BULLER COALFIELD.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1108, 19 September 1873, Page 2

BULLER COALFIELD.

Committee's Repokt on Coxont.yiv INiWSTIUES— Be BVithFAl COAIiFIELD 3.

September 11, 1873

I am desired by the Committee to report that with the view of utilising the valuable coalfields of the Buller with the greatest advantage, both immediate and prospective, to the Colony, the* Committee took a large amount of evidence, and after careful consideration of such evidence, has arrived at tlie following conclusions : 1. That a railway can be made from Westpoit to Waimangaroa in from five to six months, at a cost of £BOOO, ex.elusive of permanent way, and without improvement of harbor of Westport, coal could be at once shipped from this railway. That a branch line of about one mile in length, which would also be available for bringing down coal, would connect the railway with large quantities of stone suitable for constructing the harbor works at Westport; that the whole railway could be completed to* Ngakawhau within nine (9) months > that the harbor works at Westport, as recommended by Mr Higginson, and approved by Mr Carruthers, are likely 1 to be permanent and efficient.

2. That the part of the Ngakawhau! harbor works, as proposed by Mr' Beetham, would cost not less than twenty thousand pounds (£20,000), and would require at least 12 months to complete • and that it is doubtful if an available port can be made there, even at an enormous cost/ The Committee desire to call special attention to the valuable evidence of Mr Higginson ort this point; that even with a view of meeting immediate requirements, the advantages presented by the Ngakawhau mine are not equal to the advantages Westport offers; while as a permanent outlet to the Buller Coalfield,Ngakawhau is decidedly inferior. The Committee therefore cannot concur in any reconsideration of proposals for expenditure at the Ngakawhau.

The Committee recommend that in the first instance the railway should, with the utmost expedition, be pushed forward from Westport to Waimangaroa, and that steps should be taken contemporaneously by which supplies of coal may be ready for transit by the railway when completed, (Signed) W. A. Murray, Chairman of Committee.