THE WESTPORT COAL COMPANY (LIMITED.)

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3609, 5 February 1883, Page 2

THE WESTPORT COAL COMPANY (LIMITED.)

The folloAving extract Avill probably be of interest to a large number of persons in Napier Avho hold shares in the Wesport Coal Company:— Operations Averc commenced by this company tAvo months ago, AA'ith a a.ow to reopening Avork in the Wallscud mine, near Brunuerton. The old shaft, Avliich AA-as fidl of .vater, has beed jnunped out, and a iicav shaft, to be 700 ft deep, is now being- sunk in the immediate neighborhood. This latter AA-ork, it is calculated, Avill occupy fully nine months in completion. A large quantity of machinery for this mine has been ordered from England, including tAvo engines AA'ith 30in cylinders, a 30ft AVaddlc fan for A-enti-lating juirposes, and various other j.lant, the cost of the AA'hole being estimated at ! £25,000. The company has at the jircsent time three iicav steamers, specially adapted for the AVestport bar entrance, on their AA-ay out from England or in the builder's hands. The s.s. Ka.vatiri, Avhich AAill be the first to arrive, left j)ort on the 27th October, carrying 530 tons of coal and machinery, and dra\A'ing lift 2in aft and 10ft 2in for-AA-ard. She is about 300 register. Her name is Alaori for tho Buller. The AraAvaiti Avas to leaSe on the 31st of December, and tho AVarcatea aaIH be ready about the end of Alarch. The directors haA-e received an offer from a firm of ship-builders of a steamer sj)eoially constructed to carry 1200 tons on a 12ft draught. Should they determine on having- such a vessel built, she AA'ill of course be used in the intercolonial trade. At AYesport three shoots arc being constructed at the top of the AVaimangaroa incline ; Avhen these are finished there will be accommodation under the filming platform for nine Avaggons instead of tAA-o as at present, an alteration whlEliwill largely increase the output. The company arc doing aAvay AA'ith the use of horses for draAving the coals from the Avorkiug face in the mine to the tijiping platform, a distance of one mile, and are introducing aa-hat is knoAAii as the "endless chain haulage system," AA'hich is quite a novelty in Ncav Zealand. Denuiston, the little hamlet at the top of the mountain iv Avhich the scam lies, is gradually extending in size. Within the last feAV months twenty-four iicav cottages haA-c been built. The demand for the com. pauy's coal is still Aery brisk. A cargo Avas .cut last month to Noumea, Ncav Caledonia. The ship Dunedin, uoav at Port Chalmers, las taken on board 300 tons for dr_A'iu<r the •c-frig-era ting machinery on the voyage ionic. It is satisfactory to learn that the iar at AVesport is already imj.roA'ing. From lie almost daily obserA'ations taken by the larbor master, it appears that the average lej-th is uoav 13ft. 0h.., or nearly one foot [coper than at this time last year. Further surveys havo been made at the ompany's property at Grannity Creek, and L is not unlikely that the Avork of sending .own coal will be commenced at an early .ate.