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DEVELOPING OUR COAL FIELDS.

THE GOVERNMENT'S ACTIVITIES, 'By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, May 24. Some information with respect to the activities of his department in developing State coal production was given by the Hon. Mac Donald, Minister lor Mines, to-day. The Minister said it had. been decided to open up a new urine at Nine Mile Coalfield, which was really an extension of Point Elizabeth Mine. "We have lieen boring on a site for Some time," said the Minister. It is Crown land, part of the State coal reserve of 350 acres, and is estimated to contain over four million tons of coal. The matter has been gone into very carefully beforo coming to a decision. It is estimated that rfc will take two mfles of lino to carry the railway from Bmtwga to the new mine. I have wtittea to the Minister for Public Works askzng Mm to take the necessary steps to have a survey of a suitable line made* and have requested that the work üboafil be done with the utmost possible rTmpntMi, as the matter is one of extreme aiffxaey, owing to the shortage of coal On branch railway line trill have to be authorised by special Act, and it TBSI take some considerable time to bane the whole bnsiness in operation. It «SI probably take two years to open J? and develop the mine, bat the main flHng is to test the field and see whether it was worth developing, and that lias been done. "We have also Tinder tKmsidesratSott -the purchase of another-coaiUeM in the Btorth Island, near Huntly. I am madctag. cecommendations to the Cabinet, and a decision will probably be aciived at ZKZt week. We have been coatSmicnuly boring at Charming Creek, near the past three years, and it was dwlftxl that, owing to certain wntTitioMfr fite field could cot be developed Iff tte State. The reservation has now fcen lifted from the tend, and several jnnfes of miners are mining coal thareancfc Wiling it to different merchanta.

"A great deal has been said about, ft new coalfield near Westport. This HOd is about 18 miles from Westpoit, on the Uostport-Inangabua Boad. It woriH be necessary to construct twelve mites of railway over heavy country. It is known that the coalfield has an am of about nine miles by seven miles, bat-las never bfeen properly tested to gat an estimate of the amount of fbßt could he won. Until connection by xsll is made it, of couree, Is nimoenUe to work the coal deposits in thai loeaWy. The coal, however, is of very good qoWity. I have inspected the mine on tervacal occasions during the last few yesa, and a good many thousand tons have been mined and used for variooß proposes, dredging and so on."

WESTPORT'S GREAT TWBgnrnmßg , Westport, Last Night. In reference to the statement by the Minister of Mines (I';e Hon. W. A. MaeDonald) regarding ;ue difficulties of Don- i struction of the BtfUer Gorge Railway, the members of the Weetport" Railway League state that the Minister has been evidently misinformed, as the raibmy construction is completed over the most difficult portion, and most ofthe remain* ing part of the route is along a natural ledge and over flat country. The construction would be by 110 means costly; then, in regard to testing the Add, thp members ask if greater proof of the presence of coal in quantity is required than the solid coal measure in\ wMch mining has been canied on at several places just off the roadside for coal for gold dredging and local'use. Also, tiers were numerous other exposed faces oil big seams on both Bides of the river, the route of the railway actually jinwiiitc over a 12-foot seam whieh dips back into the mountain. Members of the RaOxpay League also wish to emphasise that the completion of this gap would en&lo large fields of coal in the vicinity of Reetfton, estimated at fifty mSes by eight miles, to be developed, as Westpozi is the natural outlet for this area. Several mines are already opened, but tfaeir output is limited, owing to tfre lilftmlty iu getting coal away. Cool ooald poor out of Westport from this flfM immediately the railway is completed, ( / Evidence regarding these coal msfnunt «nd facilities with which they eopU be worked was given before the Industries Commission, whose report is awaited 'hero with great interest. ,

GOWSBNMENT SHOWING-A LITTLE VIGOR. Wellington, Last Night. The Minister for M?nes states it has been decided to open up a new mine at Ninemile, about two mileß from the Runanga site. It is Crown land, and part of the State. coal reserve. Tho ■350 acres estimated contain over 4 Mil* liori tons. Ho hag requested the Mfftistor for PuM't Works to have a "KttWSy for railway* with the utmost despatch. Two miles of line are-required.* . estimated- it will take' twoyeara'to develop the mine. , •. .-i-; The Minister is also making recommendation to Cabinet rcspecting/>itl\e purchase of a coalfield near Hdntly. After three years' boring at- Charming Creek, near Seddonville, it has been decided that the field cannot be developed. The reservation' has been lifted, and coal in now being won by parties of miners.. . ... . A great deal has been said about new coalfields about 18 miles from WeAfywt-. This would require about 12 miles of railway over heavy country. Tho mine cannot be developed until thjs line i«« constructed. The field has riever"fe«enl properly tested, but is knswn to taVeJ an area of nine miles by seven and \ is of very good quality.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TDN19190526.2.23

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Taranaki Daily News, 26 May 1919, Page 4

Word count
Tapeke kupu
925

DEVELOPING OUR COAL FIELDS. Taranaki Daily News, 26 May 1919, Page 4

DEVELOPING OUR COAL FIELDS. Taranaki Daily News, 26 May 1919, Page 4

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