SOLID COAL SEAMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 May 1919, Page 5

SOLID COAL SEAMS.

EASILY WORKED MINES UNWORKED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Westport, Last Night. The Minister of Mines, on his way to Reefton from Westport, made an inspection of one of the mines in the Buller Gorge that wcjiild be served by the completion of the Westport—Reefton railway. Coal from these mines was -used for dredges, but since these have disappeared from the river only small quantities are taken out for the use of the people in the vicinity of the mines. The Minister went along the various drives through solid coal varying from 15 to 30 feet thick, and later was given considerable data concerning other outcrops and workings, indicating apparently the largest coal field in the Dominion. Members of the Westport Railway League impressed it upon the Minister that there would not have been a shortage of coal so much complained about if the IG-mile gap in the Buller Gorge railway had been completed, and urged that the national mistake made should be rectified by the speedy completion of the line.

The Westport Harbor Board interviewed the Minister in regard to the operations of sections 10S and 109 of the Finance Act, 1915, and regulations of the board thereon, under which thfe Government imposed 21 percent, additional charges on the Westport-Mokihi-nui railway and wharves for war purposes, but left the board to pay all the additional charges for material, maintenance, wages, the increases of salaries to its own harbor staff (arising out ofi war conditions) out of the ordinary revenue, with the result that the board' was being financially crippled. Up to March 3 last the Government had taken, from this source over £40,000.