The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice we strive. SATURDAY, JANUARY 13, 1872

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 913, 13 January 1872, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice we strive. SATURDAY, JANUARY 13, 1872

An article, published in the " Nelson Examiner" of Jan. 6th, treats on the economic and commercial value of the Brunner coalfield. The writer oi the article in question endeavours to show that the Grey coalfield has not hitherto attracted any independent trade, the latter being limited to the supply of small coasting steamers that enter the port, and to the ballasting of vessels to Melbourne and New Zealand ports. He states that in no single instance has a vessel arrived in ballast at Greymouth for the purpose of loading coal. In other words the whole of the coal has been taken away by vessels sent there solely on account of their inward freights ; that is to say, if there had been no coal mine at the Grey, they would have come all the same. In drawing a comparison between the facilities possessed by Greymouth on the one hand, and Newcastle, N.S.W., on the other hand, for supplying the mineral, the writer contends, and his arguments have been hitherto supported by experience, that it will not be possible under any circumstances for Greymouth to compete with Newcastle for the general supply of the colony. He shows that Newcastle coal is delivered at all the New Zealand ports at 23s to 25s per ton, while the lowest possible rate at which Greymouth coal could, under the most favourable circumstances be delivered, is 30s. per ton. The causes assigned for the disadvantage under which Greymouth as the port of supply must at all times labour, are: the shallowness of the bar; the exposed state of the roadstead ; the expense of towage; the fragile texture of the coal which, in the mere process of mining and transfer to the barges, becomes "slack," and therefore generally unmarketable; and, lastly, the expense of working the mine, and the limited extent of the coal-bearing strata yet discovered. It is probably true that improvements could be made in the harbour, which would have the effect of deepening the channel of the Grey river so as to admit vessels of double the carrying capacity of the largest class that has hitherto visited the port, but the friability of the coal, the restricted character of the field, and the cost of raising the mineral, are powerful reasons why any large expenditure in that direction should not be incurred.

In contrasting the advantages of the Mount Rochfort coalfield with those possessed by the Brunner, and the facilities of Westport as a port of debarkation with those of Greymouth, one cannot avoid beiug impressed with the extraordinary superiority both of our coalfield and port. Taking Mr Wrigg's estimated cost of one ton of coal put on board ship at "Westport at 7s Bd, we find that it is half the present cost of the Grey coal, and a trifle under even the cost of placing coal on board ship at Newcastle. The following are the items :

7 8 The above estimate is exclusive of any profit to a company working the mine. Neither does it include the repayment of interest or sinking fund for railway construction and harbour improvements, but the additional cost per ton for these items, being entirely dependent upon the trade, it would be perfectly arbitrary to fix any figure as the extra cost per ton. Assuming that the trade obtained tlie dimensions of 100,000 tons annually, not by any means an exaggerated estimate, la per ton would be ample to cover these

charges. It is unnecessary, in the face of the numerous reports furnished upon the subject to enlarge upon the qualities of the Mount Koch, fort seam as a domestic and steam fuel. The highest authority in the empire, namely the chief engineer of tho Woolwich arsenal, has pronounced a most unmistakable opinion upon its superior qualities, and further comment, therefore, is useless. Comparing the estimated extent of the two fields, we find that, while the lowest computation of tho Brunner coal area fixes the yield at 6,750,000 tons, tho Mountßochfort seams readily available, at the lowest calculation, are estimated to yield 74,000,000 tons. Another advantage possessed by the Mount Rochfort coal in remarkable contrast with the Brunner ceal, and one, tho importance of which in our opinion, it is impossible to over-estimate, is its remarkable toughness admitting of its transport to any distance with transfers and transhipments without materially depreciating its value. This exceptional and valuable quality cannot fail eventually to gain for it a high reputation either in colonial or foreien markets.

The superiority of the Buller river over the Grey for commercial purposes admits of no question. The mouth of the Buller has a greater depth of water, the channel is wider, steadier, and less sinuous, admitting of vessels of much greater burden and draught of water sailing into or from the harbour. The practical result of these advantages is that sailing vessels of all classes more frequently enter or leave the port without the assistance of a steam-tug. More recently the entrance has exhibited steady and rapid improvement—a gratifying result to which the inexpensive harbour improvements, effected under the direction of Mr Dobson and Mr Blackett, during the past twelvemonths, have mainly contributed. These improvements have consisted in protecting the north bank of the river, and the outer curve thus hardened, has had the effect of concentrating the stream, which would otherwise have had the tendency to scatter its force over an extended area, resulting in a wide, fanlike, but necessarily shallow channel. The continuation of these works, which would include, according to the suggestion of the above gentlemen, the construction of an artificial work upon the south spit would so concentrate the force of the current as to make it effectively counteract the tendency to silt up the entrance, thus permanently deepening the channel. Already, with an instalment of the means proposed, the depth of water at spring tide has been increased to a maximum of sixteen feet, and at low water to six feet; and we have every reason to believe that this improvement will proportionately increase as the harbour works referred to are carried out.

"With a slightly increased depth of water, which may be depended upon as permanent, the ocean-going steamers, and colliers of at least 600 tons, could trade regularly to the port, and a coal trade of incalculable value and capable of unlimited expansion would be opened up. Of one thing we are assured, and that is, the -colony can look only to the Mount Rochfort field for the development of a first-class coal supply.

8. d. Coal in waggons, at pit muuth .. . 5 0 Carriage to Westport . 1 8 Discharging at coal depot . 0 H Putting on board ship . 0 8£ Cost of management . 0 2