Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star FRIDAY, SEPT. 24th, 1920. LOCAL COAL.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 September 1920, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star FRIDAY, SEPT. 24th, 1920. LOCAL COAL.

“It is just possible that in places the coal seams at Koiterangi may be found to yield coal of marketable quality which could be used lo eally.’’ The above is an extract from Mr Percy G. Morgan’s report of tlie coal seams discovered by his party on Mount Camelback, Koiterangi. Lately local interest has centred in the outcrop with a view to its exploitation. The mountain contains a vast field of limestone, and experience has proved its value fbr agricultural purposes. Referring again to Mr Morgan’s report, he says “some of the Koiterangi limestone is well suited for limemaking purposes. It has been shown (he continues) that the application of caustic lime is of the greatest benefit to Westland soils, because it liberates the otherwise unavailable potash, of which there is an abundance in the soil.” The limestone deposit has been worked now to a considerable extent at Koiterangi and the settlers are alive to its value. As a

matter of fact their lime kilp. is only about, a mile in a. direct lino from the coa l seam A At present !it js costing not less than 50/- per ton to purchase and take coal to Koiterangi to burn the limestone, yet there is available near at hand, local coal as good in quality as the supply costing the high figure referred to. The cost of the coal delivered on the works, adds of course to the cost of the lime and by using the local product a. big cut could be made in this productive cost ; and thus

give tlio farmers a fertiliser at greatly reduced price. Its wider use would make a remarkable difference to the productivity of the soils and now that the plough is coming into such general use throughout the Kokatahi and Koiterangi districts, the value of cheap lime cannot be over-estimated. What is wrong, therefore with a develop ment of the coaT seams for local use at all events? The outcrop is high |ip on the hill, but a drive put in lower down might cut the seam at a point where it could he operated to better advantage. Nature has a way of supplying the ingredients she requires, and the facjt (Chat the limestone ajtjd coal are in jnxjta position to each other and so adjacent to the jif^e-hungering old, ill|usitratos nature's scheme of bounty in a peculiar manner. It is for the people to take advantage of the great assets available for their use. It is possible the supply of coal might prove more than adequate for local purposes and in that event it would be a good thing for the district to have a serviceable household coal at its backdoor, as it were, for domestic use. This

coal deposit another example of the mineral richness of Westland, if its great latent wealjth were but ful/y exploited. The settlers of the district will not be studying their own interests, nor those of the future of the district, if they do not plunge into a thorough testing of the coal deposits so readily available for their use as judged by the promising prospects appearing at Mount Camelback.