Progress Report.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 59, 10 March 1875, Page 4

Progress Report.

To the Chairman and Directors of the Para Para Iron and Coal Company (Limited). Gentlemen— l have the honor to lay before you the following progress report as to the state of the works in connection with the Para Para Company. Iq order to do so in au intelligent manner it may bo as well, to describe briefly the condition in which I found things previous to these works being undertaken. As you are aware, I went over to Collingwood in December last and made an examination into the state of the old tramway, incline, and Biding, including the bridges 00 each. I also made a running survey in order to determine whether it would be advantageous and advisable to make a deviation from the former route, and make the point of delivery at the channel of the Ruatanawhau instead of on the Aorere river as before. On my return to Nelson I reported to you that the timber in all the bridges on the in-

cline and upper siding was so much decoyed as to render them utterly unsafe for traffic, and that the greater part of the wooden rails and sleepers were in a similar condition, and would require a thorough overhaul and repair, and to a great extent to be replaced by new ones. The bridges on the flat and the greater part of the wharf, as you will remember, wero carried nway by a heavy flood somo time ago. I recommended the filling up of the bridges on the incline and upper siding, and also advised the deviation to the Ruatanawhau as the shorter and better mode of delivery, and obtained your authority and sanction for the prosecution of these works with nil possible despatch. These works were commenced on the sth of January last, and they are now nearly completed. The difficulty in getting suitable timber for the repair or replacement of the bridges on the siding taken up the incline decided the question of filling them up with earthwork, and this has accordingly been done in a thorough and substantial manner ; the projecting rocky points have also been removed, Bnd the whole is now ready for the laying of the rails. The wooden bridges on the incline have been filled up in a similar manner, and it is likewise ready for the permanent way. The formation of forty-five chains of new road is completed, and the remaining portion of the old tramway, fortyfour chains, is being widened, and the repair of the bridges on the fiat is going on. la another fortnight of good weather they will be ready for the laying of the rails. I am sorry to hear thafc your application to the General Government for the loan of rails, as promised, has been unsuccessful, as we are now ready to commence laying them down. I would strongly urge that no time should be lost in procuring them from somo other quarter, so that (hey may bo laid while the good weather lasts. The total amount paid in wages on account of these works up to the date of the last pay-sheet (20th February) is £398 2s 9d; an amount which I consider very low indeed when the quantity and permanent character of the work performed is taken into consideration, and also the dilficully in procuring labor in this, as yet, comparatively unsettled district. The work of opening up the mine is also being pushed on as fast as possible, working levels are being driven into two of the seams from both sides of the tuunel, and a heading expected to como out in the old workings, for the purpose of ventilation, is well advanced towards completion. The Mining Manager reports that the levels are driven to the following levels : — North level — No. 2 seam is driven a distance of Bixty feet from side of tunnel, and then a passage cut parallel with the tunnel to join the heading. North level — No. 3 seam is driven sixty feet, and from thence the heading to the outcrop is cut 240 feet. South level — No. 2 seam is driven thirty feet. Souih level — No. 3 Beam is in sixty feet, and the return at right angles is up thirty fetl; a cross cut to meet this is in eighty feel. A contract has also been accepted for the continuation of tunnel to cut No. 1 seam; supposed distance, 100 feet. Nearly 300 tons of coal taken from these levels and stored at the mouth of the tuunel are ready to be delivered as soon as ihe road is completed, and when these three seams ore opened out and fully at work the mine will give a large ouiput of coal. A few days ago, in company with the Mining Manager, Mr Marshall, I made an examination of the outcrop of apparently the same seams in a gully situated at the back of the freehold property of the Company, which has been chosen as the site of the furnaces, and about a mile and a half northwards from the present mine. The discovery of these seams was made several months ago, but until lately no opportunity occurred of testing their value and extent. During the month of January last a couple of men were sent to prospect them, and they succeeded in following them through a considerable range of country, and proving that a valuable mine may be opened up there. This is satisfactory and reliable evidence as to the large extent of the Collingwood coalfield, the more so when it is remembered that a continuation of these seams has also been traced some three tni!es southwards on Mr Curtis' lund. Further prospecting is necessary as to the best road to ibis part of the field, and whether this road would be of easy construction or otherwise, before o definite and reliable opinion can be arrived at ds to the comparative value of this portion of the field. In my opinion, the quality and extent of the coal already proved fully warrant the expenditure which the prospecting and survey of a road would entail, and should be undertaken at an early date. There hns been nothing done as yet at the proposed site of the furnace. The sandstone recommended to be used in its erection is found above the coal-measures at the mine, and will have to be brought by the same route as the coal, and this is the principal reason why the tramway works have received primary attention. The same rond answers for both purposes, viz, for the delivery of coal, and also for getting down the materials for the erection of the furnace ; and therefore the Directors should endeavor to get the rails as soon as possible, in order that the building of the furnace maybe commenced with the least possible delay, lam glad to hear that planß and specifications are being prepared for this wotk by your authority, and hope to see it commenced at an early date.