THE BULLER AND GREY COALFIELDS.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 492, 17 April 1869, Page 2

THE BULLER AND GREY COALFIELDS.

(From the Qrey Oliver Argus). The discovery, which we recently' announced, of a valuable seam of coal within a short distance of Westport has a far more important bearing upon the future prosperity of this port than may at first appear. The residents in Westport have for a long time been agitating for the development of the Mount Rochfort Coal Fields with so much earnestness that it was highly probable the matter would be undertaken by the Nelson Provincial Council. It was believed and admitted that the opening up of a mine of excellent coal, and bringing the same to port by means of a tramway, would completely revolutionise the trade of Westport and place its prosperity upon a firmer basis than it had ever previously attained. It is, therefore, to be expected that the discovery which has just been made

will be taken advantage of for this; end, and the coal trade of this port will meet with a strong opposition in competing for the supply of the coasting steamers and sailing craft. With the probability, of a vigorous opponent coming into the market and competing for the principal portion of our coal trade —namely, the coaling of the Nelson steamers —it is high time that some more attention was paid to the state of the coal market here than has been given to it lately. It must be admitted that for a long time the trade here has been in an almost unsatisfactory state, more especially since the stoppage of the Grey River Coal Company, early in the present

year, when the entire supply was thrown into the hands of those who are working the Brunner mine, While both companies were at work, pushing on their operations, compe- ; tition had the effect of keeping the market well supplied and prices low, and no detention was caused to steam- ; ers and sailing craft wishing to ship i cargoes; but since the suspension we ; have referred to the delays have i been both frequent and vexatious, . while the price has been very greatly I increased, so much so as to put a stop

to any chance of competition with other ports. Lately the vessels trading between this port and Melbourne have given up the practice of carrying coal to that market instead of ballast, because the article can only be carried at a very serious loss to the shipper. Irrespective of the opening of mines on the Buller, it is high time that some steps were taken to place the coal trade of this port on a more satisfactory footing, for year by year is being frittered away, and at present we are no further advanced in the development of this most valuable resource than we were three years ago.