>n on iho Srw^Baliicltk'■Mγ. 31oi-«p.!i said tn tho tafein of 1911: "Mw 6wy GwlSfild is 'estimated to cemtain Q3G,000,00U tons ■sf coal, of wlj.ioli abwt 6,008,000 toi?o fevo n.l»«dv !jcft« mindd, ftiitt a futtjioi' 10,000.006 tons at left** l'oft as irroe&\wa)slo in worked »r«is. Of tlw wmainiiig 620,000,000 ions, about- onefojirtSi, M\ 150,000,.000 tejis, may he mined, provided that wmditioss as roa'■Spjtnbly. favwrablo as omi bp oxptctdct pTPvaii in ■• tbo fnt«r&. Gwlar ajiwst ideal fwturd coivjitioßS jwss.itji.y eue-lmtf, * 800.000,000 tons, may 1)9 ft>ewi«n. tho.se estiflratei «ssaino that areshcfl Gftiii mil l>o jH'ofitaijly utilised in Uio future-. Tte ioiv psTCMitage uf prnfitaiito pxti-n.Bti.o-tt is tine' mainly w awl irroKiilaf folding. Tho estimate of utn quantity of coal in the giomul and of tlw n-Mofilit that can be profitabjy eS-tra-cted is based wi an intprprotation of tfe field oviddico as optimistic s\s is jtisWRub'sG." . . .

TbeKß two areas comprise the principal ornilfislfis iji tiu?. West Ojasi. In tlio Inanttiihua Valley tlicte is a large area holding brown coal of excellent quality for housishokl purposes. Mr. Morgan stated in his evidence befoi-e tSao Westj)ort Harbour Comnitssidn in October last that, iiicluslins the Wccftoo district, perhaps 10,000,000 tons of eoal might bo wnsidered proved in the liiaKgaluia fickl. ■ In the Briglstoii-Charlestoffl district, on the sea coast south of Westpnrt, there is ft eonsiflorabl© nmotint of lignite. iViOJ'o siritablo for locnl tiRB-thaji export. Ttio proved quantity of . efln! he-re is estimntcti fey Mr. Morgan at T,000,C00 ioisfi. Ten miles souUt-wpst of CTiariesbat there is a six foot snain of nntliraci*i> in the vnlloy 'of thp fox River.

Thin seams of pifaeh-coa) occur in tkf DttHor Gorge Cast of Hawk's t'r.-lg, siiid tlipt'fl are BiiH'orows ontereiw of Imwji coal in tfei* same locality sit Burlo.y's, Natla Cresk, TliroMtiaiiiwi ¥hl, HU\#. Crook, otc,, 'Dip coitl is stfrtml to liefciwf iji wnter utiil siilplinr than the Clwrlostej Usnifcp, ami an cxrrlJont «Kii for lutwwrtloJi! »sb. Tlio rswil-bnar- !«!> nroa iiidicateJ liy the oiileropii is consWpvalile. Isolated nfeas ofroal cxisi all "{lie way rlnwn the wast to Jackson's Kay, wJu'revnr Uμ* cwl leeasiir-cs Iwvft 'lioeti jjrolcek'd ffOin ihc scour of (.he iroKirooiiis- of Hip' (.'rent "lacial jwi-iofl. 'l'lip«i> HpMk am iii«rlirji!]y univvfiloraiJ amt-po-isilily h(iri«jjs will prnve llic'liwr-r (•(ml'hpfis J!) be iiitsujt- unde iJie oi-or-lyiiis; drifts. Need tcr Consfltvatian, It is obvious Jiorj'i Iho -ahovp that tlio coal sapfiliec BV'ois oa the JQ»miii»

ion's most imjiflrtant fields ore by no lire-asiii unlimited. Those acquainted with, the fields and )'» a position So jisdgo- will differ widciy in estimating Ibeii' content, but aJmosi'itil are asrocd on the iif-p:! for <Mjnsfrvation'. This is partii-iilrti'i,v tile e.jso with regard t» tlui supjilios of hijia-clnss com!, the (juaiitity of which is Imnowiiat limitod. Jliifh •,vastf' has (K'i'iiri'wl on every roaHieict. Mr. AlofUTiii, for instance, in liis review of tho conditions in the ttrcy Hekl, stat-ps that if present. cojiilitieM j)rfl-V-uil in all respects »<rt oim-teiith ' <i.f the ciml in the «rohm{ wiii nfo1)a!»lj" ever ho oxtraetod. if on the other haw,! every effort possible is wiiutt? to iinpro-vt! 1 he ccoiiotnic conditions, thon, provided tiio v.-orWs demand for t'-nal ineroases with iiift ftdvoiieo of jJopuktion an-d of eivilisaUoH m the saino ratio as in tJio last oontufy, jM'pbahlj , ejifc-fnurtli, fflid vierhaps uwre of ttif mil will be yroittiihlv minod and "ntilvsctJ. It lias long liotni oiK' of tho <;o.ni-en-tiqnx of Wentport resadents that tiso i.iihVa.V now in oohtsc of ronstructkn Vγ tlu> Biallcr River should lie jjusireil ■ oil to junction « - itli the- line fwitj Sccfton us rajwdly os possible. A gap of oijsv }.(J or 17 iui!es tcparntss ifeo ra-il-heads aiid wit)> this -jillw! in it woivkl: hn jirifiSiWe to draw on tte hi;r supjjjies of firown cent in liiangahiia, Tall-sy aiwl ll»e Bultor Gorjjo ooinatry. Thjs coal is cxcelkfiit for liousL'ho'hJ jjiirposoS) ;nid it eertainly seems ft pity that tho field shrtnlil F)B lyiiig .un««'vc-I(i]i.ed white S'l) much fine- steam cosil is lirriiiu; wasted jit hoil-S-oii'.iW. SCWtt-loS tlwOßgJlOßt tfefi ' Dominion'. . ■ . ■ Opening of ihg mw Ftetds. . ■ Tlic- firs-t discovery °f eo:\\ <r-n tho West j

Oo.fwit, as stated a : boyo, : -was ino-do'to , 1847 by Sir. ttiwiiits Bwnw. So weilteiowii surveyor anil extferar, wto imtkiiHt an otttcwp flu the- Miii?s of tho Grey KivW, «We Bruimeffcoti. itflW 'st-nrak, '11m first ftttoiivpt at limiiug was apparently made in IBslj when 27 to.n : s of eaal was bright ten tlm Grny Ei:«'f- to boats iiiui exerted' b}*. atcjifli.er to Kelson, 3ff. D,fat-ttof Ufci*y ; -Ik*! &a first rights- ■nfttl niiiwHl t-lio fk-st cp?iL lii- 1.863 a concern jvirowtt as tiro BplIntat Syml-len.te sequi.m! rt {oa.se of tlic BniTO&r Mine, and worked ft for- Sptflo years. TJ-ie W,oi?S i'aiteil ,to WJt-if -(SXit an i.iH<lerfcEj3sijip: to cwßSfcrjmfc a iSiilw-fty fcti eieyniaiitlij'iß'ri the Siefesm ipftjviijr iMftl fAo-voj-Hirent ea-nootlcd tJio teso, jof-tkT fri-f ssme tfaftD work's! the juww ,as ft.puit* lie concern, .On JfwlWai'y ,1, 1587-4, fl- feasoof tiw Mirtio Wfls gi'iitttcd to Jtcasrs, Hfwtes) irerf iM.'C.v.thy, am in ■iferij t-iio k-nso wnS tfaJ'sfofrod te the lifss.mwf'Cpa.l Couijway, si'dt t-ffe ycafs lute to Jtr. s| : :u'tiii Keiioocfy.." Tho fi'wn 'fl-rcynwirtb f:o w.ro Brimwr Aline \ras cernjstetcd in flm'l f#r a niiroka- of yea tlio miiio pfea*-s to lwi'o l)etiM -ivoj-kcfj *-kli a fa-it , measure of success. Ai'te 1 variws cliiuskos tltti <Jrcy Valley. Coal Company was i'ftiwc? Mj ISSjS, tlii 'Wcstporfc f&aJ Cnftvpany, Keiiftody Bros,, Am. the thiisM! Skitnvsiiip <?Qim!m\y teWtijg tfto pi'iftcipal iwto.i ! i>.6t.s. fiiis cwci'rn took in-er tUt> Brujinor teiso, iogwUioi , with otltw pi'orii'rtkw, and for some yo.iw, Uii.VJWtl add escorted all iliP. ro:\l pro-' flucod in ilie OfdyHiovitlt district-, A«otte' oliwifjo canio i-U WOS, wheji til* !'onvpn.n.y's mterosis in ftp- Brwttticr Iras? w*ro trmisfaTral to t!i!} Gi-isy-mft«i,li-]*oanfc Elisailwfi Knikny &pA Coal Company, Ltfi. In DeesMnbw, lt!ti(s, work irt tlw old .BrMinoi , 3IW «i>asefl> tho pilfoirK. 'iwvijir; lweh extracted fts f;ir ■as iwssfblp. Opc-raiiari.s ;i« at proscttf lieiiiit conducted in » n*w »>ctiou of tlw lij'TuViiw loase, IOMWH (i--s this St. KiWa Mill*. It is fknihtffil wljcUict tlw Miiw nroved -t partifularly ycnnnicratsvo siivns'tHient for'ilie inajnrity of its wmjer•fllis owneffi.

"Fl-!** W'allSeiKl Mine liogftn operations iji 1370 V T-nvt, H iivt, T/it-ii, niatiy fXiflienJtirs, and its history is (Isfiktsll.'t'ii fallow. The inilifi was cJosml down tjuriug the Strike of 18&f), i»wi tho ltiacbijuwy »fis fjisnuMitlofl jirtil jrmovcd years ago. Other oiirly GiifcprpWses in the feey Valley wvc t-1w CoftKpit I-fcith Cofflptinv," epi'Hct? in TSTq wA in }593: and tU-e "fyiwsKfc mine, in opepa* iiioii from ISBS b> Wfii, when tliei ttoriiin»s vw* (tootled

tiift Biselibai! rsino, • TEro VJloK'libaU miiio is the most irapor'taHt f.rflJor,v in tta fir-py kpart fixwii thf Stsrto miws. It hpgj>n o[H>n'.lifl>i* by lease of ISM-I. nkw in JiUtiiar.v,' ISP6. At a kimtalf ilio laad was grau<«t to tto Jlidlam] 'Railway Ciwnjjan.v, who soW it to t.'io talo Sir Kilwisi Itevics, Train wlioso vflpJVEontativds lk> «mpany hftlots in least , of tiift criijtliel sroa, umi in wtow it. pays a royalty on all enal miued. .iWtivi, oporetlajis hi'a-yn iit Oitetwr, 1893, awl ftfliur sdftiH cartv sti-Mijgle? the mine' was put ort » HVefitahle tiasis. 'Hie imitp is nl«>n(. twoi\ty-lwr» mill's distant hy rail iixsin OrpyiHmith, hk<l is rosjrimrt hy i» hviiivfli line- from .111 ■tin-' nilway to Rrol'lnn, C~itt.il rpi-rtiliy ik<> cisiii n'-iiK irnn'-porinii from llt-p miw _to N'fiihpri , staliiiH l»y mkjhir of an ai>ri«S (rilin iioririv fo'd" in a»i} erected at« cost <?f £29,000. This tra.m»

way, tliotigh a find pi«m of w&rk ftf it* J };i«v.i, had <«i!j a Kraited cajjacity (aiwut fi!) toil* an lioiu , ), aisii' was subjwJt to froqiifciit breakdowns. Sitim Kaymnhar, itKjy, tho branch railway from i%;i!ier« liita teen available- for traiis|)onaxwn pUFpoiscsj, and it- kas i*ecu poesibtejMnsklifraiilv h> increase tho otU)i«t, Somu Sflt) men arc at pjrscirt employed in »'jd about the mine, exclusive of thft staff, 'i'lio dutinvt is stoiidily growing, ft ml on one day a week or two agf touched WOO tons, Jim,! broke all vrovi■ous records for tho mine. Tho flHjtjHtt last y<'.ar was uatufall) , seriously atfectci} by the strilsc, awl reached only 1-Ws-O\iO 'tons, as against Btia.B7S toiiß in 1912. Tho 'team cetitaius two scapis of eda! lying regularly ai«l ti-uifarmij-, aiifj we tamo lias tesii i'ottnd io tc.uiore free from faulting tliaii »ny s'tliet ©e (,h'» lirey coaMickl. The *©at is an ■leiifc stesm -coal, a:»(J is vajiiftlilo Sis rt| gas prarfiicjtt- and $w hei!sehpl4 ■ftiir-i pases, boisijj eaaHj- rgiMttd aiid Riving oil iiitenssc Ireat wiA cntif ely 'C.biis»f>j<;d. Tho botiom searn fe an. ayora.BO t(iw!t* ness of JSft., tbe. *;oai Iwinp getiMiVlly' foriglifc -ami haftl, auA as a 'rfe.imi -efteij (ipssos'sing high cvrtnarativo -jJoWfer. 'i':!i.*; toy seai-s"i»'vfages Sit, Jft tkrefefiss, awl; is Ijright iitwl very lisvrd; Owing to the liivMtity 'of felie coal ui)-. dor some -tlretUiistaiiftoi;, te s.ppHtoiieoun eGWbnsJiijn, the mine is Hot w.oifed oh til© jwrcl and pillar sysfeiiv ttftuifl 'in Jfow Zealand, but is divHcd into mne\f, so .arnuigi'd that 3 fire caij ha. ifioia'tod ffoiii tho w?st nf ttte wlna-.bj' , at Hvc- , ' most- two stepjjfngs. TJiiJ psiiels are; each 150 yattis Ijy SOB.ya : rda ( aijd when; , - owe iv(jA ; .is CGftirtßiiCnd !in a paMi, tlift coal troiii i-t.is oxtraetod is α-apnlly as possible, . . rh.e company ov.m 9 fleftt ef t«icc ■ cdlliers, fclis Nga'lalht :gyO9 tffihs, 'aiitl. tfe Ngatoro jjnti JJphofe., cocli- 0? MO Ittms. ' ' ' . j Tho State' aitties, !'

A iiesv factor J» tli* defceJopmc.fit '<sf: Hie cwlTreMs *rM tlio ac(iftisitte by tbo ■ , State of -the fomit EJ-izabefii -Cslliwy M , ; I9ft2, Mtiing lias ten «affie<3. on on the, property, wiiffa IS??; rvilil tiWi GflWiii liieflt, fw&ife liuwliastpg tiifl tens-i! of ' U» Q^iwifttlt-Paifit■s&!(*<&& .ll&jlwy n.«<l &«1 Company, staiitei!; hiiofti five miles from Cis-eyinautti., I'csftrv&'l a Istfge; |e»ft of attjoifliftg cottWy, ftc rafl-; ■ Way tiy ihe company tfftS tompteed, K?d Jietiv* .flifcifta .■ he»«'n. Tito ArSt «ir4 *iiS' sM[ipa .away '■ wfoftt Jwe. 100*. Oojtl ef gebl qtiaijty.: to bc« pmdiiced from flic minfe wer sine*) but owing to ttw fi-eijfteufj- <»■; faults iitifl ttie OTrtftig. out of jfto seam to tlifi dip, it is bclVetl tfia-t tJvo lafofit- : JiWc fiife , of ttip iftiiie («wr Isiiown us, ' ife Paltub Eli*rrispth KiK 1 Sis!* -L-C&-ifcrvj -vvi.ll pnibaJily nw os«»«fl fwtv, %Avri|6s3' Write afl!:pJppiW«tsy ■ iJ % "YS)7 %^ ; ns d^HW. : t6o ; opwittK uj? o:f 3 ii«w Stato St-iive at l%jiit tafewtatfc ■ Diri-ctoiSiiffrti *Offi -bo-., , ■ : fr®Hii Ipßi'wiit<i ik" ittAlieC aSut thfe -jmaafe- BfHa&t 5 : ve.iv To foacli tlve «inc W railway ivW «stcral«cl n distasrce <«'f tbreo imlos {row Uw 'No. 1 Mine., i'lvo """o »s : sHwated "i escGodiugSj' Wte» fl l * l . krfj«n 3«i3 %; fcaal bc»«s ta elevation Irosn BOOft.. to uftar2000ft. sfew sea level,. Ito J»ii«*- : ihst- cf fee wflrkji.'jlfr.sSMW f. is fl*s)«*(l, ivftfl « calWitoMd tjtiti ttare is a «viW)lo «t teas* 66 n#io«. eovst "ivil'i ha foitni fl-wlfiiWof.. nvo.flc-. : tteif <if to mSles: of W to,,conv<;y the ««>6 to;. tW sferasft .'.'Wbs. and .sftreais. - flw : : «soM«in'' : has l>6e« d ' rf 20015 i<siiS 0 (fe*- I* -w sW iho f* dm feeHiM»io«te o fIH hn«i ef trade «io» «f cfllo <s4! tte Ijjehast flwlrty- ■ wfl far liousaliaW t:i)«tn>j)i;iQn> _ fcWidßii-orfH tli«WiU« «,*« ■taut 3&' mites to tail Iran « S nUn wnnircU* tltt Go**niWrtlt « iiJOl t:t was cJ-osud do«ji attlw «ftc rf'Maxdi, all jM'yoWto «od ,ffi(?v l*tc«.' Atewii »5,0W has -btw to'the in ceWwc'Han witft tj, P tttes,'awl also teii spent nut ef tfe jvilflo rfivpivne on ofevclojrtii£Hfc wfl<-'

TOe Paparta Go.rn.pSny. Tte I'anaVoa Ooai Ctfm.pawy «f? in J9o§ t« ivflric a,lca«Q <W a '° ■i'Mwtea B;v»ro near Motrat litovy* Alter myitis Gifef«l Sijreevs, Jii&'canV ' tmsff vi.mtortook •extensive cios-etepiivent works, hiclßciwig fte smnstniiSUon or * raftwy ivr'Mi *'««>*» i«fl) <tf ft g«Wo tf 1 iji 23 torn Dtektoll to Boa* Wβ tirs* ceal ivas ■sWpjtfd » year Wo ix»nt]jKKiie.s sMpi** l 2M>9fi tons trow Gtcymaiitlu North BTUtiner, TiwKowh B-i-tfmrci- Coal CflrtjjPW-. Ui. iws been engaged snw Wte m tteVfltopiHß an ■»»•«« «* IWO aws T?' esWt <}f tteo Old BrtiH«er fcsso, .ft ml to? also «9*m-«i otiutf uunfatg «#»■ J , **: rfnrt-ion tafiim in 1919, «l. tee .vetf W a« V«8 toiw. m the higlwr s-actfoiis of ite ooife«T Iwe }'»«« ' disappoiiitißigv ' : TH.o etU'cr Minos. Elsedicro in this issue will Its;*»«d •; tlio Ml -sterv of t-Jie fotuntag and: whoso ■cellierios Me &O most |«"; alsa 'appears <rf tha.,apw««eas tf] tvrti cworils aw « B vv- the of'y^" panics hi aetivfl ojicjcatiaw *n tho Ifliller be A 9 «f tho" «#* <*«Urt* «»; iW Jlossrs. and. Boam, of \\&t* ., port, wto jirtvft loiig.TjctJj f^'w^i iiv. H is. proposed to put <v »ilifiis stOHrt'fi.gfloil iiortvsQliala c<jal -can Vo {jut in AVcstpflA rt 9a, of lO*. per toil ■ Cool tea ten !*Nd «li Jf. iHsiiy wars : piist, ««rt &ost ■»£ t!r<s' aawte'WWW Gb:tiM)i,ewj:r StejVjn cofel Awn w»iH-r»as.-*« 'thsM , teijses, A Wfr ■ tilv of Jfcdttii eonlt iwe Also gaw ttottin - to ' «TOn«nit'li fer ■dwtnistie Witfiijrtp-. twii itef, bvit it is stoioa that to ■ ißiiwiy ffo«Wt. tJip cteVM«*l'' ] Ujo iniiinsaJnMi wiS fWwlj , . wfiovvc iwre tta<m»o!! wto) <"h* CB*vay is;