PUPONGA.

Motueka Star, Volume III, Issue 111, 5 September 1902, Page 4

PUPONGA.

Owing to the active development? of the coal areas in this locality, distant 12 miles from Oollingwood, and the possibility... of a rente rial increase' of I population at n > distant date, a petition has been drafted by Mr Joseph Taylor and signed by seventy residents, asking the Postmaster General, Sir Joseph ; Ward, t-> e.vbtblish a post office and' ! bi-weekly mail service for the public | convenience. The Minister is also asked to officially open the same and likewise the Puponga Goal Company'stram and wharf. Included in the reasons preferred for tue request are those of uncertainty of c » iivnuuioation when the Aorere river is in flood and the fact that the nearest postal and telephone olSce is at Pakawau which is seven miles from Puponga. The extensive preparatory works which have been cairied on for many months past are now; nearing completion and it is expected that within the next two months the Puponga Coal Company will be in a position to place upon the markets throughout the colony large consignments of coal for household and steam purposes ; coal considered by experts to be equal, if not superior to any mined in other parts of New Zealand. Coal measures have been proved over a considerable area of the Company’s holdings. A number of main drives have been put in, and about „.a dozen faces started, which will be ready to pour out coal as soon as the works mentioned are finished. At present about 30 men are employed, and it is anticipated the staff will lie largely augmented when

the mine is in active operation. Referring to the preliminary works that have been carried on, a well known minister of religion wrote, after inspecting them : —“ If I should say I was amazed it would but poorly express the feelings of astonishment which were in no way abated, but of an increasing character*, from the time I entered the lower drive till reaching a point of egress at the air shaft. I had no idea that snail inensmvs, and of such a regular character existed as I there saw (and I have boon for some years past placed among miners). I feel sure that Ptipongt will at no distant date be a township of no small import, a nee,""'as I believe the mineral there to demand, and of quality tj warrant, such a. conclusionT Concerning the district, Mr Grant, of C dltngwood, whilst on a visit to the West Coast \.*as interviewed by the reporter of the Westport News. Afterchronicling Mr Grant’s presence in Westport, the News says “Mr Grant, is a shareholder in the Puponga coalmines and has great faith in their future. The harbour, he mentions, is shallow, but sheltered by the spit, and can be very easily (h edged to a depth suitable for large colliers. The Puponga coal, he believes, will prove very serviceable for household purposes. The conditions generally are fnv 'urah’e bathe exnoi t of c al 'out the prelon i nary work' will occupy some considerable time.