State Coal Mines.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 82, 4 October 1912, Page 6

State Coal Mines.

SEDDONVILLE AND POINT

ELIZABETH

Total vote, £244,331

In reply to questions, the Minister (the Hon. W. Fraser) said that he intended presenting to Parliament shortly a report upon tho history of the State mines and their prospects. ' There was no prospect of tho Seddonville. mine lasting more than a couple of years unless some quite unexpected developments occurred. At present, owing to the demand for soft coal, ifc was , paying. As for the No. 1 Point Elizabeth mine thero was not, much hope of it lasting more than a year. Ho-wwer, there was a very large quantity of coal at Point Elizabeth No. 2 mine. The manager estimated it at 132 million tons, of which 49 millions were available. The mine would reach the output stage at the end of this year and could produce 500,000 tons per annum for 99 years at least. It would cost about £12,000 to finish the railway to Point Elizabeth No. 2 mine.