THE Grey River Argus. THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 1869.

Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 527, 3 June 1869, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 1869.

During its last session, the Nelson Provincial Council devoted a large amount of its time and attention to the consideration of the best means to be adopted for securing the development of the coalfields of that province. The important hearing which the question has upon the future prosperity of the province was fully recognised, and some practical steps taken towards the encouragement of private enterprise in the direction indicated. A Select Committee was appointed to consider the subject, and we intend to notice that portion of their report which refers to the Brunnermine on the Grey river. It is admitted (what we all know) that the Grey coal is of excellent quality, and that thu facility and economy with which it can be worked indicate the desirability of active steps being taken to work the mine on a scale commensurate with its importance. The only wonder is that these " active steps" have not been taken long ago, and that more liberal terms were not held out by the Nelson Government to private or public companies to iuducethem to take up such a valuable property and source of wealth as this mine. The great obstacle to this has been the conditions imposed with regai'd to the construction of a railway from the mine to Cobdeu, a distance of about seveu miles, which, at the outset, would absorb a large amount of the capital of any company which might be organised to work the mine, and the liaiited and uncertain demand for coal at the port, owing to those circumstances which cannot be separated from the navigation of a bar harbor. But still there is a large aud increasing demand for coal at this port, aud very frequently the supply has not been equal to it. If properly and economically worked, a plentiful supply kept on hand for all emergencies, the price considerably reduced, and the trade fostered, there is not the slightest doubt that the demand would come up to the highest expectations of the promoters of any company. Vessels of great draught of water cannot enter the river, and it is use' ess to talk, as the Select Committee referred to did, of this port competing with Newcastle, but still a very large trade with light draught vessels and steamers could be carried on with the New Zealand ports, where it is estimated that over 100,000 tons are annually consumed. 1 There is no disguising the fact that all this depends upon the construction of a railway from the mine to the port, or some other equally expeditious and economical mode of conveyance. The recent introduction at Home of a road steamer, which, it is said would answer all the requirements for the carriage of coal from the mine (o the wharf as well as a railway, has received the consideration of the Com; raittee, in consequence of the Provincial Engineer, Mr Blackctt, expressing an opinion favorable to the invention. The

adoption of this invention would necessitate tho construction of agood gravelled road, which would also be available for the ordinary traffic of drays. The dif. ference in the cost would be considerable. It is estimated that a single line of railway of three feet and a-ha'f gauge, and including the cost of the requisite bridges, might be provided for about .£20,000, while a gravelled road suitable for the working of the roar] steamer, and for the use of common carts, could be made for between £8000 and .£IO,OOO. This is an immense difference iv the first cost, but after considering the matter the Committee resolved that " they were not prepared to recommend the purchase of a traction-engine of this description, as it has not been before the public for a sufficient length of time to enable them to conclude with certainty that it would answer the end in view, at the same time they consider that, should further experience confirm the anticipations formed of its usefulness, it, should be kept in view as an expedient which may be resorted to in case, from any cause, a railway cannot be had." What they did recommend was a modification of the conditions upon which the mine can be leased, and a survey of the proposed line of railway to be made, without delay, at the cost of the Government, in order to obtain a basis for an accurate estimate of the cost of a suitable line. An an inducement for a company to step iv and take up the lease and construct the railway, the recommendations of the Select Committee were not only adopted by the Council, but the Superintendent was also authorised to issue, by way of bonus, upon completion of the line, landscrip, available for the purchase of waste lands of the province, at the rate of .£SOO worth for each mile of railway laid down. This would amount to a subsidy of £3500 to the company. Another objection was the broad gauge of the line required by the old terms o^ the lease, but this has also been re" moved, and any company taking up tho rniue is now to be allowed to lay down a line of any gauge, not less than throe feet wide. Altogether, the Nelson Government and Council have dealt very honestly and liberally with the subject, and it is to be hoped that their endeavors will have the effect of inducing the formation of a company capable of developing the vast resources of the Brunner mine "in a manner commensurate with its importance." The resolutions adopted by the Nelson Provincial Council with regard to the coal-mines of that province I will be found in another column.