BLACK DIAMONDS. FURTHER ADVANCE IN NEWCASTLE COAL. HOW THE AUCKLAND COAL SUPPLY IS AFFECTED.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 299, 15 September 1888, Page 4

BLACK DIAMONDS. FURTHER ADVANCE IN NEWCASTLE COAL. HOW THE AUCKLAND COAL SUPPLY IS AFFECTED.

7S l\\ castlk coal has increased in value till it is worth almost any price that is asked for the small quantity still available. New Zealanderscannofc ealieethis fully on account ot the abundant supply obtainable from the mine'; at Greyniouth, Westport, and from the numerous Auckland collieries, which have been so libtle distressed by the greatly increased demand that so far no advance in prices have to be recorded. In Australia, however, the continuance of the miners' strike is creating serious loss and inconvenience on all lands, and most extraordinary methods have to be adopted in order to find a substitute for the hitherto unlimited supply drawn from Newmarket.

THE STRIKE EXPECTED TO LAST ANOTHER MONTH. By the la&b mail from Sydney, .Messi lb SLone Bros*, received advice.% irotn their agents that fchey had purchased a supply of &mali coal at Newcastle free on board vessel for 22s 6d. The coal referred to is what is known as "slack." and the ordinary price for it was 6& per ton., f-o that this will afford home idea of the increased prices demanded at the City of Black Diamonds. The same firm writer that the miners' strike is expected to last for another month at any rate.

A PRECIOUS CARGO. The schooner Jessie, now on the way from Newcastle to Auckland with a cargo of round coal, is consigned to Messrb Stone Bi"os., and they have instructions not to sell undei 31s 6d per ton alongside ot the wharf heie. Whether it will find a purchase! lemains to be seen, Newcastle coal not having; advanced in value here in proportion to thegreatincrea&e in Australian quotations, in consequence of the good local supply available. We learn that the schooner Silver Cloud has obtained a halfcargo of coal at Newcastle for this port, whether on ships' account or as freight we are not informed. The local quotation foi Newcastle coal to-day was 40s per ton delivered, with every prospect of a further advance. Prior to the strike Newcastle coal (delivered) was quoted here at 30s and 325. An Aucklandor now in Melbourne wrote by mail that at the Australian Club, one of the best institutions of the kind in Melbourne, mallae roots, a &orb of scrub, were being burned in place of coal. These mallae roots are said to cost 20s per ton, and the circumstance goes to bear out what has previously been mentioned as to the- value of fuel in that great centre of commerce.

FURTHER ADVANCE IN GREYMOUTH UOAL. (■Jreymouth coal, which advanced in value J& 6d per ton shortly after the Newcastle miners went on*-, on strike, is now quoted at 14s per ton at the mines, this being a further advance of 6d per ton. We are not advised as to the condition of the market for Westport coal, the Auckland gas supply being drawn from Greymouth. The schooner Louie is now due at Grahamstown with a cargo of Greymouth coal for the Thames Gas Company.

THE AUCKLAND MINES. With the exception of the Kamo mine, the Auckland collieries do not appear to have been materially affected by the miners' strike. The Bay of Islands Coal Company have had inquiries for large quantities bobh for Australia and New Zealand, but they are unable to do more than supply their ordinary customers. Mr Bell, manager of the Kamo mine at Whangarei, wasin town to-day. In conversation with a Star representative he stated that the demand for coal at Kamo was daily increasing and that the miners were working from 7 a.m. tilL 5 p.m., in order to secure the required output. The outpb for August was 1,528 tons, and the output last week was 668 tons for 6 days. This 668 tons, by the way, costs no less a sum than £68 17s for conveyance by rail from the mine to Whangarei loading ground. The output for the present month will be about 150 tons per day, or upwards. Mr Bell is kept very busily employed in making arrangements to meet this increased demand, and when he lefb Whangarei six vessels were there waiting for coal. The barque Mercury was also daily expected ffco arrive from Nelson to obtain 500 tons coal for Albany. There are twelve schooner.' j and cutters now running as hard as they cian run between Whangarei and Auckland ; besides these, supplies have to be provided ifor the North Shore Ferry Company, and Thames steamers. Altogether some 16 vessels are now exclusively engaged in the Whangarei coal ferade, and although there Ij as not been apy increase in prices so far, 5b is probable fchafc a slight advance will be made shortly in the event of a further increase in the demand.

Why is a girl of the period experiencing her first kiss like a steamer about to leave port?— Because ahe is all bustle and. confusion.