The New-Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume 5, Issue 420, 24 April 1850, Page 2

The New-Zealander.

Be just and fear not : Let all the ends thou aimVt at, be thy Country's, Thy God's, and Truth's.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 1850-

The proposed Public Meeting on the subject of the introduction here of the Waikato Coal, to which we have more than once lately invited attention, was held on Monday at the Royal Exchange Hotel, and was numerously and most respectably and influentially attended. The proceedings were conducted in a very gratifying spirit of cordiality, and characterized throughout by a manifestation of a desire on all hands to co-operate harmoniously in the promotion of a great public object, which augurs well for the future prosperity of the colony, and must have afforded much pleasure to all with whom patriotism is a higher principle than political partizanship. This tone of the Meeting was no doubt partly attributable to the efficient and impartial chairmanship of Alexander Kennedy, Esq., who (on the motion of Mr. Connell, seconded by Dr. Bennrtt,) was called to preside. The following Repoifc was then read by the zealous and able Sccietary of the Committee, Mr. Connell. Tub Committee appointed at a Public Meeting, held on Monday evening, March sth, in the Hall of the Mechanics' Institute, Auckland, for the purpose of making enquiries as to the practicability of rendering available to the public the coal which has been discovered in the vicinity of the liver Waikato, beg to report that they have directed tlicir attention to the following questions : — Ist— The extent of the supply, the qualify of the coal and its position with lesnect to the river. 2nd— -The degrer of facility which may exist of ob« | taitiing the coal either by purchase, when raised by the natives oij their own account, or with their consent, by working roine^ with hired native labour, under the guperintendence of European skill. And thiid-the ptobable expense of inisin? and conveying the coal to Manuktm harbour and to Auckland. In reference to the first and most important inquiry : — Although from the repoits of several intelligent .persons who hu*e from time to time visited tbe\V,iikato district, and moie especially from ths icennt discoveries corrmunicated by the Key. Mr. Purchas, the Committee wen> well assured Uiat inexhaustible supplies of ill « valu.tblt! mineral exist on the bar.ks of the Waiknto Rive, at a moderate distance from Auckland, Uiey deemed it their duty, t>» j'rocuie, if possible, a moie jnactical opinion on the subject Irons some experienced person. They therefore availed themEelvei oi the services of « miner, a settler in toil

neighbourhood, possessing as they believe the required knowledge of the subject, and employed him to visit the WaikHto Coal district-, and ascertain the quality of the coal, and the probable cost at which it could be worked. The result of this inspection is an ample confirmation of previous statements. In the neighbourhood of Kupakapa, about 40 miles up the river, the coal crops out in fivp different places, each of which the miner personally inspected, and found the distance from the river to vary from two or three bundled to about seven hundred yards, — and so i.itnnted with respect to level, that the coal could be conveyed to vessels for shipment with great facility. The senm or seams of coal appear to be of extraordinary thickness. And the miner baring at one place worked into the seam to a depth of some six or eight feet, found the co«l much improved in quality. A portion from the lower part of this working was trifd in a common grate, and produced an excellent fire, which without being replenished, burned for several hours. In order to ascertain in some decree the fitness of this coal for producing coke a quantity was heaped •ogethcr and burned on the spot, and with this imperfect trial yielded an apparently excellent coke. It appears that Woikm^s can b<j commenced and carried on to a very considerable axtentat these places, but with a small outlay for preliminary expences, and that the coal can be raised at a low rate per ton. The Committee have ascertained from other source* I that coal has been discovcied at five placps beside thoie aheady mentioned, at disiances from Kupakupa I varying in one direction from three or four to seventeen miles, and in another to forty miles. But they have not consideied it necessary to send the miner to these places, those already examined being considered more i favourably situated for immediate working 1 . Under the second head of enquiry the Committee j have learned that the Natives cf the district appear most willing to enter into any fair arrangement for I workim* the coal — as for instance that the Natives employed should be paid for their labour in the usual miinner— and the Native pi oprietors receive a small allowance per ton by way of rent. | The ( ommittec have not felt themselves in a position tomter into any direct communication with tho Government, but have learned with pleasure from in dividuals who have had interviews with the (Jovernorin Chief that bis Itacellency enters waimly into tlic object of tbeir efforts, aed appears only solicitous that they may be directed in such a way as to secure the greatest amount of advantage both to those who may directly engage in the undertaking and to ihe colony at large. The very important enquiry— the expense of carriage — on which, in truth, depends the whole question | ha<! occupied the anxious attention of the Committee ; and although nothing hhort of actual experiment on a tolerably large scale, can furnish data for a certain conclus'oa, the Committee feel warranted in expressing their belief that, including all expenses, the coal can be shipped in Munukau Hnibour, or delivered there, (or thr supply of steumeni, at lrom twelve to thiiteen shillings per ton, and can be laid down in Auckland at a price not exceeding twenty five shillings. And they confidently look forwaid to a considerable reduction from these prices when a trade is well established. In arriving at this conclusion the Committee have been aided by practical information furnished by a respectable and enterprising settler who accompanied the miner above mentioned to the coal disttict, with a view, should his services be aecepted f to undertake the conveyance of the coal to Auckland. Before resigning into the hands of this meeting their temporary trust the Committee would beg pc mission to suggest what appears to them the best, means of promoting tbe object in view. The firfct step they recommended is that a Subscription List be opened in order to raise a sufficient fund to pr»cuie and bring into Auckland, a given quantity of Waikato coal— say one hundred tons or more — to be distributed to the several subscribers in proportion to their respective subscriptions. And that a Committee of this Meeting be appointed to receive such subscriptions and apply them to that purpose. By these meons, at a very small risk to each, an experiment can be tried, from the result of which the community at large would he enabled to judge of the expediency of undertaking further and more extensive operations in the same channel. The Committee cannot conclude this report without recording the high sense they entertain of the debt of gratitude due from this community to the Rpv. Mr. Purchas, for his zealous and untiring exertions to render available to his fellow-settlers tbe mineral wealth of the Waikato coal-fields. On the motion of F. W. Merriman, Esq., seconded by Dr. Da vies, the formal reception of this Report was agreed to. The next Resolution in the programme which the Committee, although then about to resign their functions into the hands of the Public, had deemed it respectful to the Meeting to prepare for its consideration, was as follows :—": — " That, in accordance with the suggestions of the Committee, a Subscription List be immediately opened for carrying out the suggestion of the Committee." This, on the motion of Mr. J. A. Gilfjllan, seconded by Mr. T. Lewis, and supported by Captain Haultain, (who bore strong testimony to the excellency of the Waikato Coal, declaring as the result of his personal comparison of both that it could not be known from the best cannel coal of Lancashire) was carried nem. con. The thhd Resolution was moved by Dr. Carter and seconded by Mr. Woodiiouse :-— " That a Committee be now appointed to receive subscriptions and to enter into the necessary arrangements fur the purchase or raising of a quantity of coal, for its conveyance into Auckland, and for its distribution amongst the subscribers in the proportion and order of their respective subscriptions;— and that the following gentlemen be the Committee 1 . — Mr. A. Kennedy, Mr. W. S. Grahame, Mr. Merriman, Mr. Wiiitaker, Mr. T. S. Forsattii, Mr. T, Leavis, Mr. D. Nathan, Dr. Bennett, and Mr. Connell." This resolution gave rise to a conversation of some length — conducted, however in the most friendly manner, — the result being that the Meeting deemed it right to express their approbation of the manner in which the Committee appointed by the Public Meeting at the Mechanics' Institute had performed j their duties, and therefore adopted nem. con. a resolution proposed by Mr. Gorrie, " That the former Committee be re-appointed, with power

' to add to their numbers." That Committee con sistedof R. Lynd, Esq., Dr. Bennett, Mr. Con nell, Mr. Gundry, Mr. Armson, and Mr Ridings. They will we are sure gladly avai i themselves of the permission — or rather ac | upon the implied direction—of the meeting to " add to their numbers," and so associatt with them gentlemen whose position and character will command the confidence of th* community at large. At the same time, for ourselves, we must say that we should have been better pleased if the Meeting had itself nominated and determined the members of .the future Committee, and so taken upon itself a responsibility which propeily belonged to it. Of course the members of the former Committee can only feel grateful for the confidence reposed in them, and endeavour to show that they are not unworthy of it. It was moved by Mr. T. S. Forsaith, seconded by Mr. Gourie, and agreed lo, — " That a Deputation be appointed and requested to wait upon His Excellency the Governor-in-Ciiief, to ascertain definitely the terms upon which His Excellency will sanction and further the operations of the Committee with regard to the Waikato coal -.—that Deputation; to consist of the Chairman (Mr. Kennedy), Messrs. W. Conneu,, Thomas Lewis, and J, Woodiiouse, and Dr. Bennett." The name of Mr. Brown had been included in the first proposition on the subject, but was withdrawn at that gentlemen's own request, on the ground that although "he (Mr. B.) had not any objections to wait upon His Excellency, yet he thought a more acceptable deputy might he found." Mr. Forsaith, the mover of the Resolution, declined to form one of the Deputation, for reasons substantially the same. The Deputation was therefore finally fixed as above. This Resolution, after it was carried gave rise to some remaik after which Dr. Carter moved (as he stated on the suggestion of Mr. Brown) which was seconded by Mr. Gilfillan, and agreed to •.—". — " That this Meeting do now adjourn until this day week at twelve o'clock, in order to give the Deputation time to wait upon the Governor, \ind to hear His Excellency's reply, and that a Subscription List be then entered into," The whole matter is thus fairly and fully before public investigation. Many, we need scarcely say, anticipate largely beneficial results to the colony from the movement. It should be added that Mr. Greenwood laid before the Meeting, after its immediate business had been transacted, specimens of Matikana coal, which, alihough confessedly exhibited only as " indications" of the .excellent supply of the mineral to be found there, gave a promise which was immediately acknowledged by several of the most competent judges whe examined it. The availability of I that coal — having the especial advantage of i being so much nearer to Auckland — undoubtedly merits tho most attentive and liberal consideration.

Health of Heki. — We are informed that this celebrated Chief is again in a precarious state of health, his old pulmonary complaint having returned with increased force, and being complicated with severe diarrhoea. He is much emaciated, and depressed in spirits. One of his expressions to a Minister who recently visited him was, — " If the Great Corrector thus continues to press upon us, you will soon toll your bell, but there will be none to answer it." This touching expression, in the symbolical Maori eloquence, was understood to refer to his gloomy fears not only of his own death, but of the dyingaway of the native race.

The Agricultural Society's Ploughing Match. — This interesting affair, which we observe with pleasure is to he annual, came off on Monday last, the 22nd inst., in a field near St. John's College. The Judges appointed to award the prizes were Messrs. Atkin and Stow. Their decisions were, — The First Prize (of three sovereigns,) for work performed with a pair of horses .... Mr. Richard Taylor. The Second Piize (of two sovereigns) for similar work. . . .William Knight, ploughman to Mr. J. May. The First Prize (of three sovereigns) for work performed with a team of bullocks. . . . Mr. John Wallace The Second Prize (of two sovereigns) for similar work. . . .Mr. James Runciman. The weather was most propitious, and the trial of skill was watched with interest by most of the farmers from Epsom, Remuera, and Tamaki. We hope that the friendly struggle will incite all our farming friends to increased efforts for the next year. Our advice to the winners is, — be sure to maintain your character, and win again next time:—ande :— and to the second or distanced, we would say, Why should not you and your cattle be in the first rank ? Up and try, and see whether you cannot accomplish it.

Our readers will miss — what to some of them was not the least attractive paragraph in our Wednesday's issue — the Programme of the weekly performance of the Band of the 58th Regiment in the grounds in front of the old Government House. We are requested to state that the performance has terminated foy

the season. In doing so we cannot but express our giateful sense of the pleasure afforded to us and many others, by the judiciously chosen and artistically executed performances of this excellent Band — creditable in a high degree to all engaged, from the zealous Band-master, Mr. Davis, downward. We only regret that the number of our good towns-folk who availed themselves of the privilege was sometimes so small, as 'compared with what might have been anticipated. In sanctioning this source of enjoyment to the town Colonel Wynyard has obtained an additional claim to the respectful regaids 01 the public.