COAL PROSPECTING.

Southland Times, Issue 1546, 5 March 1872, Page 3

COAL PROSPECTING.

Sir, — I notice in your weekly issue of Saturday, that Mr T. J. Thompson seems to have " got into the mist " as to my meaning when I last wrote you about coal prospecting, and that he may be made quite sure of what I do mean, I again repeat that as a geneea-L bulk, no outcrop coal, lignite, or any sort of coal ! will compete in coinbuative properties with coals found at some depth below the surface. I waa quite aware when I wrote you last, that the Grey coal fwhich is all Mr T. says as to quality) was an outcrop coal, but what I wish to get at is as good a coal as the Grey coal, in the coal beds known to exist nearer our railway lines, made and contemplated, and which would be readily and cheaply transported to a market either for home consumpt or export. The Grey coal miners might compete with coal got as I suggest, but it would not be easy to prove that they could profitably undersell a good coal, economically mined, and economically ! railed to market. For Mr Thompson's information, I may mention that I believe the Morley coal would be found of better quality than the brown coal he writes of, and probably it would be as easily worked. My object will be gained whenever a good steam-producing coal can be sold in Invercargill and Bluff at about 25s to 35s per ton, and the only way to get this I believe I pointed out in my last letter. If Mr T. J. T. knows of any better plan, I am sure the public will be only too happy to hear his modus operandi, and no one will more heartily rejoice in the success of his project, than— Tours truly, Black Diamond. Invercargill, 4th March, 1872.