DISCOVERING WESTLAND

Hokitika Guardian, 23 September 1920, Page 4

DISCOVERING WESTLAND

LATENT lllffiOUJtOJiS.

Yesterday at the invitation of Mr L, H. Morel M.G.C., the County Chairman (Mr Bruce) accompanied by Messrs Duff (Stafford), and Chesterman (.[yijnieri) yjs)tcc| I£oitcrangi lor the pqj'pose o,f ins|iectipg the coal outcrop on Mount Camcllnick. Reaching the vicinity of the Settlors’ lime kiln, the party were joined by local residents, and after a brief inspection of the lime stone burning yorks th,e ascent of the mountain' was commenced. Mt. Camel hack holds a tremendous store of limestone/and the kiln now pfitablished puder the management of the Westland A. and P. Association, will be kept jn constant use as far as circumstances wjll permit this year. A brief inspection of the plant and locality was ipade. The lime turned out is of high quality, and its virtues are being demonstrated in the various fields of the district. Ploughing and liming are now much / moi ! e general in the Kokatahi district than heretofore, and the result is being manifested by the many green paddocks which dot the countryside. The coal for the burning of lime is brought from the Grey district and then carted into the country, and in these days of high cost has risen considerably in price. This adds in turn to the cost of the production of the lime, with the result that the settlers have been looking round for a cheaper fuel. It has long been known that there are outcrops of coal on Camelhack hill adjacent to the limekiln. In the Geological Bulletins of Westland issued under the directorship of Dr Bell there are various references to the deposits. In volumes 1 and 6 the Koiterangi coal deposits arc mentioned specially, and for domestic use, favorably. The settlers have taken up the matter of a local coal supply, and it is not unlikely it definite pavement in that direction will take place shortly. Yesterday’s visit was associated with the idea of material development, it being the intention of the settlers interested to apply for a subsidy to drive a determining tunnel, and the inspection by the County authorities was to satisfy themselves as to the promise of the project. A short ascent from the main road and the party reached a grassy clearing on the side of Camelhack. From this vantage point a magnificent panorama of the Koiterangi and Kokatahi settlements opens to the eye. Koiterangi is a more extensive settlement than most people would expect, and the very fine view of the spreading plain confirms the statement. To the left may 1)0 seen the swamp lands of Wall road. To the front the Kokatahi settlement and the Hokitika river going off to the. sea. To the right is a magnificent outlook, embracing the greater part of the two plains with the silver threads of the rivers in between, and the mountains for an impressive background. There is an area of forty or fifty thousand acres thus spread to view, and it forms a sight which leaves no doubt as to the future of Westland’s pastoral resources Visitors to the district will find- it worth while to climb the short distance to the vantage point referred to and view this land of great promise in the future for themselves. They will find that here is a new discovery of Westland, and will realise something of the latent resources of the district. With cheap coal to produce cheap lime, the great area which unfolds itself will lie turned into green paddocks carrying many times the stock now depastured, requiring additional or enlarged dairy factories, and producing many additional hundreds of tons of dairy produce, and larger herds of marketable stock for all time. While on the spot yesterday the members of the local body discussed the question of putting in a well defined track so that visitors could the more readily see the splendid view of the district from the hillside of Mt Camelhack.

Mounting upwards still, the party followed a blazed track through the native bush. At the outset the rise is gradual, but nearing the destination the way grows steeper. The cjimb, however, is not difficult, and the party had no difficulty in reaching its destination. For this part of the journey Mr Half Mackley was the guide. Mr Mackley has interested himself in the taking up of the coal lease, and looks with confidence to the final development of the deposit. The walk through the hush is pleasant and interesting. The air is delightfully fresli, and charged with the aroma of the bush is quite invigorating. Supplejacks present their tangled confusion, but they have virtues. The bushmen with the party say that where there are supplejacks in such profusion the land is good, and the fact that they grow on limestone country naturally confirms this. One experienced buslnnan of the party breaks off the top or a supplejack, and starts chewing it. He says it is meat and drink to the bush traveller — and tasting a sample of nature’s unexpected store, the statement is confirmed by one’s palate. Bird life was not very numerous even in the higher regions reached. Except for the small birds congenial to tjie locality—and rather few of those—the bird life was quite disappointing. Ferns grow in profusion and lend a graceful and distinctive beauty to the hush all round.

The way at the end of the track takes the travellers round a blind gully and there is a short, steep descent to the outcrops of coal. The overburden of earth and debris about the main seam has been cleared at different points and reveals a well defined strata of soft coal The main seam is bright and blacky and a sample tested by fire burned brightly. In quality it looked equal to the coal being carted to the kiln for Fimc-buruing, and it seemed as though nature had deposited the coal alongside the limestone so that posterity occupying the pastoral plains which the rivers wore to lay out, might utilise the thoughtfully placed deposits to practical advantage. A small quantity of the coal was picked out, and brought away, and tried in open fireplaces subsequently. It burned readily and brightly, and if the coal is there in quantity, its quality is good enough for wide general use. The seam is well defined in thickness. It has a pitch down wards at an angle of about twenty degress. Those acquainted with coal mines fully expect it to “live” down, and it is believed a prospecting tunnel

put in lower down the hillside will cut the coal, and should reveal a bettor quality inside the hill than is of course possible in the location of the outcrop where the coal lias been weather beaten for so many years. There was no difficulty in igniting a few lumps of the coal with a small lire of twigs, thus demonstrating its powers of combustion. It is stated in one analysis that there is a carbon value'of about 68 per cent in the coal, and this return for the outcrop is very promising as to the heating value of the even better coal which it is hoped will lie traced into the hill. The suggestion put to the settlers yesterday was that they should determine on a prospecting policy. The country is too steep to get » boring plant into, and the proposal was to select a site for a tunnel down the hill, and drive into the terrace for the main location. ’Advice is to be taken as to a suitalfie site to commence, prospecting operations, and then.a subsidy will be sought. The project is one of great interest to all concerned in the welfare of Westland. The magnificent deposit of valuable limestone available at Koiterangi should be used to greater advantage than it is, and cheap coal will lie a factor to that end. The resources appear to be there waiting for a full developificnt. Here is an opportunity which seized and acted upon will lead to great developments in the future, counting for the material progress of the district. The possibilities for Westland in the discovery is another example of the great benefits to be derived when the latent resources wc have around us are brought to stance of the dormant wealth to bo drawn from our great mineral resources still untouched.