THE COAL COMMISSION.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 28 February 1901, Page 2

THE COAL COMMISSION.

A meeting of the Coal Commissioners was held at tho Buck's Head Hotel, Krunner, on Tuesday. Mr Frank Wills gave evidence and said that ho had interviewed tho management of tho Wcstport Coal

Company with the object of buying the Wallscnd colliery while the machinery was on the ground, although several years afcer it W. ceased/working, and the first stipulation made bj the manager was, " You must find a market for your coal outside of New Zealand, " and of course that finished all negotiations, for the purchase of the mine. Mr Bishop, who also gave evidence, denied that the district had been made to suffer for the benefit of the Westport Coal Company. The coal in the Wallsend Mine was a dirty coal and had a good deal of stones in it. At the time they had a much better coal and quite sufficient for all their demand. He believed that certain persons did speak about the "Wallscnd Mine, but no direct offer was ever made; There was, lie believed, good coal to be got at Dobson and Coal Creek, and there might be good blocks, in the Wallscnd Mine, but that has yet to be proven. He denied that there had been any mismanagement. The Commission have finished their investigations on the Coast, and leave for Christclnirch to-morrow, where they will proceed with further investigations.