NEW ZEALAND COAL.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 16, Issue 816, 25 August 1870, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND COAL.

The Evening Post says: —We have several times of late alluded to the value of the coal deposits of the Colony, and condemned the inertness which allows them to be undeveloped, while large quantities of coal are yearly imported from beyond sea. Mr Stafford, as out* reader are aware, moved for a return of all the coal imported into New Zealand since 1840. The return in answer has been presented to the House, embracing, however, only the years from 1853 to 1869 inclusive, and from it we learn that the quantity imported during those 18 years is as follows:—

The Southern Cross, in an article on this subject, states the quality and value of the coals obtained at the Kawa Kawa mine since the works began, about two years ago, to be :

The Cross quotes the following paragraph from the juror's reports, N.Z. Exhibition, 1865 : —" A country without coal is deprived of, perhaps, the most powerful agent of civilisation. In these clays of steam-engines, steamboats, and railways, on the use of which we are so dependent for commercial intercourse, and the provision of innumerable wants, coal, the prime mover of all this vast machinery is an absolute necessity ; ?nd if it be not provided within our own country, we must draw our supplies at great cost from other places.." Adding—" Let us, as a community, lay these words to heart, and endeavour to take advantage of the great natural supplies of wealth placed within our reach."

Tons. Auckland .. 112,874| New Plymouth 2,385 Wellington .. 143,482£ Wuirau 233 Nelson .. 85,381. Hokitika 1,957 Timaru 3,642 Dunedin .. 203.220 Bluff and Riverton ... 2,04H Mongonui 147 Wanganui 5,153 Napier .. 11,057 Picton 216 Westport 325 Lyttelton .. 118,492f Oamaru 4,907 Invercargill 5,114 Chatham Island 2 Total ... . .. 696,632f Total value.. . £1,324,030

Coals and Slack. Valne. Tons. £ s. Year ending 30th April, 1869 12,153 1,840 1 Year ending 30th April, 1870 20,483 13,581 0 Month ending 31st May 2,254 1,520 19 Month ending 30th June 2,368 1,587 19 d. 6 0 0 0 37,258 £25,529 19 6