NEW PLYMOUTH TO MOKAU.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 243, 8 December 1900, Page 2

NEW PLYMOUTH TO MOKAU.

Brcura favoured with an invitatian to join a party going to inspect the coal measures on the property of Mr. Owen's Manga-Awakino No. 1 Block, a representative of the News left New flymonth by the i p.m. train on Tuesday for Waitara, and, staying the night at Mr. Redmond's exceedingly comfortable bostelery at Waitara, joined the s.s. Manukaa at 5.45 a.m. on Wednesday. Here all the members of the party assembled. Amongst the party was Mrs. Owen, Mrs. Morran, Miss Condor, and Miss Morran, the Hons. T. Tbonpson and W, T. Jennings, Messrs. A. G. French (Mining Engineer), Kerr, Hughes, Blyth, B. Wells, end several others. Shortly before 6 a.m. a start was made, and the Heads being cleared, a most enjoyable run of three hours, with a beautiful smooth sea, the Mokau Heads were reached, and a few minutes later saw the good ship made fast to the wharf. Here a considerable number of townspeople assembled to welcome the visitors, ineluding Constable McAnerin, in fall uniform. Most of the visitors had a walk along the beach while a considerable quantity of general cargo was discharged and taken charge of by Mrs. Lamb, who acts as wharfinger in a most eapablo way. The wharf and shipping arrangements are not of the best, and the town is too far away, but an election is about to be held, under an Act passed last session, by which a duly qualified Harbour Board will be elected, which will, there is little doubt lead to a very much improved state of affairs. After a stay of half an hour, a start was made up the river, and a more enjoyable trip can hardly be imagined. A great deal has been made of the attractions of the Wanganui River, but nothing on that river can exceed the charm of the scenery on the Mokau. The river, though not so large as the Wanganui, is simply charmingly, whilst the magnifioient forest that clothes the hill down to the wateri flflge is unequalled anywhere for the lovely variety of foliage displayed, the glorious crimson rata, the graceful and delicately coloured kohiai interspersed with the dark green of the rewa rewa and the lovely feme and nikau. The towering hills, at times showing wild cliffs, made up a scene that words fail to deicribs as it deserves, It must be seen to be properly realised. It seems wonderful to see people travelling so many miles to make the Wanganui river trip when here at oar own doors, only three hours sail from New Plymouth and Waitara, is a trip quite equal to it in every way, with the advantage that sea-going steamers can go right up the river, After a run of about 1| hours Owen's landing is reached. During the run no lesß than 3 sawmills, Messrs. Greenwood's, Ratheray'g and Kelly's arc passed, and promise to give settlement a great impetus. At Owen's landing | the party all went ashore and proceeded to the Company's ground along a charming bush track, a distance ef some two miles. The steamer went further on up the river to the mines being worked by Mr. Stubbs, and just bought by the Sydney syndicate, some eight miles further up. There cin be no doubt that the opening of the coal measures at Owen's will be very beneficial, as the river presents absolutely no difficulties to there, whereas above that point there are several snags and other obstacles which require the expenditure of a few thousand pounds to remove. A prospectus has already been issued, setting out the advantage to be gained by the formation of a company to work the coal on Owen's land. Briefly, it is proposed to form n company with a capital of £ 15,000 in 60,000 of 5s each. The area to be acquired is 1000 acres, with the option of 3000 more; £3500 is to be piid to Mr. Owen for his lease, J1750 in share 3, and £1750 in cash. The coal j is estimated to run 30,000 tons per acre, and a mining expert from New South Wales, who speaks very highly of it, estimates there would be no difficulty in getting out 3000 tons per day of clear, bright, hard coal. Mr. Gordon French, Mining Engineer of Auckland, has made a careful inspection of the coal and the ground, and reports that the coal is of excellent quality. He estimates that £IOOO will put down a tram-line to the river, and that £250 will open up the seams and put the coal on the river bank ready for shipment. A lot of other information is also given in the prospectus, showing that the Company is a good investment, all of which is fully confirmed by a personal visit to the ground. The saving of time in point of distance, and the condition of the river, and being able to employ larger boats than can get to the upper mines, also make the property a very desirable investment. We may mention that the directors have not been appointed, that being left to the shareholders. The bankers are the National Bank of New Zealand, and Mr. Edmund Scott is the solicitor, and Mr. McDonald Scott, both of Auckland, secretary. Very exhaustive reports have been made by Mr. Gordon French, the consulting engineer, and Messrs. Blanch Brain, G. Wilson, and G. J. Snelus, all engineers of repute in this and the Australian colonies.