The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1873.

Evening Star, Issue 3288, 3 September 1873, Page 2

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1873.

The news from Victoria contains one item bearing very significantly on the industrial prospects of New Zealand, and especially of Otago. From the telegrams to hand from time to time, it appears that very anxious search for coal has been made in that Colony, and that the prospects are pronounced unfavorable. We are not surprised at this. It is only a confirmation of the opinion expressed by Mr Selwyn {who was for many years employed in the geological survey of Victoria), and Professor M‘Coy, of the Melbourne University, on several occasions. We have frequently drawn attention to these facts, which came to our knowledge twelve or fourteen years ago through evidence given by those able geologists before several committees of the Legislative Assembly. It is not that there is not coal in Victoria, but that it is found in seams too thin, and in situations too difficult to recoup the cost of working. Through disregarding these facts, large sums have been sunk in the attempt to establish a colliery at Cape Paterson, where there is an outcrop, and though there are thin seams cropping out from beneath the Barabool hills, there is nothing to justify the enormous cost of working for a small result. The industrial progress of Victoria must therefore depend upon imports from other Colonies, and there is no reason why New Zealand should not enjoy a full share of the profits of supplying the need. So far, Otago, as compared with New South Wales, has labored under the disadvantage of producing only brown or hydrous coal; but if there is a disadvantage in quality, the cost of production is much less, so that where its use is available, the expense is less. Otago has also the start over the rest of New Zealand in the advance made in the railway system. We are nearly ready to forward supplies, while the better article at the Grey cannot become available for export for a long time to come. If, therefore, we are, as a Province, to take advantage of our present ad vanced position, two things are necessary: first, to connect our coalfields with a safe shipping port by means of railways ; and secondly, to devise means by which existing objections to the general use of brown coal may be overcome. The first we know how to do ; the second is really equally important. If that man be a benefactor who contrived to make two blades of grass grow where only one could be produced before, he must be equally entitled to reward who devises means to bring into cheap general use what Otherwise would have been neglected as comparatively useless. We last week drew attention to Mr Skey’s experiments and their results. In pursuing the investigation he has instituted, every man, woman, and child in the Province is interested j for, if successful, it will add immeasurably to the value of the coalfields of the Province. The Provincial Government and the coalowners are I

equally interested in the result: if successful, there is room for profitable investment ot capital, which means, actually, the ability to sustain a numerous and prosperous population; and as Victoria, with its large consumption, offers a ready market for all produced above our peeds, it is the more necessary that a mode of burning lignite adapted to its peculiar nature should be discovered. A merchant, a few days ago, said, “We have been asleep in Dunedin—we are just waking up.” There is danger, however, that our awakening eyes are opened in a wrong direction. Our desire is to see sound —not merely speculative progress.