THE BRUNNER COAL MINE.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1216, 21 June 1872, Page 2

THE BRUNNER COAL MINE.

With regard to the proposed tramway to this mine, ■ the following proceedings are reported by the Colonist, as having taken place in the Nelson Provincial Council :— The Provincial Secretary moved the following resolutions : — / "1. That, in the opinion of this Council, the proper development of the < Brim* ncr Mine coal trade depends entirely upon the coal being delivered at the port at the lowest possible rate, and the supply being regular and equal to the demand. "2. That, in order to maintain and; extend the trade of the Brunner Mine* until a locomotive railway can be constructed, a wooden tramway should be laid down between the Brunner Mine and the town of Cobden, provided the cost does not exceed the sum of £5000." With reference to the first resolution, it was hardly necessary to make any re- . mark, as it must be plain to everyone that in order to compete successfully with - other coal mines, the c6al must be brought „ to the port of Grey as cheaply as possible; otherwise the high price of freight from the Grey to other ports Would make thg % selling price of the ooal at that port So high that it would be virtually shut out of the market. With respect to the Be- 1 r cond resolution, that a wooden tramway - should be laid from the Brunner mine to the town of Cobden, he pointed out that for many years past the inability to ob-, , / tain a regular supply of coal had been a great drawback to the coal trade, and loss - to the shipping interests. A railway ;',. had been talked of for dome years, but J never made, and he doubted if it ever * would be ; and, in any case, should the Government determine to make it, it would be atleasttwo or three yearsbeforeit would be opened, and in the 'meantime the tram- : way would not only extend the coal trade, give constant employment to the coal miners, and remove the difficulties now existing in the way of a regular supply, bnt it would' considerably reduce the price of coal, and the whole cost of the .tram- H way, he would be able to show, would be" recouped within two years after completion. That some steps should be taken pending the construction of the railway to secure a better and more regular means of bringing the coal to the port must be admitted, and unless some steps be taken to that end without delay, he believed the mine would be closed. The Government ' would be unable to keep the miners, employed without means of getting the coal' 1 ; away ; and the boating trade is not so"';'/-' well carried on as it used to be, as t^ere, are not so many boats, and the hoatmen .; can find more remunerative employment * in taking up goods for Reef ton. He estimated that the tramway could be con- ' structed at much less than LSOOO, but he would say LSOOO as the outside cost.- -The • carriage of 14,000 tons of coal to the port per annum, which was a moderate quantity, would, for two yearsj at 4s per ton,? give L 6600, less working expenses, at say.' L2OOO per annum, L 3600. Then there was" the additional profit on coal, as at least 2s per ton would be- saved, if regular employment could be found fop the miiiers; and 14,000 tons, at 2s, tor two years, would give L2BOO, and a total of L 6400 in two years, for an outlay of LSOOO, and leave a profit of LI4OO for interest of money, arid other contingencies;. ...,-, ,; Mr Luckie seconded, the motion. At no time, he said, for years back had there been greater need for speedy action in the matter of coal, for at this moment coal in Nelson was selling at from L 3 to L 4 per ton, and hardly obtainable at that price. In fact there was scarcely any coal in the • place, and other towns in New Zealand w ere in a similar condition. Such a state of thinga was not creditable to the Govern« ment of New Zealand, the General Go* • vernment as well as Provincial, Governments, which, after many years of talking about coal that abounded in the Colony, yet permitted a scarcity like what now

existed. One ot the most fatting articles of produce, always provided with a safe market, was negleoted, although our coal imports took away annually a vast sum of money which onght to be retained to increase onr own wages fund. All that was wanted at the Brunner mino was a coal line. He thought the great trunk at the Grey was not so urgent as this line, which could be made promptly and cheaply. He suggested the propriety of considering whether or not the Government might not avail itself of an offer to purchase the late Dun Mountain Company's rails, and use a small locomotive on the line instead of horses, which would cost more than the engine. He also strongly urged the propriety of the Government extending some further aid to the Collingwood Coal Company, whose works had been very favorably spoken of by Dr. Hector, and were likely to be assisted by the General Government. That company had been stopped at a promising time, simply because the bonus from the Provincial Government had been stopped, although a year ago a vote was given by the Council. This matter at present ought not to be neglected, and he hoped it would not be. Mr Gninness opposed the construction of a tramway ; he did not think it would pay ; he referred to the great cost of continued wear and tear of wooden rails, and agreed with Mr Luckie as to the suggestion of putting down iron rails. He said he had been in telegraphic communication with Mr Beeves, the Minister for Public Works, who had stated in telegrams that the Grey line on the south side of the river would go on at once if Mr Brogden's tenders were satisfactory, factß which he said met the arguments that there was little likelihood of this line being proceeded with. Be pointed out that there was no wharf at Cobden, and stated various objections to the expenditure, concluding by proposing that the work should be carried out by a plan of payment in land ; but the amendment was not seconded. After remarks from Mr Gibbs and Mr F. Kelling in support of the motion, and from Mr Collins in opposition, and some general discussion, The Provincial Secretary said in reply, that the Government had not recommended iron rails, as the tramway might only be required for two years. If the railway should not be constructed^ iron frails could afterwards be laid down, as it > wa? proposed to have the line so constructed that it would answer for a locomotive line with very slight alteration ;' in fact, it would be necessary to have a wooden tramway, very well constructed, to carry the heavy traffic. He hoped the Council would pass the resolutions, and enable the Government to carry out a desirable and reproductive work without delay. The resolutions were carried on the voices.