The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 1868.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 233, 30 April 1868, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 1868.

In his address on opening the present session of the Provincial Council, his Honor the Superintendent expressed his regret that by the 11th clause of the " Consolidated Loan Act," the Council was prohibited from guaranteeing interest on any capital that might be engaged in coal mining, adding that had such not been the case he would have prepared a measure on the subject. Most heartily can we re-echo this regret, for had such been permissible and capitalists been assured of some certain interest for their outlay, they would have easily found funds to open up and utilise the vast, but at present useless, coal measures of the AVest Coast. It is true that a little is being got at the Grey, and that at Mokihinui a mine has been opened, but nothing like system has yet been introduced, and the petty manner in which coal mining has been carried on, is immeasurably out of proportion to its importance. We have been told by Dr Hector; who made a very careful examination of the country, that a coal bed of greater or less extent, runs at least seventeen miles north of Westport, and that all this is of greater or less value. The best of it is equal to the best "Welsh coal, and the most inferior is good enough for ordinary consumption. The experience gained by Mr Burnett and party in prospecting, and in fact opening up a mine at Mount Eochfort, has shown us that an enormous mass of this mineral, of the very highest class, lies waiting to be disentombed. Access is easy ; the coal is readily got; we have a splendid port to ship "it at, and any quantity of tonnage trading to the coast that will only too gladly take away all that is possible to raise. Mr Burnett in his estimate of the cost placed the necessary capital at a very high figure, and to that we fear much of the delay in turning the coal to account has been occasioned. In addition to the question of cost of getting to work, there was not at that time any immediate market, and the consequence was, that the subject was allowed to sleep, and has never been properly revived to the present time. At that time the surrounding circumstances were vastly different. No goldfields of great moment had been discovered—the fleet of steamers that now trade on and to the Coast, and who would gladly become customers, if supplies were to hand, were not in these waters, neither were the crowd of sailing craft from New Zealand and Australia, that now bring goods to supply the West Coast. The latter would fill with coal on the return trip, and altogether quite irrespective of any home consumption here, a market is open for almost any quantity that can be got. It is the opinion of practical men that the estimate of Mr Burnett was preposterously high, and that a thoroughly efficient plant could be procured, a tramway laid down, wharves built, the mine opened, and all be put in actual order for just about onefourth of the sum named by him. Whether this is so or not we cannot tell, but those who say so are practical men, whose opinion is valuable, and it is the interest of the public to ascertain the correctness of the different estimates. But even if Mr Burnett's more magnificent conception is correct, there would be no difficulty in raising the money we believe, if a guaranteed interest for a period of years would be given. The expressions of his Honor, however, would lead us to suppose that this must be a matter of difficulty, and in fact of impossibility, as far as the Provincial Council goes, but we are much more sanguine on it than Mr Curtis. If the Provincial Council would get all the data collected together, the probable extent of tho mine, tho thickness of the seams, the quality of tho coal, the facility of transport from tho mine to

the port of shipment, tho ready market, and the consequent probable profits, added to tho faet that our coal development would bo tho means of encouraging, or establishing a new industry, a very good cuso could bo made out to justify a recommendation to the General Assembly, that interest on money judiciously expended should, bo guaranteed. If this guarantee was obtained, a few thousands more or less would be no and a large and substantial company would be easily floated. A coal mine to this town would be a greater and more permanent source of wealth than any goldtields, and the development of one would, in all likelihood, materially assist the advancement of the other. \Vc moot the matter once more, in the hope that some of our members may take it up and press it to an issue, for on the working of the coal mines that have been proved to exist within a few miles a considerable amount of the future prosperity of Westport depends.