CORRESPONDENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 172, 18 July 1873, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE OWEN COAL. To the Editor oi- this Nelson Evening Mail. Sir — Seeing in your issue of Wednesday evening last a paragraph headed " Discovery of Coal at the Owen," and perusing the substance of the article, one would imagine such discovery quite recent and new. Allow me to inform you that about nine years ago, while out prospecting with Mr Dent (now of the Brunner coalmine) we iell in with two seams of coal — one about 9 inches, the other about 2 feet 6 inches in thickness — on the Owen. I should therefore imagine it to Ye one and the tamo you mention a 8 just discovered. I would also inform you that we made a raport to Mr Blackett, and also t"> the then Superintendent (the late Mr Robinson), and likewise forwarded two bags of the coal for sample And there the matter has been allowed to lapse into a state of somnolency until this apparently new discovery. Trusting to your kind attention lo publish the above in your valuable paper, I am, &c, Hugh Cottier. Bridge-street, July 16,

Newcastle Coal Trade. — The Newcastle Pilot in an article on the coal trade siys: — "Our coal export for the last two or three years haa been something like 1.000,000 tons sent out annually to some 27 different ports in nearly 1000 veß3ela. But what are such efforts compared with our resources ? Looking at tho macrnituiJe of our mines- — their contiguity and general quality — their vast supplies can be little affected by anything like our hitherto foreign consumption, and to speak of our domestic use would be trifling, amounting aa it does to about li to 2 tons an average head of our population per annum." In New Zealand wo have every reason to believe that the supply of coal is not less than that of which New South Wales can boast, and yet, after thirty years' colonisation, a very larpo proportion of the 1000 coal-laden veesels that annually leave the port of Newcastle, find their way fo our shores'. The Pilot goes on to say: — " Even with the contingency of the India and China markets failing us, the outlay and expense of increased appliance will not have been thrown away, as, besides our own s| by that time, increasing consumption, we may reasonably look for an immeuse disposal of our coal produce to a not very distant sister colony. Speaking in no unfriendly spirit. Victoria's proverbial energy may probe and ransack the soil in every quarter, and expend thousands upon thousands in search of coal, and yet not find what our Geologists stake their credit it is in vain to Jook for. Of course Victoria would not do what India, China, and Japan have done — come to our port for coal, with tho mineral lyin^ nt her own donrs. But this exemplifies the ever wide nifference between Saxon enercry and the ordinary apathy of the East." How about " the Saxon energy " in New Zealand ? In the above-quoted remarks there is a s veto though unintentional rebuke administered to us that we would do well to take to heart if we wish to get rid of the sti'it/ia that has hitherto attached to us of being so wanting in enterprise as to send thousands and thousands of pounds out of the colony annually for the purchase of that which is to he found in abundance at our own doors. The Drinking Power op England. — There aro 150,000 establishments in England engaged in brewing, distilling, aud .dispensing alcholic liquors, and the quantity of breadstuffs consumer! in the traffic exceeds the cereal produce of Scotland. The revenue for the last year was about 77 millions of pounds sterling, and more than 29 millions of that, sum wore derived from taxes ou intoxicating* liquors. A Tender Epistle. — The following was the cause of much amusement on its being read during the trial of a recent L broach of promise of marriage case : — i -'My deer, swetesfc ducky ,—1 am so happy to beer from you so often, it affords me sich prate plisher. You always was so deer to me, I hope you will sune be deerer. \ou know I never hinted nothing about marriage, aud I never mean to — take your own time for that. I shal always remember the old si»yin, ' Procrasination is the theei of time,' but mother sez nothing should be done in a hurry but ketchin flees. The fondest wish of my heart is that we may sune become one. Do you ever read Franklin's Extract — his remarks concerning marriage is deliteful. ' Our hearts,' he sez, 'ought to assemble one another in every expect; they ought to be hetergenious, so that our union may be mixed as well as uniting — not like oil and water, but tee and sbuger.' Truly I can feel for the mortal Watts when he sez — ' The rows is red, the vilits blew, shugers swete and so are you.' Mother sez that matrimony is better to think upon than the reality. I remane till deth or marriage, your own swete candy, Mart Ann. N.B. — I had a kussin marrid last month i who sez there ainc no true enjoyment but iv the marrid state. Your swete dove, Mary Ann. P.S. — I hope you will let me know what you mean to do, as there is four or five other fellous after me hot foot, and I shal be quite uneasy till I here. Your lover swete, Mart Ann." For remainder of news see fourth page.