NGAKAWHAU COAL MINE.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 1013, 15 October 1872, Page 2

NGAKAWHAU COAL MINE.

Ths following: report, by Mr S. G Chambers, has been handed us for publication :

To the shareholders of the Ngakawhau Coal Mining Company. G-EXTiEMEir, —I have the honor to report that, in accordance with your request, I have, in company of Messrs Field and W. Chambers, visited your mine, and have great pleasure in expressing my opinion of the value of the mine now being opened out by you.

The first thing I directed my attention to was the harbor, which I find posseses great natural facilities for the accommodation of the class of vessels employed on the West Coast, and mav be still further improved by the construction of a breakwater at each side of the entrance to the river, the material for which may be taken from a boulderbauk about half-way between the harbor entrance and the mine. The erection of these piers would cause the freshes from the river to scour the channel to a depth that would admit the largest class of sailing vessels trading on this coast, to enter the harbor in safety, and would induce the owners of vessels trading from Melbourne to the Buller, to send these vessels to load up with coal in preferance to returning in ballast as at present. A deep basin exists opposite the mine, in which vessels can lie afloat at low tide, the only impediment being a large block of sand-stone which is in course of removal. A substantial wharf has been erected by your company, capable of holding about 250 tons of coal, and is constructed in such a manner as will facilitate the loading of vessels as much as possible. A little further outlay will make it all that can be desired for present requirements.

I next visited the mine and find a tunnel has been opened in a seam of coal 16ft in thickness, cropping out iii the front of the lull close to the wharf, and about 30ft above high water uaark, I find the coal is free from auy splint or shale bands, and is of a rich bituminous character. An analysis showing it to abound in hydrocarbon,, and to be of a very superior character, either as good household or steam coal; it can also be converted into very superior coke at a cheap rate, by using the largo kilns lately introduced in place of the old dome shape coke ovens.

The angle the seam is pitching at will prevent raising more than 1200 to 1600 tons per month without machinery, until the main tunnel gets far enough into the hill to put away crosscuts to the south-west, when the

quantity raised cau be increased as may bo required. On searching up the mine creek about 1300 feet ahead of your present working we found the top of the seam cropping out at the bed of the creek at a higher level than the mouth of your tunnel, and it is likely the coal will be found to crop under the creek and be found on the opposite range about this spot. The shales aud sandstones can be traced a considerable distance up the creek, and there is every indication that the coal will be found to extend through the whole of your lease. I found a considerable quantity of inflammable gas was making from a small slip in the face of the tunnel, rendering it necessary at once to construct an air drive and to properly ventilate the mine. A very convenient place for the outlet of the air-drive occurs on the face of the hill in Mine creek, it can also be used for taking the driving timber, which abounds iu its vicinity, into the workings as may be required. It only remains to decide on the mode to be adopted for conveying your coals from the mine to the different markets, either by inviting tenders for freight at per ton, or better still, -by obtaining one or more handy steamers of your own, on the twin screw principle, capable of carrying say 200 tons of coal on a light draught of water. In conclusion I heartily congratulate you on the possession of such a valuable mine, and state it as my opinion that it only requires judicious management to make it take a foremost place amongst the most successful mining ventures of the day. Bhouid you deem it necessary, in order more speedily to extend your operations, to form a Joint Stock Company under the Limited Liability Act, upon the basis now submitted to you, I anticipate no difficulty in doing so.— I have the honor to be, Gentlemen, yours respectfully, B. C. Chambers. Westport, 10th Oct., 1572.