The Telephone. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE POVERTY BAY STANDARD. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, MONDAY, AUGUST 4.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 200, 4 August 1884, Page 2

The Telephone. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE POVERTY BAY STANDARD. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, MONDAY, AUGUST 4.

Our telegrams announce the pleasing fact that the Shag Point Coal Co., which some time ago had to close the mine they were then working, have come upon what is believed to be a very good seam by the use of a diamond drill.

The reference to the subject has suggested that we should give our readers ; some information respecting the coal fields of the Colony, which cannot fail to be interesting, I" Nev Zealand, coal mines are being vor ted in the provinces of Auckland, Canterbury, Nelson, and Otago, including Southland. Both the hydrous and anhydrous coals occur at the “ base of a great marine formation underlying limestone, clays, and sandstone of cretaceous and tertiary age, which have a thickness of several thousand feet, the coal seams occurring whenever the above formation is in contact with the older rock.” The anhydrous varieties of coal are considered to be equal to the best imported for steaming purposes. Bitumenous coal is found mainly in the Nelson province. Accurate surveys of the Mount Rochfort or Buller coalfield show it to contain 140,000,000 tons of bituminous coal of prime quality, the seams of which are from toft, to 40ft. thick. The Brunner coal mine, on the Grey River, has an available working area of thirty acres, the seam being 18ft. in thickness, and the estimated amount of coal 4,000,000 tons, which is workable for the most part above this water-level. The coal has been pronounced the best in Australasia for steaming purposes, gaswork and iron foundries, for which it readily commands a price from about 10 to 20 per cent, higher than any other coal in the market. Its average evaporative power is 7IIbs. of boiling water converted into steam for each pound of coal. Coke made from it is valued at 15 dols. a ton. Coal mines in other parts of the Nelson district have also yielded excellent coal. One of the coal-fields of Otago is estimated to contain the enormous quantity of 1,152,000,000 tons of coal. The Kawa Kawa mine in Auckland, which has a workable seam of 13 ft. in thickness shows of late years a more rapid developement, perhaps, than any other, owing mainly to the fact that the Union Shipping Company have adopted it for the use of their coasting steamers. The following will show the yield of the principal collieries in the various districts of New Zealand for 1878, the date of the latest official statistics : —Auckland, 58,900 tons; Nelson, 30,50410n5; Westland, 6,882 ; Canterbury, 8,976 ; Otago, 56,956; total, 162,218 tons. During the same year the total consumption of coal in the colony amounted to 332,445 tons, of which 158,297 tons were derived from the domestic mines, and the balance imported principally from New South Wales, The total quantity exported was 3,921 tons. Owing to the fact that that increased railway and shipping facilities during the past few years had given a decided stimulus to this valuable industry in New Zealand, it is probable that the relative proportion of the foregoing figures has materially changed, and that ere long the output will be sufficient not only to supply for the most part the home demand, but to leave a surp.us for exportation. From a Parliamentary return received to-day, we learn that the various coal mines pay a royalty on their output of 6d. per ton, with the exception of the Kawa Kawa mine, which only pays 4d.

Information was received by the ’Frisco Mail last week respecting the subsidy to be contributed by the United States towards the mail service to insure its continuance which was on the whole cheering. Although the matter has been practically shelved for a time, there seems no reason to doubt that a resolution in favor of granting the subsidy will be carried. A new Shipping Bill has become law, having been passed by the Congress and since signed by the President. One of the prominent features of the Bill is the repealing of the former law, which compelled all shipping companies to carry mail matter, when requested by the postal authorities to do so, free of any subsidy, and on the sole condition of receiving what was termed mail pay. Under the provisions of the Act which has just obtained supreme sanction, the arrangements for the carrying of mails will, after April, 1855, be left in the hands of the Postmaster-General, This functionary is therefore authorised to contract for the carrying of such mails, on the same basis as that on which arrangements for the conveyance of inland mails are placed, namely, at the rate of about two shillings per mile. Apparently there will not be a grant made for subsidy in the ordinary sense in which subsidy is understood, but in its place an appropriation is to be authorized, the exact amount of which is to be regulated by surrounding circumstances. Experts appear to be of opinion that the appropriation will amount to nearly £l B,OOO per annum, the sum which the Governments of New South Wales and New Zealand decided on as the proportion the United States should contribute. This represents about one - third of the sum guaranteed to the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, and may be looked upon as a very handsome contribution. The Bill which Congress has passed expressly provides for such arrangements as those interested in the San Francisco service have long desired to see made; and, now that the opportunity of obtaining the benefits they promise has been secured, it surely ought not to be allowed to slip. New South Wales appears to be a little apathetic in the matter owing to having come to an arrangement with the P. and O. line for the conveyance of her mails. But this should not debar New Zealand from doing all in her power to support the service. It is a source of some satisfaction that the present Government are in favor of the San Francisco service, and it is also said Sir George Grey will do his utmost to secure to the colony many growing advantages which the continuance of this service gives promise of. It is therefore earnestly to be hoped that his efforts, in conjunction with those of the Government, will be ably and generously seconded by all those members of Parliament who desire to see the gem of the Pacific appreciated by the great American nation as well as by the grand old country which is the mother of us all. The information from Wellington was a little conflicting, but it must be remembered that the Bill passed by Congress does not provide a subsidy for the San Francisco service in particular, but embodies a principle which applies to it as well as to similar services, and virtually secures

the result desired. The two parties in Congress mentioned in the telegram must denote those who were in favour of a special subsidy being granted and those who preferred trying what is described as “ another systemand that system evidently means the plan of appropriation set out in the Shipping Bill. So far as we can make out there seems to be no good reason for doubting that in one form or another the American Congress has determined on making the required contribution towards the maintenance of the San Francisco Mail Service.

By the Waihora from South yesterday we were glad to observe the return of our able and respected solicitor Mr, W. Brassey. Mr. Brassey’s legal mission to Wellington has been one embodying most eventful contingencies to the whole interests of the district, and we understand he has been successful, The case of the most importance which Mr, Brassey bad to argue before the Supreme Court, was that of subdivision of acquired interests in Native lands. The complications surrounding the questions, it will be remarked, was the cause of the sudden collapse of the Tologa Bay Court, and consequent stagnation in the circulation of capital. If, as we understand is the case, Judge Richmond’s decision is in favour of Mr. Brassey’s arguments, an inestimable boon has been conferred upon the settlers of this district—the ramifications of the land title so materially affecting business of every kind. That confidence will be restored to our commercial and monetary institutions is not the least of the benefits conferred by the success of Mr. Brassey’s arguments, and in compliment to that gentleman’s ability it is not saying too much to say that in the clear perception and interpretation of the Native Land Laws he stands second to none in the profession.

The information anent the small-pox which we have received through his Worship the Mayor (Captain Porter) will no doubt startle our readers not a little. We can, however, assure them that every precaution is being taken by the police and the Public Health Department to closely watch all the passengers landed from the ship yesterday.