MAURICEVILLE COAL PROSPECT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 2035, 24 December 1907, Page 5

MAURICEVILLE COAL PROSPECT.

Considerable interest is being displayed in the Wairarapa over the reported coal discoveries in the Mauriceville district. The fields under observation are upon the property of Messrs F. Kummer and Hoffeins, and are close to the railway line. Both Messrs Kummer and Hoffeins have bored and excavated, and they have come upon outcrops of coal something like that of Kaitaugata in quality. Mr Kummer has spent several hundreds of pounds in tunnelling, and is now, down about 200 feet. Several experts, notably Messrs Hall, Perry, and Graham have lately inspected this mine and their reports have been favourable. Messrs Hall and Perry express the opinion that the coal is good, and they think that there is plenty of it. Mr Graham, who is a mining engineer, from Vancouver, reports that there are good indications of coal, and now Mr I. Hayes, ex-Governmeut Inspector of Mines, is inspecting the fields. It is regrettable that something definite could not be obtained in the nature of a report from some responsible official. Various financial institutions have offered to bear the cost of further boring and excavating, but Mr Kummer has preferred to stand alone. There is no doubt that there is coal, and that what has been found is a superior class of lignite; but the question is: How much is there, and where is it? This information can only be disclosed by the expenditure of a large amount cf money. Coal in large areas would make the Wairarapa fifty times more prosperous than it is at present, and the key to the position, lies in the hands of Mr Kummer. There is an added interest to the whole business at present, owing to the reported attendance on the coal district of Mr Martin Kennedy, one of the shrewdest business men in the Dominion. —Dominion.