NGAKAWA COALMINE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 84, 8 April 1872, Page 4

NGAKAWA COALMINE.

«- 0 In compliance with instructions telegraphed to him by his Honor the Superintendent, the Harbor-master at Westport recently proceeded to the Ngakawa River, where coal has lately been discovered, and the following is his report of the capabilities of the port for shipping purposes : — Harbor Office, Westport, 30th March, 1872. Sm, — I have the honor to forward herewith a report on the Ngakawa River, &c, &c. On the 26th inst., in pursuance of instructions from the Provincial Secretary, I proceeded in the local steamer " Result " to the Ngakawa, to erect beacons, and examine the river, as to its navigable capabilities. We left Westport about 7.30 a.m., and in some four or five hours arrived at our destination, distant 18 miles from Westport. After crossing tbe bar, which was rather rough, we were boarded by Mr. M'Nairn, -who keeps the ferry and accommodation house at the entrance. He took us up the river about three-quarters of a mile, more pr less, where the steamer was moored in a, deep basin, opposite the coal mine. The river is only navigable at high water a few chains above this point, where *it terminates in a creek running into a narrow gorge full of boulders of various sizes and shapes/ '"" ~~ At low water I proceeded down to the bari and erected the beacons which I had fetched from Westport. I found the bar •-.dry.: This I expected, being spring tides. Set the beacons for crossing the bar in 1 the deepest water, and bearing by compass East | North, for entering, and (vice, versa) West I South, for leaving the river. McNairn, being a seaman, I instructed him to look after the beacons and shift them •when, necessary-, /informing him _t the same time that if it were found expedient at any other time to appoint a signalman, tie woul&have. the preference.

.----.: After. -y arranging — the. .beacons. .. and. matters connected therewith, I proceeded to take some soundings, and have a look, at the river while the water was still low, proceeding up stream, and about tw'cftbirds of the way to the mine, we came toa stony fall or bar,- running, -or -extending, all the way across the river. In the centie there were only a few inches of water,' where the stream was running ; on either side of thia stream tbe formation is one to two. feet higher, and composed of larger stones. McNairn informed me that there was about eight feet on this fall -at- high • water — spring tides. This I found to be correct, before leaving, as I sounded all tbe way down on our leaving for Westport. The bar was also sounded at the same time, and a depth of ten feet was found on it; this is just tbe rise of tide, as I have already stated its baviDg been dry at low water. The rise of tide at Ngakawa is identical with Westport. Before proceeding further it may be as well to dispose of the stony fall before mentioned. This is not a serious impediment to the navigation of the river, nor will its removal be attended with much difficulty or expense, seeing the stones, with few exceptions, are small and comparatively loose, ancl could easily be thrown up on either side of the channel, where the stones are pretty large. This accomplished, the floods would do tbe rest in deepening the channel, and make it as deep, if not deeper, than the outer bar. The miDe possesses unusually great natural facilities for the easy and expeditious shipment of coal, which Chambers, the manager, (himself a North of England collier) says can be put on board at eight shillings per ton. The same party informs me that it is a twelve feet seam, and will be self-draining. He intends constructing a wharf and coal shoot. This accomplished, vessels like the " Kennedy," "Charles Edward," or " Wallabi" could. go alongside and fill up iD a few hours; from the depth of water in tbe basin, vessels would always be afloat, thus avoiding any risk of straining by loading aground, with a heavy cargo such as coal. Tbe stony fall would require deepening before they could get to the wharf during neap tides. Tliis odcb dry, would have a salutary effect on the river and bar channels generally, as it would tend to a concentration of the stream, and, I presume, a consequent deepening of the outer bar. The latter is very fair just now — 10 feet at high water. There should be about 6ft. 6in. or 7 feet at good neaps on it. Prior to my leaving for Ngakawa, I was told by a person who had lived two years at the latter place, that the entrance sometimes closed up with westerly gales. I was not surprised to learn this, knowing it to be an old feature of West Coast bars (Middle Island) as Okarita, Hokitika, Greymouth. and Mokihinni, the latter, only seven miles north east of Ngakawa — all close up periodically during westerly gales. No doubt there is always a gutter along the beach, but the channels are virtually closed, and quite impracticable and unsafe for purposes of navigation. I must admit that I have grave doubts that the Ngakawa is no exception to the rule. Although McNairn says — and I hope he is right — that during his residence there, a period of four years — he has never saw it once closed, and also that the channel is generally straight. The appearance of the river certainly goeß to prove tbat the latter assertion is true in the main — as the river itself is very straight from the mine seaward, — above that point it turns nearly at a right angle, and runs in a N.N. easterly direction — for a few chains — terminating in a creek. There is one bad feature in this river which I cannot allow to pass unnoticed, and tbat is the great want of shelter during floods. There is a site for a wharf at tbe coal mine, where two steamers might find shelter, as there will be an eddy there, and another on the opposite side of the river, a little below the mine, but it is limited in extent. A great deal of the port is taken up with the boulders comprising, the stony barrier — spoken of — and it would require a considerable expenditure to make it comparatively safe for the number of vessels that must necessarily visit it, if a permanent coal trade is established. The port from its close proximity to the sea will be subject to a heavy run during N.W. and Westerly gales, which, although not in itself dangerous, is very unpleasant for boats and shipping generally. Before closing it may not be out of place to mention tbat the Engineer of the "Result" reports favorably of the coa), and prefers it to the Newcastle coal she brought from Auckland, and says that better steam .can he kept with less labor; what she took in at the Ngakawa wfrs only: a few feet into the seam and could /not be considered a fair sample, yet it kebt good steam, burning clear, with an intense heat.

The coal is a little soft, but is getting harder as they go in farther. McNairn informs me that the floods rise very rapidly and go down just as quickly when the rain ceases, and that very little drift timber comes down during those periods. This 1 believe to be correct, as the river, as far as I saw of it, appears to be only fed by two creeks. I enclose a rough sketch to give an idea of the place, and also for the sake of reference during an after perusal of this report. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your Obedient Servant, S. A. Leech, Harbormaster. To His Honor The Superintendent, Province of Nelson.