NEW ZEALAM) COAL TRADE,

Manawatu Herald, 19 August 1881, Page 4

NEW ZEALAM) COAL TRADE,

Since 187§/#iy&the Dunedin Star, there has been -a steady increase in the quantity of coal raised in the colony, and a corresponding decrease in the quantity imported. From the statistics embodied in the annual report on the? control aud infraction, of mines, repently laid before l^rliament, we find that 123.298 tonwere imported cbmng the year 1880. being 34,778 tons less than in 1879. The total Output for the colony was 299,923 tons,, Ming, 68,705 tons over the quantity raised ih 1879, and 137,705 tons over the produce of the j mines in 1878. Seven thousand and twenty-one tons were exported ih 1880, being, we- presume, supplied to steamers coaling at the Bay of Islands. The Under-Secretary of Mines remarks, in lißgard to these statistics :— " With this evidence under present oircurastanccs b«*fore qs, it maysafe'y he assumed that with increased facilities in the way of transit from the mines, their development and the consumption .of"' our own coal will soon be so fa&ejttended that importation will no longer be necessary \ and although the*Bxp©rt. of coal I*3 at present very small, we may hope as s-.-on as more is produced than is required in the colony^a, mairket will be found to take the surplus and increase the export tradr."