WEST WANGANUI COALFIELD.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5070, 23 June 1877, Page 1 (Supplement)

WEST WANGANUI COALFIELD.

The following letter would have been read at the mooting of' the Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday had there been time : “ Wellington, June IS, “ The Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, Wellington.—-Dear Sir, —It has occurred to me tint the following information may bo interesting to the chairman and members of tbo Chamber of Commerce. On these grounds I respectfully request _ you will at your next meeting submit—l'd, printed digest of particulars of the West Wanganui coalfield ; 2nd, a map showing coast line and district ; 3rd, observations thereon after a recent re-visit to the inlet. “The West Wanganui Inlet or ‘ coal harbor,’ as I named it on my discovery in IS ID, is situated about ten miles south of the Sandspit, Cape Farewell, Middle Island, distant by sea to Nelson 100 miles, to Wellington 100 miles, to Taranaki 170 miles, Wanganui (North Island) 100 miles, Manukan 320, Christchurch 380 miles, Dunedin 530 miles, Hokitika 210 miles &c., &c., water carriage from close to the coal mine to any port. “ This harbor lias a good entrance from sea; bold shores, easily discernible to navigators, and safe to enter for vessels of from 200 to ■IOO tons drawing from eight to ten feet of water. It is, like most oi the harbors on the West Coast of New Zealand, a bar harbor ; but has an average of fourteen feet of water at high tides, and' eight feet at low water. I crossed this bar safe in the first vessel belonging to Wellington, owned by a pioneer colonist, George Hunter, JCscp, the energetic and onterprisiug father of your respected member of that name. This vessel was the clipper-built schooner Jewess in 1810, drawing about nine feet of water abaft. I entered tin's unknown harbor of refuge at about half ebb tide, without chart or guide, except a ;good look-out, careful steerage, and constant load, during a heavy and continuous gale from the N.AV.r with a very heavy sea running towards tho inlet. I soon crossed tiie bar, and found no less than l ift, water, increasing as I gained the smooth and safe anchorage at three fathoms off the inner head of the S.AV. arm of the inlet, where I lay sheltered from all winds close in shore, near a small Maori pa. TlxAmining the shores of this inlet next day, 1 discovered” tested, and afterwards mined and shipped and took to Wellington tho first New Zealand coal known' to the pioneer settlers of Wellington. (See Report No. 1.) “My recent visit to AVest Wanganui was from Wellington via Nelson and CoUingwood, in Massacre or Golden Bay, by steamers ; thence on foot by the sea beach' about eight miles to Pakawau ; thence, in company with two old friends, through a beautifully wooded mountain pass, four miles on to the N.E. arm of the AVest AVangauui Inlet. AA r o arrived hero about' three-quarter ebb tide, and found the scenery generally grand and interesting, and well worth a stiff walk. Tho mud flats on each side of the channel were nearly dry, sufficiently so to enable us to walk over six miles to the S.W.; covered with seaweed, and cockleshells, and peri winkles, the whole seemed alive with shellfish. The average width of this arm was about one mile from 'shore to shore. The hills are high on each side of the inlet, composed for the most part of red sandstone, and clad from tho base to the summit with useful trees and lovely foliage. This six-mile walk over the fiats brought us opposite the entrance from the sea to the inlet. It was blowing fresh, right in, but the bar showed little break or obstruction to tho navigation of tho entrance, which lias about an average of one mile and a half in breadth. The deep-water channel is cm the S.AV. side of the bold shores, which form tho seaward entrance to the inlet. Immediately opposite the fair entrance from the sea, on the eastern side of the inlet, appears a very remarkable cone-shaped mountain. If a leading beacon or some buoys were placed in line with the said mount and the bar entrance of the inlet, I believe AVest AVauganui would be one of the safest harbors of refuge on tho AVest Coast of New Zealand for ships of tho class u imed. West Wanganui is always available for vessels bound South ; for tho Buller, the Grey, Hokitika, &e., in heavy gales from tho S.AV., when those ports are not safe, or even accessible. Indeed there are some well-known coasting captain who have on several occasions found safe and easy shelter here when by stress of weather they could not proceed ou southward to the Grey, &c. _ , “To resume our joui’uev, W c walked onwauta overthe mud flats towards the S.AV.arm of tho outlet, until we opposite tho Maori pa, now nearly deserted by a oucc friendly and hospitable family of the Ngatiaioas, Hole a Maori brought a canoe for us, and wo crossed the channel to tho west side, at a charge of la. each. From thence wo again walked about one mile over similar ground, and arrived at the _ outcrop of tho coal measures formerly discovered by myself. These outcrops at the first time 1 saw them were rising about six or seven feet in heig it above tho flats, and dipping at angles of about 10de". under the adjacent sandstone rising land.” I found them collectively about twelve feet thick. The outcrops arc now for the greater part removed off tho surface by the crows of vessels frequenting the inlet for shelter, or by small parties of miners without capital or proper appliances, and the coals sold to chance vessels as oppoitunity offers. About 3000 tons of excellent surface coal is reported to have been so raised and sold. There is still some showing above tho water mark; but the measures are under the shores, and doubtless continuous under tho land in vast quantities, say 8000 to 10,000 tons to the acre, of superior quality to the surface outcrop. In order to attack those coals_m a proper manner,-it will be necessary to sink a shaft, which will be quite easy, anti will cut the first two seams of about Bffc. at a depth of about 60ft., probably less. Besides tho two seams aforesaid, several other seams of fair average thickness of excellent coal are visible at various parts of this inlet which underlie these outcrops at greater' depths, having the same inclination and dip. These also may be reached by continuation of tho shaft or shafts at a moderate depth. Indeed any person having fair mining knowledge, who will take the trouble to examine this country properly and impartially, will conclude that there is an extensive and unbroken coalfield of great commercial value, easily and economically obtainable, lying still mnworked by capital and skill, 100 miles by water-carriage from the pit mouth to tho wharves of the capital of New Zealand. “Passing onwards from these outcrops towards the head of the inlet, a quarter of a mile distant, wo reached the refreshment store of Mr. Howaid. Hero we had a comfortable sapper, and saw several docent miners, some of whom had been working tho surface coal. All gave excellent accounts of tho quantity and (superior quality of these particular scams, but complained that as they had no moans to raiso more coal, nor of shipping it when raised, they had abandoned tho work, for gold-digging in the neighboorhood, or other chance - employment. Here wo passed tho night, with comfortable beds, &c. “As I have no desire to trespass on the lime of the members of the Chamber of Commerce, J will as briefly as possible add that while at West Wanganui I examined the surrounding country carefully, and spent a day at the heads of the entrance of tho harbor. When blowing right in and pretty rough, I could see no difficulty as to the approach from seaward that would be at all likely to deter a sailor from entering even at low water, always providing his vessel did not draw more than eight £eot. Of course, at high water, ships of much larger draught could enter safely. Nothing as yet has been done by tho Government to place any leading marks to guide shipmasters into this haven of safety. I am of opinion that some comparatively inexpensive marks as Indicated above, might bo recommended by your Chamber, with great advantage to navigators taking shelter in this port. “West AVanganm is on the high road to some interesting and valuable gold mines, quartz, &c. X visited one nine miles S.AV. of tho inlet, which was a marvel of v/hat the trouble, perseverance, and success of a few resolute and industrious men have already achieved. I argue for this part of tho country great sue cesses both in coal mining and gold produce,

“ Not ton miles off (ns tho crow flics), on the shore;; of the Coition Bay, is a mountain of hematite iron of surpassing richness, with sil.'er and other ores, everywhere easily approachable ami workable if capital could be snared out of ordinary commercial pursuits. Surely this part of New Zealand will attract large capital from England some day soon, for there is abundance of reproductive minerals in the neighborhood, not only to supply the future requirements of New Zealand, bub all the of the south.—l have, See., F. G. Moore.