MOKAU COAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 October 1920, Page 4

MOKAU COAL.

A NEW FIELD. EASILY ACCESSIBLE. About four miles up from the mottUi ; of the Mokau river and three mills ft. , land is a deposit of coal that is fa scriued by the local settlers as very cousiderable. A tramway for a timber still formerly went within half a mile of the coal, which is therefore held to be easily accessible. There is deep water right up to the point in the river, And too submerged timber' or Bnags f which make navigation to the coal mine 21 miles from the river mouth impossible. The Mokau settlers are anxiouj to test the extent of the field, and a member of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce (Air. CI. Fraaer) who recently visited the district was asked to briig the matter before the Chamber, to He if something could be done to exploit these coal measures. This he did yesterday. ■ It was mentioned that an officer of the Geological Survey Department was to examine and report upon the Tahora coal seam, and the opinion was expressed that whilst in Taranaki he might be asked to visit and report upon this new Mokau field. It was agreed that if the coal wa? so favorably situated as reported, the cost of bringing it to Moturoa would be comparatively small, and the price at which jt could be offered in Taranaki would also be very low. In the old days, before the Jjfofcau river became blocked owing to the shortsighted policy of the land-owjieni fa denuding the precipitous banks of the river of its virgin bush, the logs being brought down by heavy rains and, floods, boats used to regularly bring coal from the mines to Waitar»; Tko boats had to cross both bars oh Hie one tide, which waß not always easy, espwsially in adverse weather, but this would not be necessary if the boats plied to Moturoa.' The sailings from th* river could be arranged to suit the tide. The quality of the coal has been tested» and adjudged flret-clasß. These and other points in connection with the exploitation of the measures were discussed by the council, of • the Chamber of Commerce, which' ultimately set up a small committee t« gaffer further information and report fo tor* other meeting.