COAL IN COLAC, VICTORIA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5406, 25 July 1878, Page 3

COAL IN COLAC, VICTORIA.

(From the Colac Times , July 3.) We have several times lately had occasion to describe for the benefit of our readers the various specimens of coal that have been found in the Capo Otway Forest. As a general rule, the pieces of coal obtained Have not been valuable. They have usually been found in creeks or other places where they had for ages been exposed to the action of water, and although occasionally they have been, sufficiently large to stimulate further search, the efforts made for the discovery aud exploration of the seams to which they belonged have been fitful, and unproductive of good results. A few weeks back, however, some really good fuel, which burnt well and rerclily, was discovered on land belonging to Mr. Maston, at Barongarook, and the interest thus excited induced a number of gentlemen of the district to subscribe the funds necessary for the sinking of an experimental shaft, Or perhaps it would be more proper, to sjty, for the driving of. a short tunnel, as that is the shape which the work up to this time has assumed. The specimen which induced them to undertake the expense of prospecting for the seam was found, like many of its predecessors, in a creek, and the first thing necessary was to divert this channel, a precaution which proved exceedingly useful during the late heavy rains. The enterprise of the searchers was soon rewarded by the discovery of a seam of really excellent coal, which varies from 13in. to 15in, in thickness, 'and appears to get better and better in quality as it recedes from the surface. The practical value of the fuel may be guessed from the fact that it is acknowledged by the blacksmiths to be far superior to that which they get from Geelong. The gentlemen. who bore the preliminary expense have decided to sink a shaft for the purpose of still further investigating the value of their property.