GREY COAL HELD.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1372, 21 December 1872, Page 2

GREY COAL HELD.

■■ •" : '- ■■♦- ■•-.,. ;■-■: ,- [TO THE EDITOR.] Sir- -As it appears that the obstructive course pursued by the Superintendent of Nelson is likely to delay indefinitely the working of the coal-mine and the construction of the railway, it behoves those interested in -the prosperity of this towjj and district to devise measures fpandering his tactics abortive. I begPJrer onej to submit a plan which I believe would have this desirable effect. It is pretty generally known that that portion of the coal field which is being worked by the Nelson Government is of limited extent, and that ilw quantity jpf coal which can be obtained from' it >|s re? duced to a mete fraction, of the whole amount by the ignorant and reckless manner in which the works have been carried on ; at the same time it is known that the coal dips do*wn, and underlies the whole of the flat country lying between the Limestone Range and the Cqal Range, on the Westland side of the river. If a shaft was sunk on this flat/ a practically unlimited amount of coal could te worked easily and economically, and at any future time the drives could be extended beneath the river, so as to work the main portion of the Nelson field as well. . The coal being worked at a point considerably nearer 'to the jiort than lit© Brunner Mine, the cost of carriage would be lowered and an expensive portion -of the railway rendered unnecessary. ThY dip of the coal indicates that it; would be struck by a shaft oh the flat, at a moderate depth, and I would suggest that the General Government be urged to instruct Dr Hector, or some other, competent person to report at once on the best position for. sinking, a trial shaft; and also that they be urged to have. the work carried out forthwith. In the meantime, I have ho dbubtthere are plenty of practical men amongst your readers who could make valuable suggestions on the subject, and I hope they will not hesitate to do so. | I am, &c, • *-• ':■ -1.-v. ".:..: ■r. : -.:sv. :■'.;::'<•'> '.ilNDsx. Greymouth, Deo. 20, 1872.