OUR COAL RESOURCES.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 16 October 1901, Page 2

OUR COAL RESOURCES.

At the Harbour Board meeting last night Mr Mathieson brought up the unsatisfactory stale of the coal measures in this district, and the all but too perfuratory manner in which the Coal Commissioners had inspected the coal measures. It is a well-known fact that the Brunner mine could not last much longer, and it would be a terrible calamity if there was no coal mine in the district. Ha held that if the Foint Elizabeth mine was worked by the State it would be a tremendous success, and a great benefit to the community. He would move: “ That this board respectfully, urge upon the Government the necessity of acquiring the Grey-Point Elizabeth Coal Company’s property and to open and work same as a State coal mine ; the reason form immediate necessity of action in this im- y portani matter, being that it is fullyascertained that the Brunner mine is nearly worked out, and the main source of revenue done away with.” Mr Campbell held that the resolution should say a good deal more ; put blame upon the proper shoulders; and tell plainly that the price of coal had been raised by the mine owners, who were retarding the progress of the work. Mr Sbecdy said he had great pleasure in supporting the motion, as they had tried every means to get the Point Elizabeth Company to work the mine without success. He considered that the strongest measures should be brought to bear to got a State mine in our midst, and be pointed out that abundance of good coal was lying waiting to be developed at our very door. It would be a great calamity to the district if our coal export was stopped, as it was the main stay of the town.

Mr Petrie said it was no time to mince matters, and it should be clearly shown that the Coal Creek and Point Elizabeth. Company had, by their past inaction, retarded the industry and seriously jeopardised the finances of the Board, and he moved as an amendment—“ That the Board respectfully urge upon Government the urgent necessity of acquiring the Grey-Point Elizabeth Company’s property, and open and work same as a State coal mine. The manner in which the mine in the past has been worked having brought the coal industry in the district to a most unsatisfactory and precarious condition, and if continued is likely to jeopardise the financial position of the Board.”

Mr Bussell, in seconding the amendment said be was pleased to see the Board taking the matter in hand. The Commission had been in the district, but bo thought they had not fully gone into the matter. At his own expense he had sent parties out to bring in coal from several seams, but the Commissioners had not looked at such seams. One was half a mile long and contained more coal in it than had ever come out of Brunner.

Mr Felix Campbell said the movement *had his hearty approval. The way the coal trade was being conducted at present was very unsatisfactory, not only here but all over the colony. Mr Matheson’s motion was put and lost, and Mr Petrie’s amendment carried.