COAL-MINING IN THE COLONIES

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1058, 28 March 1873, Page 4

COAL-MINING IN THE COLONIES

[SOUTHEEN CHOSS.]

It is remarkable that our moneyed men, who aro usually alive to the advantages of a good investment for their capital, should have permitted the mines of wealth lying at their feet in the shape of coal deposits to remain so long comparatively unutilised. It is true the eiforts at coalmining in this province heretofore have not yet proved, very successful; hut it is well-known that this was mainly *owing to tho insufficiency of capital or want of skill in working the ground, and therefore these experiments are no fair criterion of what the results would be were adequate means available, and tho business in other respects properly conducted. AVhat is now needed is a strong company, with sufficient capital and skilful directors, who would initiate and carry out coal-mining operations, not after a peddling fashion, but in a manner and on a scale becoming tho immense business to be done in connection with this very important industry. If colonial capital will not engage in the work, English capital will be invited to do so, and there need be little difficulty in accomplishing what is desired in this respect. Chis would be at least as legitimate as for non-resi-dents capitalists to engage in banking in the colony, while the enterprise we are advocating is one even more likely to prove remunerative to the shareholders. It is only necessary that the facts be properly.represented in England, and there is little doubt that a large coal-mining company could be formed there without any trouble to work the New Zealand. This is a matter in which the Governmont might serve the colony simply by agitating tho question at home through the Agent-General. That officer should be instructed to furnish the necessary information in the proper quarter, and in this way he could greatly facilitate the movements of parties desirous of engaging in enterprises of this nature. The subject, we hope, will not be lost Bight of either by the public or the Government until the full and efficient development of our coalmines in all parts ot the colony is an accomplished fact.