THE MOKIHINUI COALFIELD.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4169, 31 July 1874, Page 5

THE MOKIHINUI COALFIELD.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Noticing in your issue of Friday last a short account of the Mohikinui and its coal trade, in which you state that Wellington money is invested has occurred to me that the personal experience of one well acquainted with the place might he of service to some of your readers. In prospecting a small creek, tributary to the river, and at a point distant only seven miles from the port, we came to a ten-ace or low range at right angles to the creek, one end of which had been washed almost perpendicular by its action, and showed a clean face of coal from the water to the surface soil, a height of thirty feet at least, by probably double that at the base in width. It was a clean, bright-looking coni, and, if cox-responding to that obtained on the main river, of good quality. There is abundance of birch and other useful timber between the coal and port, and no great engineering difficulties to be overcome in the construction of a tram or railway. I cannot, of course, say as to what depth the coal descended below the creek bed, nor how far it penetrated into the range, which gradually rose from the creek, but the impression upon the minds of those present was that the supply was literally ad infinitum. The mine from which the coal was obtained when I was in the neighborhood is situated about four miles from the port, and at one time, in 1863 I think, was worked with a tramway to the navigable part of the river ; from want of capital the thing was abandoned, and the works fell into decay. At present, I believe there is a mine close to the port. The coal has to he mined for, however, which is a disadvantage the range X speak of does not labor under, for there it is above the surface. As I lived at the port and in the neighborhood for some months, I can speak without hesitation in favor of the bar, over which at all seasons a depth of ten or twelve feet can be found at high water, and as its name indicates the mouth of the river is both wide and deep. It is possible that the deposit I mention, seven miles from the port, is not known to any of those living at present there, as the creek itself shows but few indications of gold "at its junction with the river, and therefore there are few inducements to prospectors ; but I have little doubt that it will be found some day and worked. It seems strange to me that so prolific a source of wealth should be so long unnoticed, while iron sand, kerosene, and other “crucibles,” should command attention and capital. With a small fleet of steam colliers of light draught, but of large carrying capacity, a short line of railway, wharf, and shoots, as at Wollongong in New South Wales, I am assured it would pay handsomely, and will do so some time in the future. As the Mokihinui is not quite so distant as some places I could name, and as every item of the above can be easily authenticated, I shall not apologize for intruding upon your time and space—-haring no interest in the matter. You can, therefore, print or burn this at pleasure.—l am, &c., ' H. Babinoton.