NELSON AS A COAL DEPOT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 178, 25 July 1873, Page 2

NELSON AS A COAL DEPOT.

It is scarcely necessary to say that tbe followiug article from the Westport Times was written prior to the new proposals for a mail service being made public. It will, nevertheless, be read with interest by the j Nelson public : — "The business-like suggestion made by the Nelson Mail that Nelson merchantile men should strike while the iron is bot and endeavor to make Nelaon the coaling station of the Melbourne boats, should not be allowed to pass unheeded. The new

arrangements made by the PostmasterGeneral for the mail service, whereby Hokitika has been appointed the first port of call forthe Melbourne steamers bringing the Suez mail, has been favorably received throughout New Zealand, with the exceptiou of Otago; and although the Dunedin Chamber of Cormnerce aud the Provincial Council may strongly object thereto, and perform somo vigorous wire pulling to causes diversion of the proposed route by way of the Bluff, it hardly seems possible that the Government will weakly consent to depart from the very excellent plan laid down without some more cogent reason than the desire of the Dunedin merchants to have tbeir convenience considered as paramount to all others. It cannot be disputed that Hokitika is the nearest and most convenient place of call for steamers coming from Melbourne, and that mails landed there can be sent overland to Christchurch and through to Dunedin safely and expeditiously. Telegraphic communication is also perfect, and the mail news can be flashed from end to end of the Colony just as easily from Hokitika as from DunediD or the Bluff". The general interests of the Colony will be best promoted by the experiment of tbe new service receiving a fair trial, and tbe clamor raised by Dunedin men should be treated as of little moment. Presuraiug that the probabilities are in favor of an adherence to the present arrangements, rather than submission to any compromise to satisfy tbe selfish demands madt- on behalf of Otago Province; the question of Nelson becoming tbe coaling station for the steamers is of very great importance, and it happens fortunately that the conference of the representatives of shareholders in the Albion Coal Compauy is now beiDg beld in Nelson. The Mail suggests tbat the Ngakawbao coal can be landed more easily and cheaply in Nelson than in auy other New Zealand port, bufc tbat if the steamers get into the way of going to Wellington for their supply of fuel it will be found that the head quarters of the Albion Coal Company will be permanently fixed there. But the Mail overlooks the fact that the proprietors of these boats are no whit slower thau other commercial men in buying in the cheapest maiket, and whenever it cau bo shown them that good steam coal can be put on board their craft at NelsoD, even fivo shillings per ton less than at Wellington, (hey will Dot be found such creatures of habit as to forego the advantage. Tbe one (hing needful is to get a supply of coal at Nelson with all possible expedition, ami to keep the stock replenished thereafter. If will be more to the material interest of the Albion Company to sell their coals cheaply at Nelson, or elsewhere on the West Coast, than to make the chief depot at Wellington, It may be that the suggestion already made of a coal hulk io the Buller river, and a steam tug towing her out to meet the steamers in the roadstead may be ultimately adopted, but these and cognate ideas will no doubt be fully discussed by the delegates, and some immediate action takeD. In addition to the supply of coal to be obtained trom the Ngakawhao there is also the Greynrmuth mit.e, whence under Javorable circumstances of tide and river, collier craft might be laden, and from the two mines the supply ought to be practically unlimited at all times and seasons. In the promotion of the trade from either port the Nelson Government should take an active interest, and the subject is, from any point of view, one in which Nelson and Westcoast men may most cordially unite in defiuite and speedy action. First to use what influence they may possess towards checkmaking the Otago men in their threatened move, and secondly to seize the golden opportunity of at once expanding the coal industry tbat has laid too long dormant."