PROGRESS OF COAL MINING IN NEW ZEALAND.

Kumara Times, Issue 3071, 6 September 1886, Page 3

PROGRESS OF COAL MINING IN NEW ZEALAND.

The annual general meeting of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce was held at Christchurch last Tuesday. The President (G. G. Stead, Esq.), in reviewing the trade and position of the colony, gave a few figures, extracted from various official sources, showing the rapid and sure progress of the coal mining industry of New Zealand, with remarks thereon, as follow : The number of tons of coal raised in New Zealand in 1880 was 277,918, while in 1885 the quantity raised had increased to 511,003 tons—a ratio of increase of 83 8. The number of mines had increased during the same period from 51 to 96. The number of hands employed in the collieries in New Zealand in 1885 was 1481, while the number employed in collieries in the United Kingdom during the same period was 520,632, The number of tons produced per collier showed—United Kingdom, 306, New Zealand 355 ; so that the colonial workman raised 39 tons more than the Home countryman. But it must be remembered that there are a large number of women and girls employed in various ways at the Home collieries, who cannot be regarded strictly as coal winners. This important industry is evidently expanding so rapidly that the day cannot be far distant when the West Coast coal will rank as one of our most valuable exports. The bituminous coal of Greymoutb is now fully recognised as one of the finest in the world for gasmaking, and that from her twin sister Westport is equally sought after for Steam purposes. Perhaps it is not commonly known that one ton of Grey month coal can be depended unon to yield 12,000 ft. of 10.*-caudlo-power gas, while the very best Newcastle coal will only yield 9000 ft to 9500 ft per ton, and the residuals from the Greymoutb are the more valuable. These facts arc gradually being recognised in Australia and it is gratifying to know that the Ballar.it Gas Company tins contracted with the Brunner mine for all its proeent requirements, and that Hong Kong has recently ordered 8000 tons of West Coast coal. Any r one giving a little consideiation to the study of mineralogy' {Ulist come to the conclusion that New

Zealand possesses an important and valuable asset in her coal mines, and when the haibor works on (he West Coast are sufficiently advanced to give security to ocean-going ships, wo shall doubtless see a gigantic coal trade established to Australia and the East. In commenting upon the probable future of the New Zealand coalfields, Mr Stead remarked :—“ Our coalfields are on the eve of being developed in a manner that very few are aware of. There is reason to believe that the coal resources of New Zealand, as compared with its area, are infinitely superior to those of most other countries, except possibly England, and consequently we may take it for granted that in this respect we are at least as well equipped for the industrial contest as other countries, and as likely to be able to take a good place therein.”