STATE GOAL.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 May 1919, Page 4

STATE GOAL.

STATEMENT RY MINISTER. £pbr press association.-t-copyright.] WELLINGTON, May 25.

Some information with respect to the actvities of fiis Department in developing State coal production was given to a reporter by the Hpn. Mr MacDonald, Minister of Mines yesterday. The Minister said it had been decided to open up a new mine on the West Coast. This was the Nine Mile coalfield, which really was an extension of the Point Elizabeth Mine, “We have been boring on the site for some time,” lie said. “It is Crown land, part of the State Coal Reserve of 350 acres. The field is estimated to contain over four million tons of coal. “Tfie matter has been gone into very carefully, before coming to a decision. It is estimated that it will take two miles of line to carry the railway from ltunanga. to the new mine. “I have written to the Minister of Public Works, asking him to take the necessary steps to have a survey of a suitable line made, and I have requested that tfie work should be done with tlie utmost possible despatch, as the matter is one of extreme urgency, owing to the shortage of coal. “This blanch railway,” the Minister continued, “will have to be authorised by a special Act of Parliament, and it will take some considerable time to have the whole business in operation, it will probably take two years to open up and develop the mine, but the main thing was to tost the field and see whether it was worth developing. This lias been done.

“We have also under consideration the purchase of another coalfield, in the North Island, near Huiitlv. I am making a recommendation to the Cabinet, and a decision will probably be arrived at next week.

“We have been continuously boring at Charming Creek, near Seddonville, for tiie past three years,” said Mr. MacDonald, “Jt was decided to stop as owing to certain conditions the field coifid not bo devolppefi by the State. The reservation has now been lifted from the land and several parties of miners are winning coal there, and are selling it to different merchants. “A great deal has been said about a new coalfield near Westport, This field is about 18 miles from We tport on the Westport-Inangahua road. It would he necessary to construct twelve miles of railway, over heavy country. It is known that this coal-field has an area' of about nine miles by seven, but has never been properly tested, so as to get an estimate of the amount of coal that could be won. Until the connection by railway is made, it is of course, impossible to work the coal deposits in that locality. The coal, however, is of very good quality. 1 have inspected the mine on several occasions during the last few years, and a good many thousand tons has been mined, and used for various purposes, dredging, and so on.”

STATEMENT BY WEST’ORT LEAGUE.

WESTPORT, May 25

In reference to the statement by the -Minister of Mines regarding the difficul ties of the reconstruction of the Duller Gorge railway, members of the Westport Hailway League state the Minister is evidently misinformed, as railway eon struction is completed over the most difficult portion, and most of the re-

maining part of the route is along a natural ledge, and over flat country, and construction would he bv no means

costly. Then, in regard to the testing of the lield, the members ask what greater proof of the presence of coal in quantify is required than the soliu coal measures in which mining has already been carried on at several places just oft’ tbe roadside for coal and gold dredging and local use, and also numerous other exposed faces of big seams on both sides of the liver, the route of the railway actually passing over al2 feet seam, which dips into the mountain. The members of the Railway League also wishes to emphasise that the completion of this gap would enable large fields of coal in the vicinity of Rccifton, estimated at fifty miles by eight miles, to be developed. Westport is the natural outlet for this area.

Several mines are already opened, but their output is limited, ovine; to difficulties in getting the coal away. Coal could pour out of Westport from this lield, immediately the railway vacompleted. Evidence regarding these coal measures and the facilities with which they could be worked, was given before the Industries Commission, whose report is awaited here with great interest.