Coal Seams on Fire.

Manawatu Herald, 26 July 1892, Page 2

Coal Seams on Fire.

It will be news to many to learn that on the West Coast of the South Island there is a coal mine which has been on fire for nearly twenty years. Mr E. H. Beeves asked the Minister of Mines if he would take steps to have this fire, and other fires that exist in other mines, extinguished. Mr Seddon informed his questioner that he had been told by a gentleman who had waited upon him, that he was endeavouring to form a company to work these burning Beams, as though the coal had been burning twenty years, there was ne waste as it had simply been making coke I The govern* ment love to postpone anything which is unlikely to bring them votes, so having discovered a valuable coke deposit in a burnt out coal mine, the Ministered feared that if he endeavoured to put ou f another fire in a mine near Greymouth, the water being turned in on it might cause an explosion which might do damage. Though he was well aware of these facts still he would make further inquiries, and if these dangers did not exist (which might have been determined earlier) and ifc would not depreciate the value of the coke (which had not as yet been proved to exist except by the statement of the person who proposed to form a company) something might be done. At all events, inquiry should be made. This is a startling exhibition of the interest taken by the Minister of Mines in a matter of very much importance to the Colony, and is to be found in No 2 of Hansard.