The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY. JUNE 8, 1866.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 81, 8 June 1866, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY. JUNE 8, 1866.

The coal import trade of this port is both a large and au increasing one. During last year we imported over 13,000 tons, the great bulb, about 12,000 tons, beiug from Newcastle, New South Wales. We have no complete returns of the quantity that was imported during the past quarter, but find by referring to our shipping columns that during the month of April last the quantity from Newcastle alone was 1,673 tons. Supposing that month. to be an average for the present year, it would give a total import of about 20,000 tons from that port alone — an increase of 60 per cent, over last year. This is a large quantity to import aud yet Nelson has undoubtedly splendid seams of coal within her borders, and the question is, cannot we produce our own coal, and so cease to send out of the place such large sums of money to pay for an article of commerce which we ourselves possess in abundance. But although this province has abundance of coal, the only seam that has yet been discovered which seems at all capable of competing with Newcastle in this and other Cook Straits' markets is that at West Wariganui Inlet. The Grey river seam can only be worked to supply the local demand, which is certainly likely to be very great, but on account of the very bad nature of the bar of the Grey river it will not pay to bring the coal to Nelson. Of the Buller tho same reasonings apply with increased force on account of the large expenditure necessary to opeu up those seams. But with respect to the West Wauganui coal it seems not at all improbable that }t< may with good management enter successfully into competition with Newcastle. Supposing the two coals to be of equal quality, tlie whole matter is a question of cheapness, The present price of coal at the staiths at Newcastle is from Bs. 3d. to Bs. 6d. per ton ; freight to Nelson varies from 18s. to 20s. per ton, according to the size of the vessel chartered. This brings up the price of the coals alongside the wharf here to about 28s. per ton. But as the coal mines iu New South Wales are beiug worked at a loss, it is probable that shortly there will be a slight increase in prices there, which, however, would net raise the price of coal here to more thau 30s. per ton. It now remains to be see* if West Wauganui coal can be delivered here at under that figure, can it lie placed on board there at 10s. per ton, and can it be brought here at a less freight thau 20s. ,- we will first deal with its production. The price paid for getting at Newcastle is, we believe, about 4s. 6d. per ton, it cannot be expected that collier's can work here for the same remuneration as there, on account of the greatly increased price of provisions, as well as the generally higher price for labor here, but in some respects there will be considerable savings. The coal-mines at Newcastle are all of them situated at some distance from the shipping place, and an expense has to be incurred in the construction and maintainance of lines of railways and in haulage, which on account of the situation of the mine at West Wanganui near deep water, will be entirely dispensed with, and also, there is no deep shaft to haul the coal up, it being worked

from the face, there will be a saving in this respect, these will far more than counterbalance the increased price of labor here. We have been informed that the freight paid for the two small cargoes of coal recently brought from West Wanganui was 30s. per ton, but that the reason of this high price was the labor in placing the coal ou board in the absence of proper appliances for the purpose of loading ; these of course will be provided if the mine is worked on an extensive scale. But we believe small sailing vessels to be unfit for the trade. Steam colliers cannot successfully compete with sailing vessels in long strait runs as from Newcastle to here, but they are particularly adapted for short coasting voyages — such as from here round Cape Farewell to the inlet. "We have made various inquiries, and the result we have arrived at is, that steam vessels of the size of the Wallaby or the Thane, provided they met Avith no detention, but were expeditiously loaded and unloaded, and had constant employment, could bring coal from West Wanganui to Nelson at under 12s. per ton. It therefore appears that if the 'West Wanganui seam is worked with sufficient capital to provide wharf accommodation at deep water, and other necessary appliances for loading vessels expeditiously, there is no reason why coal from there should not compete iu the Cook Straits' settlements successfully with Newcastle. Of course everything depends upon if it is sufficiently extensive to justify the employment of large capital. But from information we have gathered upon the subject, we have every reason to believe that such is the case — that the suppi)' is practically inexhaustible. We have been informed also that lately a seam of coal of excellent quality has been opened at Collingwood. This doubtless is a portion of the same which is- beiug worked at the Inlet. Supposing the facilities for working and shipping it to be equal, this coal could also be worked with a profit, and thus add to the wealth of the province.