PLENTY OF GOAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 April 1920, Page 4

PLENTY OF GOAL.

IX TAKANAKI'S HINTERLAND, SUPPLY OF GOOD QUALITY. Three tons of Ohura coal arrived in Taranaki on Monday, one ton each going to New Plymouth, Stratford, and Eitham, where trials are to be -made as to, its suitability for gas producing, ■ fiteaming, and household use. To-mor-row morning a trial will be made at. the Stratford Dairy Factory. Samples of the coal are on view in Currin'.; window, Devon, Street,, New Plymouth. Mr. S. E. Meredith, of the Ohura, who brought the coal, stated to a, News' representative that the coal measures in the Ohura were of a considerable extent. One seam could be traced for a distance of about 24 miles, running almost parallel with the proposed Stratford-Okalmkitra railway, in some places, in the Head Valley,' being only eight chains away, and in the Waitawhenua Valley nine miles away. The seam was about 13ft in height and over three chains wide in places. No boring was required, a drive into the low hills and the coal could be readily obtained. No coal was more accessible or cheaper to mine. A geologist had examined the field and spoKe very highly of the coal's quality, which was somewhat similar to Taupiri and Huntly, and of the extent of the measures, which were practically illimitable.

Mr. Meredith said there was an impression abroad tliat the Ohtira men associated with him were anxious to exploit the coal for their own profit. This was not so. Six of them had subscribed £2O apiece to show Taranaki the naturo of the coal in the province's hinterland, and their principal object was to enlist the sympathy and support of the rest of Taranaki in pushing ort with ;tiie construction oi the Stratford railway. Coal was vital to the progress and development of Taranaki, which now had to pay such high prices for the coal it imported. With the railway into the Ohura, very cheap coal in -unlimited quantities would be available. It was a great possession, and well worth exploiting, Mr. Meredith hoped that the trials to be made would show the value of the coal and lead to the people of the province acting as one man and demanding of the Government that the railway, the most important public work in New Zealand to-day, should be pushed on vigorously.