The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1883. BLACK DIAMONDS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1338, 28 March 1883, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1883. BLACK DIAMONDS.

We all have heard that in the Wai rnrapa ranges unexplored gold mine exist which- may possibly aome (la; help our descendants to solve the socia problem Avhicli Major Atkinson is riov worrying over. Looking at the lifctli difficulties which attend the explore tion of these vast solitudes we are con 3 tent to leave the mineral wealth of ou: mountain walls as a fortune to our des cendants. It is not worth our white ti seek after the magic metal anion; remote gullies and snow capped ridges but it may possibly answer our purposi to prospect the more accessible forma tions at the base of the ranges, when there is reason to believe black dia 5 monds are to be found. A gentleniat who has recently become a Wairarapt resident, and who has had a consider 1 able experience in mining districts informed us the other day that fron perioral indications he was positive thai there was a coal field' in this valley We showed him a lignite, specimet which one of our Featherston friends had found, and he declared unhesitat ingly"that beneath the spot where this specimen was obtained, coal existed Apparently' the-opening up of acoa; field in the Wairarapa .is only a ques tion of time, aa the .opinion we have just quoted has been ; repeatedlj I corroborated by other visitors who have a special knowledge of the subject. In ' the immediate vicinity of our line, oi railway there is every reason to believe that a coal field exists. Without a railway the prospect of unearthing black diamonds would be a poor one, but with a'line running through the locality m which the mineral wealth is stored, it, would certainly be p. wise undertaking to endeavor to devolop it. The principal, obstacle .in tho way of testing whether' payable cpaj measures' exist in Wairarapa South is of course the expense of trial, borings, Coal prospecting takes money, .and coal raining, ;unless, backed up by a considerable amount' of capital/.is very often ,an' unprofitable investment, Already some('efforts have been made by Featherston settlers.to determine the value of the mineral wealth supposed to exist in their neighborhood, but these efforts have been oilman insufficient scale, If the question were taken up on abroader basis by the leading public men'of the district,, wo might reasonably, expect some better result. If the South County Council for example took up the question and endeavored to obtain from the Goveniuient or from private sources reliable information as to the cost of trial borings,; and.'a reliable professional opinion on the ground where any work should be imdoHaken, the public in the Wairarapa \ would'; probably;-he, supplied ..with /data', which .might 'give them .confidence in venturing a portion of their-means to develop; a new industry.; Coal is, of all minerals- : the most valuable, as it involves the employment of • the largest amount of human labor'and leads to the most important results.; It has been the prinj cipal..factor in making Great Britain; the first commercial power in the world, awl some day it will make New Zealand a great manufacturing centre; A coal bed is the best permanent Endowment any district!can pessesW If the Wairarapa enjoys such a resource we need have no fear of borrowing to; make, roads and bridges, of being ruined by;rabbits, of-land receding'in;valued or of; population de'ereasirig. Just now! tinies'are a little, too: good, there to be much: eagerness displayed 1 . ;#erl;blacV ■ diamonds, but if any sys- ! tematio or'[practical steps 'could- 'be' initialed :! to ■ determine: whether ] we [ possess them and' ■ what tho qost;; cjf; getting at them would amountto, wei might : be',taking a/:wise, and prudent; coursei ? J "'.-'•■ ■'.'■'-•■ v ' : :/ : - ; :' ; ■'"**% '■■