The Westport Times. FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 1872

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 996, 16 August 1872, Page 2

The Westport Times. FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 1872

Tllß present time seems particularly favorable for the expansion of public or private enterprise, in the direction of developing the coal mines of New Zealand. The coal trade between New Zealand ports and New South Y\ T ales lias, by a chain of fortuitous circumstances, received a decided check. '".Freights for Newcastle colliers first foil so low, that owners of vessels fit for any other purpose than the coal trade, have sought other ports for employment ; then of late the coal miners collier crews have, been on strike, and the scant cargoes sent to New Zealand have only come to hand at random intervals. Consumers looking nearer home for a supply, have suddenly become impressed with a conviction of the suicidal folly so long perpetrated, in seeking from distant shores for a supply of fuel, while within the boundaries of our own Colony, from the Bay of Islands in the North to Otago in the South, there exist millions unon millions of tons of coal iufinitely Miptrior to any imported. Still, as yet, no very decided action has been *«ken to remedy the evil, and the cry now resounds from end to and nf the colony that coal is the scarcest article in the market, and at times not to be obtained at any price. It was not long since that the General Government issued a circular forbidding the use of coal in public offk'es, ou account of its scarcity. At Timaru lately, a solitary of coal was exchangcdfor a bag of wheat. Captains of steamers find the greatest difficulty in obtaining supplies sufficient to carry them from port to port. The steamers chartered by the New Zealand Government depend almost entirely on Australian coal. The c< miction is forcing itself upon the minds of all classes, that the development of a most profitable and permanent industry has been well nigh strangled in its infancy, either by the meddlesome proclivities of provincial ru'ers, the supineness of the General Government, or a lack of business energy among the people themselves. The question of a continuous supply of this indispensable mineral has become a national one, and forces itself daily more prominently before the notice of the Legislature, and there is reason to hope that during the present sitting of the Assembly, the din and turmoil of party strife and factious contention will not prevent the passing of some measure that will prove of practical utility in aiding the development of New Zealand coal mines. The neglect, hitherto shown, has been felt more, perhaps, on the Coast than else-

whore, inasmuch as we have ah our very d.ws vast stores of coal, which need but opening out io prove sources of permanent riches. The Bruuner coal untie has proved beyond all doubt that it is almost practically inexhaustible, but under the mismanagement of Nelson misrule, its profitable utilisation lins been seriously retarded. The mine also gives exceeding good promise of being an equally permanent source of riches. As far as the local interest of Westport is concerned, it is perhaps fortunate that no effort has been made to obtain Provincial Government assistance, to promote tie development of the NgaJcawhao mine. It is not at all likely that the Nelson Government, if applied to, would have granted the encouragement given to the opening of coal mines within the pet district of Nelson proper. As at Collingwood, for instance, where a bonus of five shillings per ton on all coal raised was for some time given. While on the other hand, had the Executive by any chance obtained similar control over the Ngakawhao mine to that they hold over the Bruuner, it might have proved a source of revenue to the Government exchequer, but of very little direct benefit to trie puultc. IXudor all cir eu instances, it may therefore prove, that, -starting free and unlettered from obligation of any kind, the present holders of the mine can transfer a more valuable right to the proposed coal mining company, than if their infant enterprise had been coddled ;md comforted with the doubtful blessing of Nelson dry-nursing. As the matter now stands, the provisional committee will be enabled to offer to the public of the Colony at large a perfectly safe and profitable investment,- a source of supply yielding a commodity of well tested value, and a trade therein profitable from its commencement, and capable of very wide expansion. The proposed venture will be launched just at the favoring time, when the tide of the coal trade is at the flood, and should hence rapidly take rank among the commercial successes of the day. There will be, as a matter of course, some detractors of the scheme, who, wanting better employment, prompted by selfish motives, or an inherent love of mischief-making, will choose to raise doubts and misgivings, and with captious pcrverseness seek to hinder, rather than encourage, the movement now set on foot to form a coal-mining company on a limited liability basis. But their puny efforts should not retard, to any appreciable extent, the praiseworthy action of those who seek by this movement to promote the general public good, quite as much as their own individual interests.