Coal at Mokau.

Patea Mail, 17 July 1882, Page 3

Coal at Mokau.

MINING LEASE GRANTED. A company has been formed to lease the coal mines at Mokau from the Natives, and Messrs Grace and Joshua Jones, and a number of other persons have been on a visit to Mokau in order to obtain the signatures of the Natives to certain deeds for leasing the land containing the coal seams. This land is situated about thirty-five miles up the river, and is close to the river bank, so that the coal can be conveyed on trucks from the mine to the landing place without any difficulty or expense in hauling. The coal can be traced over a great extent of country, and is of first-class quality. The shareholders of the company are at present very sanguine, as their prospects are unquestionably good.* The deeds have been executed by the Natives, and all arrangements are now' completed for. taking possession of the land. The party that visited Mokau proceeded there in the ss Muturoa from Waitara, and their stay has been protracted considerably beyond the time intended. ; They have had to endure some hardships, owing to the supply of provisions giving out; and the Natives themselves are very short of food. Potatoes of very bad quality formed the chief article of diet. Indeed the Natives of Mokau are at present in the most distressing circumstances, and they are very eager to dispose of a portion of their lands, in order that they may enjoy some of the luxuries and advantages which their brethren have in settled districts. They have had enough of isolation from the pakehas, and they find they are none the better for having, during the years that have gone by, refused to allow pakehas to enter their country. Te Wetere, who acted as pilot for the steamer, was invaluable, for he knew every boulder and snag in the river. When the Mokau is opened for settlement, the town will probably be near the coal mine, as the river is easily navigated to that point. Now that the land has been passed through the Native Lands Court it is to he hoped this fertile country will be speedily thrown open for . settlement; and there is every reason to believe that ere long it will support a thriving and industrious population.—Taranaki Herald.