THE PICTON COAL MINES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 176, 26 July 1881, Page 3

THE PICTON COAL MINES.

*o xhb Edixob op the " Evening Mail. ' Sik. — Buying recently bad occasion to visit Wellington via Picton, I took advantage of tbe opportunity to visit (aa fully aa the time at my disposal perniitteu) the coal mines in the vkinity of Saakeapeare Buy, situated about two miles to the eastward of Picton. Shakespeare Bay is separated from Picton harbor by a peninsula, in, or under, which the coal, I beiieve, was first discovered. In speaking of the Shakespeate Bay coal miues it may be necessary to state that there are two rival mines, and as far aa I could gather a considerable amount of jealousy exists between tbe rival proprietors or dLcoverer3 of them. The miae, of which a prospectus has been issued under the name of the " Shakespeare Bay Coal Mining Conipiny," comnvjniy called, I believe, Pugh's mine, cc-mj.riaea su area of about 80 to 100 acres tfc the point of the peninsula, ihe other, Feii'a or Renfrew's inine, as it is called, comprises, 1600 acres and extends from the boundary of Pago's along tne whoie length of the peninsula, and I was informed that the splendid seam of coal which was shown me has been positively traced for over two miies from the present working, while on ihe western side of the Bay the sama proprietors have opened op a seam of equally good coal, and which has also been traced for more thsn two miles. Ou arrival at Pictou wharf I was fortunate in metting a tt iend, Mr Jonu Marshall, an old and experienced coal miner, and who at my request willingly consented to escort myself aod a feiiow passenger to view tne seam of coal in .Fell's mine, anJ, having procured a supply of candles, we were booh oo our way over the high hill Which separates Pictou from Saakespeare Bay, and under which the " black diamonds " ba\e so long laid aid, which I have no doubt must soon contribute enomioutly to the prosperity of Picton and the whole colony. lv abouD half an hour we arrived at the entrance of the drive which has been pat ia to cat the seam of coal on the eastern side of Shakespeare Bay, the entrance to the drive being situated close to the head of tbe Bay, We were conducted through the drive a length of 150 feet, at which distance it cuts througn what appears to ha a tplendid seam of cotii, and I can safely say teat in the accouots 1 had of it, its good qualities had not been over-stated; there wtfl tbe solid seam ol about 16ft in thickness running North and South, in which direction, as bctore stated, it had been traced for over two miles, and dipping to the eastward at a steep angie to a depth no one knows how great. The time at our disposal was too limited to allow of our visiting the seam on the eastern side of thb Bay, but our guide informed us that iD was equal in quality to the one we bad just seea, thai it runs in the same direction, and hits about the same dip to the eastward only it is about 2 feet thinner, viz., 14 feet. The set m had been cut by a diife of 126 ft, and two shafts had been sunk upon is. We were informed that it is probable a Company iruy be floated for tha working of these mines on a large scale, but at yet no prospectus had been issued, although steps hare been taken to prove its quality as well aa quantity, for which purpose about 33 tona were placed on board toe U.S.o. Oo'a §.». Hawea to test h% steam producing qualities, the result of which, I was informed, bad been so satisfactory that the Union Company expressed its willingness to become a customer for 100U tons ptr mon ti of tbe same kind of coal; five tons bad been sent to the Wellington Gag works to test its gas producing qualities, while some three tOLg had been forwarded to Nelson for trial in the Nelson and Foxhili Baiiw&y locomotives. No official reply, however, bad been received at me time of my visit (Jaly 12) ot the two latter tests, i no ike, however, by your last issue that a highly satisiactory upiy fcaa now been received from Nclaon. 'ihe letter irom our District liiiiway Manager to Mr Fell is reported to state : '• Toe trial lasted four liays, and the renuU was to show that the Snakcspeart Bay coal ia superior to that obtained from Newcastle. 1 ' Air Stono says "it makes e.e&m quickly, aud id very iree from black smoke, yro-mcoa few ashes, and is iv every way suitable lor locomotives." I wis aiso informed tha, me small steamer Toiea, which trades ia Quean Charioite Souuu uses for fuel lor steam. purposes noibing but the g'ack coal 110x1 Mr Fell's mine, ana it serves us purposes admirably. At my request a sample bag of coal has been forwarded to me from the u.me which I visited and 1 am now writing by as cheerful a coal fire as any reasonable person could wish for, produced by a few lumps from th.it sample; it burns bright and clear, has great heat producing power, produces few ashes, to which it burns completely away, is not nearly so smoky a3 Newcastle coal, and I should say vastly superior to it for domestic purposes. I was also informed that for ail public tests of the coal from Shakespeare Bay cp to the .present time, including those noted above, the samples had been procurred from Fell's seam on the eastern side of the Bay, and further, that the proprietors will be glad to show the mines at auy time to persons who may be desirous of seeing them. Iv conclusion 1 desire to thank the gentleman, (without whose aid, the limited time at my disposal would have prevented my seeing the mine) .for bis kindness in conducting me thither, and giving me alt the iniormatiou I k asked for on the subject. — lam &c., John Gbahah. July 25, 1881,