INANGAHUA COAL FIELDS

Hokitika Guardian, 5 August 1920, Page 3

INANGAHUA COAL FIELDS

It is interesting to learn from the Inangahua Times that the development of coal seams in Inangahua Valley is being exploited to some purpose in view of the approaching completion of the Otira Tunnel--and in anticipation of an outlef- at no distant date down the Duller Gorge. In Burke’s Creek district, states the Times, a railway lias been built by the Reefton Coal Company agd this connects alj the mines there, thus giving them every facility to get their product to market. At Boatnpin’s too, a large quantity of coal is being mined and transported to the railway station at Cropadnn. At Merrijigs the Clele Syndicate is getting their nupe i'n order to supply the much needed firing but the transport of this will be accomplished by way of a water flaming, the coal being sluiced for some miles before being picked up fqr- cartage.. The Empire Syndicate has acquired a, Ipase in Burke’s Creek district and has located a spam of good quality coai. A drive is being put in to tap this seam at a lower level, and hi al| probability the coal will he struck in a? day or two. The track fo-r thp tram to the mine mouth has a]so been, cleared, so that no lepgth of thue should pjapse before the piiue is producing. Further on is the Konini Mine, Reefton Coal Company ! s, and also Morris and Lear-mont-’s, the three of which are producing. There is a vast field of coal in the Buller and Inangahua Valleys wafting to be exploited as soon ns the conveniences, in the way of through railway communication are provided. It is the concern of every one in the Dominion that there should he access for it means' cheapening the production of coal, and this means a cheaper coal to the householder and to the industries dependent upon coal for power purposes.