THE RAGLAN COAL DISCOVERY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1789, 22 December 1883, Page 2

THE RAGLAN COAL DISCOVERY.

A cotK^ESP t o;|i)KST sencyQis tne^ following j||On |jie 2&th insife a a^nd faiid successful ffsfceni£t was |ttAde fro|n SfKlau if'^find tile exact locality othboj<kfa\,\ foiuid. tTlie paVty consisted'" ofMr Fergusson and Mr L. Johnstone, and a native. No other volunteeis could be found for such rough pioneer work. 4 (3¥eat credit is duetto thenf for their j|cr • sovcrauce and energy. > Mr .Johnstorie's thorough knowledge of ' the bush ami country around being mainly instiuincMital in gaining their object. (Some time previously, while out pig hunting, he li.ul seen the coal.) .The native left them after arriving cifcthe creek, on some jitutext that 'the king required him— so they h.id' tlicn to prosecute their search alone, AJrFcrgusson at one time beooming rfuite exhausted — his companion taking his swag. Soon after their toils were forgotten in the sight of the seam. It is a fine clean coal, some 6ft. thick, but requires further investigation. It now lcmains to be seen if the Tlaglamtes are awake to the importance of this discovery, and will utilise it. A short time ago a fine iron lode was a.lso found. Now we have coal, limestone, and iron. Surely Raglan 'might deem herself- foitunatc, and turn them to some account ere long. I believe Mr Fergusson expected nothing short of a banquet from the public for his effoi ts, but Kiglau is too philosophical to go into eCfttacjes over anything so dull as coal or iron. \ Perhaps she will awake some day.