THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 1871.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 812, 4 March 1871, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 1871.

The beneficial disposal of the Coal Field Reserve is one of the most important questions affecting the future welfare of this port and district. Although the in- ] terests of the district are at present chiefly confined to one branch of industry— gold mmmg — the time must come when those who have given hostages to fortune here must look to other and more permanent sources of Iprosperity. Rich as our gold fields are, every day tends towards their ultimate exhaustion, and the history of other gold-producing countries unnristakeably proves that without other and more lasting resources than mere gold mining no security is afforded for their permanent welfare. In Australia, and notably in California, we find that the decadence of the gold mines has been more than compensated by the growth of agriculture, and the development of other industries. In New Zealand we also have a similar example on a minor scale in the case of Otago, where gold mining has been, as it were, the handmaid of agriculture. Here, in Westland, the circumstances are not such as to warrant any high expectation that gold mining can be readily supplanted or profitably replaced by agriculture — at any rate for many years to come. The land is fertile undoubtedly, and the climate is genial to . agriculture, but the area that can be readily appropriated to that purpose is coparatively limited, although probably even the densest forest land will ultimately be subdued. Under such a condition of things it becomes a mosi serious matter for us to consider what other sources of a valuable character we possess other than gold, upon which to base our future prosperity? Fortunately for this particular district we have a most valuable, but at present dormant, source of wealth in the extensive coal field of the Grey River — a field the real richness of ■which we are ignoaact, bat with regard to which we have evidence enough to justify the most sanguine expectations. It may have been thought somewhat romantic to dream of Greymouth becoming a second Newcastle, with all the concomitants of railways, laden ships, and the bustle of profitable commerce. But why should not all these things be possible ? There is the coal — the best in the world, and practically in unlimited quantity. The Colony alone could consume all we could raise, and if it could not, there are inexhaustible markets beyond the seas. We say it is so far from an idle dream, that it can be realised if only the proper steps are taken for that object — we go further, and say that unless these steps are taken, the Grey District will gradually decline and sink, and all the capital that has been expended in property will be thrown away. The proper working and development of the Coal Field i 3 a matter of vital necessity to the inhabitants of the district, and would be an. euonaou* benaftt to the. Ctofony at large. Hot? fearfully mismanaged, the Nelson portion of the seam has been is too well known for us to comment further upon it on this occasion — it is sufficient for us to say that, the mine has been opened five years, it is difficult for the trivial demand at this place to be satisfied. That portion of the seam that exists on the south side of the river has suffered still worse treatment, for it has simply been locked up altogether. It is ridiculous to talk of it as being in any way inferior to that on the Nelson side. The seam is identical with that on the north bank of the river, and although it dips downward, and the coal may cost a little more to win, the coal is there. This fact has been established, and there is every reason to believe that it extends over a vast area, and probably the fact of its lying deeper will constitute it a better and more profitable seam than that at Brunnerton. Hitherto little beyond superficial prospecting has been done towards testing the Coal Reserve, excepting short drives made some time ago by Messrs Kilgour and Perotti. The Canterbury Company, which held a lease of the whole Reserve, did nothing but blaze a line for an intended railway, and now this magnificent property is lying absolutely idle. In another column we publish some correspondence that has passed between the General Government and the late County Chairman with regard to the disposition of the Coal Reserve, and probably it will result in not only arousing thorough attention to the importance of this estate, but in steps being taken towards its development. In commenting upon the correspondence referred to, we may put aside that portion which relates to the invalidity of the original reservation, and confine ourselves chiefly to the proposal of the Government with regard to the disposition of the reserve. The Coal Reserve contains 5000 acres, and this large area was set aside as being supposed to be the extent of the coal-bearing ground, although there is |no [evidence that there waß any basis for the assumption. It may possibly all be coal-bearing, but the late Chief Surveyor of Westland and Mr Hoos hold a different opinion, and consider that only 2000 out of the 5000 acres can be fairly included in a Cual Keserve. But whether this be the case or not the reserve is a very valuable one, and Mr Hoos some time ago endeavored to induce the General Government to vest it in the County Corporation. The Government on the other hand — keeping in mind the original purpose of the Reserve, viz., "for the iiGprovement and maintenance of the navigation of the River Grey," deserve that at least a portion shall be applied as an endowment of the Borough of Greymouth to assist that body in defraying the cost of river works, The Colonial Secretary intimates that the 3000 acres of what is supposed to be the non-coal bearing portion shall be set aside as an endowmtnt to the Borough, aud that the remainder will be dealt with by the Government, and the proceeds handed to the County. The Colonial Secretary has invited the opinion of the.Corporation

of Greymouth en the matter, and the Borough Council will, no doubt, discuss the subject thoroughly. We venture to offer our own views on the subject, which are as follows -.—That the whole of the Reserve should be set aside as an endowment, iwt for the Borough Counoil,|but for the special purpose of improving and maintaining the navigation of the port, to be administered by trustees appointed for the purpose. It is absolutely necessary, for the successful working of the Coal Field, that the port should be made as accessible as possible to shipping, and that proper facilities should be provided for loading. It is quite within reasonable bounds of possibility that the bar of the river can be deepened by means of a close embankment of the river, and, if necessary, a breakwater at the entrance. But it is not within the bounds of possibility that the Corporation of Greymouth could accomplish these works with their ordinary revenue. A permanent and special fund is needed for this expenditure, which could be found in the rents and royalties on coal, and wharf and tonnage dues. There is, however, a great objection to the whole Reserve being either vested in the Borough Council, or applied as an endowment for that body. The Governor could devote the Reserve to that purpose, but he could not fetter it with any obligation on the part of the Council to apply the fund to any specific purpose. The Borough Council could do what it liked with the money and spend it on river works or street improvements as it thought fit. The proper, and indeed the only proper manner in which to deal satisfactorily with the Reserve, and secure a certain means of preserving the navigation of the port, would be for the Government to exercise its power of control and disposal of the whole area, and set aside the rent 3or royalties to be paid to a Harbor Board, which f Board should also receive all wharf and tonnage dues, and apply them expressly to the purposes of their trust. We believe that there would be little difficulty in inducing the Government to consent to an arrangement of the kind, and efforts should be made in that direction. It would be impolitic to have the Reserve vested in the Borough Council, to deal with as that j body thought fit, and on general grounds the navigation of the port is a matter hardly of a municipal character. In all ports where costly works have to be undertaken they are generally placed under the supervision and management of a distinct body. This subject, however, cannot be exhausted in the limits of a single article, and we shall devote further attention to it in our next issue.