THE GOLDEN COAST.

Otago Witness, Issue 2810, 22 January 1908, Page 38

THE GOLDEN COAST.

SOME GREYMOTJIH RECORDS. PROSPECTS iok THE ITEAR. (Fboii Our Own CaaxxsrojcnxNT.) GREYMOUTH, January 17". Last year eorne xecords were established! at the port of Greyinonth. Not only" difl 1907 witness ihq t ettip.g_ of the Summit tunnel contraot — a work fraught ~wfth tremendous possibilities for- til© "West OotWEi-— " but it also saw a ■record established- in tfia tonnage of the shipping' iha* visited Greymouth and in the trade connected-there-with — a trade that this year will - outdistance the ,past -one -in -its volume and general bearing on the prosperity of the " Golden Coast." The year 1908 bas indeed opened auspiciously, for with trade buoyant —in point of fact, never better— and extensive works proceeding it is evident 'that we shall continue to enjoy tiia* prosperity which has been such a pleasing feature of this part of the Dominion duiang- the last iew years. This year will witness in mining- matters alone a. big revival. There will be the placing of coal on the market by the Paparoa. Coal Company, the reopening of the Walkend coal - mine, and the extensive development of the State colliery at Point Elizabeth ; while in gold there -will be important operations started at the Roe* Mat. By itself stands the Progress Company's latest venture at Blackw&ter Reefs, whereat development 16 proceeding rapidly and in such a manner as will at Tin early date enable actual /gold-winning- operations to be commenced. The quantity of exports from Greymotrfchduring 1 the 12 months ended -December 31 showed a substantial advance over those of the previous year, and constitute a record for^ the port. The figures show that the exports were: Timber, 42,012,858 super, feet; sleepers, 104,732;., c0a1, 339,858 tons; coke. 2269 tons; bricks, 1315 tons; flax, ..3022 bales; w001, "946 bales. Coal shows 69,961 tons of an increase ; timber, 8,125,713 superficial feet; sleepers, 21,478; coke, 630 tons;:" bricks, 380 tons ; and flax, 718 bales as com? pared with 1906.