NEW COAL AREA.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 January 1920, Page 3

NEW COAL AREA.

VAST MEASURES FOUND IN ENGLAND. LONDON, Nov. 26. An announcement officially made that vast new coalfields have been discovered to the east of the Dukeries, in Notts, is arousing eager interest in commercial circles. Owing to the enterprise of the Stantop Coal and Iron Company and the Butterlev Company boring' operations which have occupied several years have revealed coal deposits of vast extent towards the east. Mr G. A.. Longden, managing director of the Stanton Company, states mat at Bolton, two miles from Alfreton, a ( hard seam as been reached, at a depth of 2000 feet in the villages of Kirklington, Bilsthorpo and Welton. Boring has been going on since 1915, and it is now proved that there are good seams capable of providing an immense tonnage output. At Kelham, near Newark, the boring has been done by the Coal and Iron Development Syndicate. , According to the testimony ot Air James Ford, of Doncaster, the wellknown mining engineer, the existence, has beep proved of an area which has added several hundred square miles to the known coal resources of the conn, try. The successful results obtained by what Mr Ford calls “this historic boring” has led to further operations at Farnfield, Ivirklington, and Wclloiv, all in a district which until recently was believed to contain no payable coal deposits. At South Loverton, on Ll.c Great Central Railway, between Retford and Lincoln, the whole ground has been proved down to the m.ddle coal measures, and within a short distance of the famous Barnsley seam. Tho outbreak of the war put a stop to more extensive operations, and the uncertainty as to the future of the coal industry generally caused the pioneer companies to stay their hands before putting down the vast capital which will be needed to develop one of the richest coalfields in the country. It is understood, however, that operations are to be vigorously renewed. Valua >lo information lias been gained, which will encourage the companies concerned td sink pits to win the well-defined seams.