THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR COAL MINES, &c.

Southland Times, Issue 1521, 9 January 1872, Page 3

THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR COAL MINES, &c.

* On Friday last Captain Hutton, of the Geological Survey TDepartment, arrived i in Southland for the purpose of giving j effect to part 8 of the " Immigration and I Public Works Act Amendment," which ' provides as follows : — j (1) Out ofthe moneys for the time being standing to the credit ofthe Public Works Account, there may be expended under the direction of the Minister in and about the examination and prospecting for coal, any sum or sums not exceeding ten thousand pounds ; (2) The Minister may receive applications from the owners or lessees of coal mines or other persons interested therein for advances of money to aid in developing coal mines ; (3) On receiving any such application, the Minister shall consider the same, and shall obtain the best scientific opinion available as to the value of such coal mine, and the practicability of working the same to advantage, and on such other matters connected therewith as he thinks fit ; (4) If after investigation the Minister is satisfied that the amount asked, or some less amount may with advantage to the public be expended, and that such expenditure will lead to the permanent development of the coal mine, and that coal may be supplied therefrom at rates profitable to the workers of the mine, and suitable to the purposes of consumers, he may recommend to the Governor what advances for the purpose or purposes specified ought to be made ; and (5) On such recommendation the Governor may authorise such advances to be made out of any moneys standing to the credit ofthe Public Works Account, but there shall be taken to and in the name of the Queen such security for the repayment as in the opinion of the Minister will be sufficient to provide for and secure the repayment of the moneys advanced. The moneys so advanced shall be expended under the direction of the Minister on the purposes for which they have been advanced, so that the expenditure on such purposes may be secured. A number of gentlemen whose attention has been for some time past directed to the question of developing the coal seams known to exist throughout this district, had an interview with Captain Hutton on the subject of his mission •with the purpose of rendering him what assistance they could in carrying out the object in view. In the meantime Captain Hutton has proceeded to Benmore station, the property of Mr Webster, M.H.8., where some promising indications are said to exist. On his return to Invercargill, which is expected to be in the course of a week or ten days, the investigation will be resumed under the guidance of one or other of the mineral borers who have been engaged upon the various expeditious fitted out in Southland to explore the country in search of coal. Parties possessing special information on the subject would do well to communicate the same without delay.