COAL DEVELOPMENT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10289, 26 May 1919, Page 5

COAL DEVELOPMENT

REPLY TO MINISTER FOR MINES. Pre** Association. WESTPORT, May 25. In reference to the statement by the Minister, for Mines regarding the difficulties of construction of the Buller Gorge railway, members of the Westport Railway League state that the Minister j evidently has been misinformed, as the railway construction is completed over the most difficult portion, and most of j the remaining part of the route is along a. natural ledge and over flat country. | The construction would be b>» no means I costly. Then, in regard to testing the field, members say that no greater proof of the presence of coal in quantity is required than the solid coal measure in which mining has already been carried on at several places just off the roadside for coal, for gold -dredging, and local use, also the numerous other exposed faces on the big seams on both sides of the river, the route of the railway actually passing over a 12ft seam •which dips back into the mountain. Members of the Railway League also wish to emphasise that *he completion of this ga-p would enable large fields of coal in the vicinity of R«efton, estimated at 50 miles by eight miles, to be developed, as Westport is the natural outlet for this area. Several mines are already opened, but their output is I limited owing to the difficulty of getting coal away. Coal could pour out of "Westport from this field immediately the railway was completed. Evidence regarding these coal measures and the facilities with which they ooiild be worked was given before the Industries Committee, whose report is awaited here with great interest.