CROMWELL COAL-PIT.

Dunstan Times, Issue 209, 28 April 1866, Page 2

CROMWELL COAL-PIT.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE “ DUXSTAIx TIHES.”

Sir,—Permit me through tho. medium of your valuable journal to make a few remarks on the Dunstan correspondent of the " Daily Times " Dunrdin, in their issue of tho 30th March on the coal-mine. In his letter, he states "that for the mere cutting of a makeshift roadway down the side of the Kawarau River to the pit's-mouth, theUessecs are permitted to charge 2i>s per ton, instead of IPs as heretofore, thus incrersing th.e price to consumers in perpetuity to the extent of nearly twenty-live per cent., for an outlay o! only twenty-five pounds-" Now the fact is consumers should not pay more for the coal than they did when it was 19s at th.e mouth of the pit. If they do. the carters have the profit, ami not the lessee, for I am prepared to deliver the coal at [Cromwell at the same price as they were paying previous to the road being made. Of course, I receive an extra price per ton for making tho road—it would not pay me otherwise, hut the demand is so limited, and the expenses so great, that as yet I have not received any profit on the money laid out on the mine.

I purchased the property in August last. There was then only a very bad bridle track to the pit, and everything had to be paeked on horseback. Now, there is a good dray read which cost me over £IOO instead of "not,£'2s," as the Dunstan correspondent of the " Daily Times" intimates, and I have spared neither time nor money to put 'the mine in good working order. If I had to make " approaches as suited the convenience of the public." I am afraid the "especial benefit." I should derive from the mine would be very small indeed, but the above correspondent, who appears to so thoroughly understand the matter would pei haps like to become the possessor of this " valuable public property." if so, I shall only be too hap' to transfer my interest to him if he \i give, mc the money I have laid out on th mine, (I will not even ask him interest/ he can then " expend the capital that is required to put the mine in thorough working order and make such approaches as suited the convenience of the public." I arn, Sir, Your obedient Scrvaot, E. D. OWENS, Sole Proprietor, Skipper's Creek, April IC, ISG6.