The Westport Times. FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 1873.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1052, 7 March 1873, Page 2

The Westport Times. FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 1873.

The public here await with some interest t'ho result of the efforts now being made to promote the formation of a company to more thoroughly work the Br miner Coalmine. The Wellington association of capitalists who have already taken up shares to a liberal extent in the scheme for establishing a coal trade, not unreasonably look to the residents on the West Coast, who will reap the most material benefit from the successful issue of the proposed venture, to also aid therein, and show by their investment of hard casli to what extent their faith prevails in tho commercial soundness of the proposed undertaking. To this intent a meeting was convened at G-reyuiouth on Monday last, at the suggestion of the Wellington promoters of the coal company, as a means of ascertaining the number of shares likely to be locally applied for. The result of that meeting has not yet reached us, but there is little doubt that, although the continual drain of capital for reefing ventures has absorbed nearly all tho spare cash in

Greymouth, as it also has here ; the residents in the Greymouth district, will, with their accustomed enterprise strain every nerve to make a goodly show in the share list. For to the material benefit of their district, and to their own personal advantage will such enterprise undoubtedly tend. To the residents in the Buller district the successful result of sueh co-opera-tion between Wellington and Greymouth men is of material consequence. For reasons, and by influences, easily understood, the attention of Wellington capitalists has been recently directed Bolely to the development of the Grey River coal trade. The projected association formed ostensibly, in the first instance, for opening up a " West Coast coal trade " has already dwindled down to a scheme, as set forth in the draft prospectus of the association. " Ist, to lease and work the Greymouth Coalfields; 2nd, to supply Nelson, Wellington, and other parts of New .Zealand with coal; and 3rd, to carry goods, cattle, &c, to the West Coast." For these purposes the capital is set clown at £50,000 in 5000 shares of £lO each, and to the end that such capital shall be more readily obtained the following easy terms are proposed:—" Deposit on application one shilling per share, on allotment five shillings per share, with calls every month of two shillings and sixpence per share until £3 is paid up, after which no call shall exceed five shillings per share, or be made at intervals of less than one month." The mode of operations projected is the present charter of a steamer of 400 tons burthen, at a draught of eight feet when loaded, so that operations may be carried on at once, while another steamer, the property of the company, is being built at home. Ho far the scheme bears the promise of success, and such success will tend to the floating of a similar venture, having for its base of operations the Buller river. For howsoever Greymouth people or their Wellington friends may pin their faith in the profits to arise and material advantages to be gained from the Brunuer coal trade, the undeniable fact exists that the Buller river is the better port of the two, for either sailing or steam vessels; not only affording greater depth of water i at all seasons of the year, but also in rough weather affording a safer harbor of refuge than any other port on the Coast excepting Milford Sound. It only requires the provision of proper means for conveying coal from the Ngakawhau and Mount Rochfort mines, and also wharfage accommodation on the Buller bank, to command every facility for the expansion of a coal trade sufficient for every possible demand in the Southern Hemisphere. Nor would such requirements necessitate any great outlay of moner, or be met by engineering difficulties calculated to jeopardise the success of the enterprise. Sooner or later the fact will force itself into notice that capitalists are allowing a most promising field of speculation to lie waste, while their enterprise is direded to more showy or better lauded ventures. It may be said, and with good show of reason, that the residents in the Buller district have also been led away by the glare and glitter of quartz speculations, to the neglect of the more certain and steady sources of wealth lying at their very doors, and that if they would redeem the error, they should at once, if even on a small scale, seek to establish a coal trading association, forming the starting point of greater things. hereafter. To this end we think it highly probable that public at tention will be shortly directed, and meanwhile the success of the Greymouth scheme will be watched with interest as indicating to some extent the probable chances of a similar commercial venture being successfully floated here. In connection with this subject we may refer to some remarks made recently by our contemporary the Greymouth Star, wherein it was asserted that at a comparative trial of the Brunner and Mount Rochfort coals, made at Woolwich some years ago, the Brunner coal was " much the best " for steam purposes. Our contemporary wrote from memory aud, as will sometimes happeu, memory proved treacherous. Reference to Provincial records proves that the "muchness" was less real than imaginary. The Nelson Provincial Government Gazette, No. 20, April 23, 1868, contains a voluminous report upon West Coast railways, and also tabulated statements of the trials of coal sent from Nelson to Woolwich Dockyard and tested there in December, 1865. Paragraphs 101 and 102 of the report says, " Regarding the quality of the coals procured from the Brunner mine and Mount Rochfort, there can be no question. The tests made at Woolwich put their superior value over North of England aud Welsh coal beyond a doubt. * * * As best calculated to show clearly the relative value of the Grey and Buller coals, I attach tables prepared by Mr Burnnett, mining surveyor, showing the relative value for steam purposes of North of England, Welsh, New South Wales, and Buller coals, calculated on the basis given by the trials of these coals at Woolwich Dockyard." Table IV. gives as tho rolativevalue for steam purposes. Grey, best result, 12000; mean of four trials, 11465; Buller, one trial only, 11912 ; AVelsh, 110 42 ; New South Wales, 100-48; Worth of England, 10000. Evaporating power within a given time—Grey, best result 115 53, general average of four trials 101-68, worst result, 9246; Buller, one trial, 111 81, Welsh, 11227 ; New South Wales, 100 01; North of Eng-

land, 100.00. The small quantity of Buller coal sent to England precluded more than one trial being made, or very probably the results shown might have been even more satisfactory. In Table I. the evaporative power shown is :—Grey coal, 9 43; Buller coal, 9.83. These figures, taken in connection with the result of Dr Hector's last analysis of the Buller coal, showing that the evaporative or steam power of coal now got out at the Ngakawhau is 10 50, as compared with 9*25, the result given by test of surface coals ; prove, beyond all argument, the comparative value of the Buller coal, aud that there is less need of puffing up its good qualities, than the stirring up of the public to leave more specious speculations, and trade in Buller coal as a safe marketable article, obtainable at all seasons of the year, and in unlimited quantity.

The mails for the Northern Provinces close this day, per s.s. Kennedy, at 1 p.m. The following itelegram appears in the Charleston. Herald of Wednesday last: — " Reefton, March 4.—Anderson's Company was robbed of 100 ouncesof gold la3t night. The boxes were ripped (stripped?)" The telegram is mysterious, and we telegraphed to Reefton yesterday for further particulars, but up to time of going to press received none. It is just probable some daring thief has managed to spoon up lOOozsof amalgam from the ripples, but how he did it and escaped detection requires explanation. We have been favored with the following telegram for publication as a matter of interest to the Westport public. "Government Buildings Wellington; sth March, Eugene Joseph O'Conor Esq., M. H. R. I have referred the matter of Nine-mile Road to the Engineer in Chief, with order to push work on immediately. Th nks for your information.—Edward Richardson.— Minister of Public Works."' The work referred to is the preliminary survey, the contract for which has been some time let, and Mr O'Conor, on behalf of some of the leading residents here, who had requested him to do so, communic 'ted with the Minister of Public Works, pointing out the delay that had arisen, and the consequent sacrifice of public interests. There can be no possible doubt in the minds oi' any one having the prosperity of Westport at heart that the formation of the Nine-mile Track will prove of very great benefit. It will form one more link in the chain of connection between the Buller and Inanyahua districts, and, more thau that, it will open up a tiack of good agricultural land which many men are already anxious to occupy, and will thus hasten on the work of permanent settlement. In fact, next to the railway works to the northward, there is nothing so urgently needed as the speedy commencement and completion of the Nine mite Track from Westport. The next sitting of the Lyell Court will be held on the 24th inst. A new harmonium of sweet tones and good power has been recently obtained for the United Methodist Free Church in Wallabi street. Mrs C. Brown plays thereon very skilfully, and the choir have n<; arly attained perfection in sacred harmony. An advertisement sent forth that another novel entertainment, the first of a short series, will be given at the Masonic Hall to-morrow evening. Messrs M'Laren and M'Cabe, whose speciality consists of sensational conjuring and comic business, will appear there. They have gained favorable notices in the southern papers, and in fact, throughout New Zealand. His Honor the Superintendent arrived at Reefton on Wednesday last, and will probably reach Westport either this evening or to-morrow.

There seeins a necessity for some alteration in police rule in Westport, if the case heard in the R. M. Court on Tuesday has other than the smallest possible foundation on fact. A member of the force, who from the very nature of his duties, is entrusted with considerable discretionary power in dealing with the liberty and rights of the public, was charged with coo duct derogatoay to his position, while he on the other hand charged his accuser with language the reverse of gentlemanly. The miserable details of the case as given in the Court are not worth publishing, simply becauso the R. M. Court is, as a rule, the very last place wherein the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, is spoken. The amount of hard swearing heard within the walls of the Court House, being at times perfectly awful. Without meaning to impute doubt as to the veracity of the principals in this particular instance, still doubt may be expressed as to the sincerity of their motives, as law respecting men, in bringing their cases before a Magistrate at all. Nor can the motives influencing the evidence of some, at least, of the witnesses bo considered as perfectly free from envy, hatred, malice, or uncharitableness. Both charges were dismissed, and rightly in the opinion of most listeners, but none the less does it seem necessary that the police authorities should endeavour to repress any antagonistic feeling between the police constables and the public. If a policeman is in the wrong, dismiss him, or shift him elsewhere. If he is the victim of mrdigners , let them feel the full force of outraged law. There are some ingenious tradesmen in Westport, and their cleverness deserves exaltation—at the end of a rope. We saw yesterday an attenuated specimen of what is known in the bakery trade as a " two lb. cottage," weighed just for curiosity. It barely turned the scale at three ounces and three quarters short weight! The ingenious artist in dough deserves a medal as much as did the London waiter who won a premium for squeezing three pints of wine out of a quart bottle. The result of the crushing of Excelsior quartz has not exceeded the very moderate expectations of the shareholders. From the peculiar management of the mine until recently, it was known that a great portion of the stone to be put through was hardly worth crushing at all, and that the average result would be small. One hnndred and fifty one tons in all were put through, and out of this, for nine consecutive days, the tables scarcely showed any traces of gold. The comparatively good stone was about twenty tons, and the net result from the whole crushing has been Cloz3 7dwts retorted gold—averaging Sdwts 3grs per ton. In five weeks' time another crushing will be made, and the stone now being got from the lower level of the mine, 15 feet below the tramway, is expected to go at the very least an ounce to the ton. If it does this the success of the company is assured, as the expenses of tho mine are comparatively light and the stono unlimited in quantity. Tho news comes by telegram from Greymouth that no more coals are obtainable there until the rain sets in, the river being now too low to admit of laden boats even coming down with coals. It is a mistake, and one becoming every day more apparent,

that n Bupply of Ngakawhau coal is not kept on hand at Westport. Sailing vessels or steamers can easily come in and out hero at all states of the tide, and the news once spreading that coal was obtainable here, the supply would very soon create a demand from many quarters. t .£3OOO was lately paid at the Grey for calls in the Energetic Quartz Mining Company. The money was paid promptly, and full confidence is expressed in the ultimate success of the mine. The calls paid in Westport were also something considerable. The amount of goods now sent up river to the Lyell is in excess of that sent to the Inangahua District. The falling off in traffic between Greymouth and Reefton is very preceptible, At the last sitting of the E. M. Court at Lyell seven civil cases were heard, but the only one of interest to the general public was the case Blower v. O'Brien, wherein the plaintiff sought to recover the sum of £3 lis, which had been illegally demanded by defendant as ferry-holder for crossing eattle, he having no right to charge, as plaintiff had • used neither the punt nor approaches. Plaintiff had paid toll several times previously at this ferry, and stated that his cattle had gone into an enclosure belonging to defendant. James Ryan, called by plaintiff, stated that he was net in possession of any documents giving him protection for this ferry. Mr Shapter, for defendant, contended that a trespass had been admitted by plaintiff, and therefore his client was entitled' to nonsuit. Mr Broad adjourned the case in order to enable him to obtain information from the Provincial Secretary relative to the particulars regarding the protection claimed by defendant. In the Warden's Court five cases of ♦respass, and eleven applications were disposed of. Are you on the roll ?—lf not, and possesing a right to vote, we advise our readers to take the necessary steps towards having their names placed on the next roll, which will be closed on the last day of March, and before which date all applications and objections must be lodged in due form with the Registration Officer of such Electoral District as the voter wishes to register, for which we will be happy to furnish our readers with the necessary forms and any information on the subject they may desire. Every qualified elector should see that he is not disfranchised either through his own apathy or the carelessness of others, and that the trouble and annoyp„nce experienced by so many of them during the late elections, are not repeated again. The sum of £3 18s 6d per ounce was obtained for the last cake of gold from Anderson's claim. As showing how well the cake had been retorted the parcel only lost six pennyweights in melting. Twenty exhibitors out of twenty-one seuding exhibits from Nelson Province to the Christchurch Interprovincial Exhibition, have received either prizes or certificates. Such rewards of merit consisting of one silver medal, seven bronze medals, eleven first class certificates, and one second class certificate. Among others the Ngakawhau Coal Company obtaiu a bronze medal, or second prize, for coai exhibits. The following horses have accepted for the Greymouth Jockey Club Handicap:— Yatterina, Envy, Gossip, Prima Doima, and Harlequin. For the Westland—Hurdle Hand cap, the only acceptances to hand arc Septimus, Harlequin, and Mozzel. Eight horses nave nominated for the Gold Fields Handicap, and, as all promise to be present, a capital field will start. Among the minor resolutions come to by the Intercolonial Conference was one that, on and after the Ist January, 1874, there should be a uniform intercolonial letter rate of 2d per half-ounce, both overland and by sea; and that a uniform intercolonial parcel and book-parcel rate be also adopted, according to a scale agreed upon. The Herald says : —" I'he crushing of the Excelsior Company's stone at the Alpine battery, 151 tons, was expected to have been completed on Thursday. They will now clean up, and, we are informed by Mr Zala, that it is expected to yield an average of loz. to the ton. Should this prove correct the property is a very valuable one, as the great thickness of the reef presents no difficulty in obtaining a plentiful supply of stone. Gnder the contract with the Alpine Company they have to crush 800 tons for the Excelsior at 10s per ton, £4OO having been advanced by the latter eighteen months ago towards erection of the Alpine machinery. The Excelsior have erected a tramway to the Alpine shoot, but beyond this outlay the only expense in connection with the claim is raising the quartz, so that if a moderate return is obtained from the stone a large sum will be available for dividends. Mr Garsides. late of the firm of Macarthy and Garsides, brewers, Charleston, has decided upon erecting a brewery at Lyell. The contract for sawing the timber has been let, and the building will be started in about a fortnight.