THE Grey River Argus. TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 1868.

Grey River Argus, Volume VI, Issue 375, 9 June 1868, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 1868.

The subject of the disposal of the l f Bruimer" Coal Mme — better known »s the " Nelson Mine" — up the GreyRiver, h>s evoked an animated discussion in the' Nelson Provincial Council. Some of the Nelson people are so enamoured of the proposed railway from Nelson to the West Coast, as to imagine that the right of working the mine should be reserved as an additional temptation to the capitalists who it is thought may be inclined, to contract for the construction of the line. In the Council the other day a Mr Wastnev moved — " That, as in the report of Mr TVYiggj a»d in the evidence given by him before the Committee appointed for that purpose, he state 8 distinctly that it is absolutely essential tp the success of the rajlway scheme that the Brunner cpal mine should be available for any company undertaking the construction of a railway from Nelson to Cpbden and Westport, this Pouncil urgently requests the Waste L.ands Board to refrain from disposing in any way of that mine, until the negotiations i\v that work; are determined." The mover of the resolution based his argument on the opinion that the pri. vilege of working the mine constituted the most valuable consideration for constructing the railway, One of the West Coast members, Mr Dreyer, opposed the- resolution, and urged the necessity of at once enabling capitalists so disposed to take up the mine, and said that if the resolution were carried it would have the effect of causing the inhabitants of the Nelson portion of the Grey district to seek Separation. An amendment was moved by Mr Burn, to the effect — " That such arrangements only shall be made by the Waste Lands Board for the working of the mine as shall not prevent its becoming a part of the railway scheme." After a lengthy debate the amendment was earned. In other words the Council have been so foolish as to consent to making the lease practically valueless if the Waste Lands Board consent to the terms of the resolution. It is astonishing what an' amount of bungling the Nelson authorities have been guilty of with regard to this valuable mine, when by judicious action they might long ere this have caused it to be worked on a scale commensurate with its impoitance. It appears to be quite evident that the Nelson people have no adequate idea of the value of the mine, or they would never have been so foolish as they have been. The last step is about the most absurd that could 2^ossibly have been taken. Do the Council for one moment suppose that any company that has a bona fide intention to work the mine on a large scale will accept a lease with the prospect of having to relinquish their interest at some indefinite time to another body of capitalists — if such can be found*— who will undertake the construction of the Nelson and Cebden Railway ] If they do, they must hold a remarkably original opinion of the greenness — to use a vulgarism — of capitalists. To our minds, and we think to the minds of every sensible person, the amendment was if anything worse than the original resolution ; for, practically, whilst assuming to prevent the withholding of the lease of the mine from competition, it will either have the effect of preventing application

altogether, or of reducing the value of the lease. It is to be hoped that the Nelson Waste Lands Board will refuse to adopt the resolution ot the Council. Indeed we do not see how they can giye effect to it. The lease forfeited by the late Coal Company has not lapsed, and the Board has invited tenders for the purchase of its unexpired term. If after calling for applications the Bpard decides tp follow the stupid advice of the Council, the fate of the Brunner Mine fpr some years to come may be considered sealed. The Government cannot continue tp work it — indeed they have no right so to do: — and if they do they will not b,e able tp competa with private enterprise. The mine on this side the river has been ppened, and the results of the experimental drive are so assuring that we anticipate to see the mine actively worked apd a railway laid down to Greymouth in a few months. Jfc is the interest of the whole district that both mines should be worked, and the cpal trade awakened with vitality, but the cpurss taken by the Nelson Council is one that plays directly into the hands of the Clnistphurch Company The only possible and reasonable grounds for withholding the disposal of the Brunner mine would be to enable the Government to lay its advantages as a speculation before English capitalists. We regard the railway scheme so far as its rpalisation is concerned as an event tljat may possibly take effect some years hence, but we are very certain that if the N^ison Government were to send exhaustive information to seme respectable agent in London, and invite tenders for the lease of the mine, a company would soon be formed with sufficient capital to develop the coal field on the largest scale. We ai\e afraid that the vision entertained by our neighbors on the other side the river of the coal railway aud its concomitant advantages is far j distant frein realisation — thanks to the nearsightedness of the Nelson Provincial Council.