DEVELOPMENT OE COAL MINES, ETC

43

D.—No. 3.

Enclosure No. 2. Mr. Webster to Dr. Hector. Sir,— Nelson, 17th June, 1872. In compliance with your request, I beg to enclose a few certificates relative to the quality of the Collingwood coal for steam, gas, and household purposes ; also a memorandum from Mr. James Cross, junior, showing the quantity he has shipped to other places. But in addition to that, Messrs. N. Edwards and Co. have sent about 100 tons to the Wairau, and the Wellington Gas Company sent a vessel on their own account, carrying about 40 tons. It must be remembered that, owing to the Company being entirely without funds, and the difficulty experienced in procuring skilled labour, the output of coal has always been limited, and while the mine was in work the Company could have sold four times the quantity of coal raised. The Provincial Council has just authorized the Superintendent to advance a sum not exceeding £250, which, with the great advance in the price of Newcastle coal, will enable us to recommence operations in our present level so soon as we can get miners. I have, &c, W. M. Webster, James Hector, Esq., Wellington. Legal Manager. Abstract of Letters furnished by the Legal Manager of the Collingwood Coal Company. (1*) Nelson, 17th June, 1872. Out of the 2,000 tons coal purchased from the Company, I have shipped to Wanganui 350 tons, to Wellington 70 tons, and Wairau 100 tons ; and since mining operations have been suspended, I have received from these places orders for at least 600 tons more. James Cross, junr. (2*) Nelson, 17th June, 1872. According to your request, I beg to state that I have used the Collingwood coal for both household and steam purposes ever since the mine was opened, and consider it far superior to Newcastle or any other coal I have used, more particularly for steam purposes. W. T. Good. (3.) Nelson, 15th June, 1871. I have used the Collingwood coal for the last eighteen months on board the paddle steamer " Lady Barkly," and, with proper care taken at the pit to free the coals from shale, they generate steam more readily than any coal I have used, and I would prefer them to either Welsh, English, Newcastle, or Grey coal for steam purposes. Donald Boss, Engineer, " Lady Barkly " p.s. (4.) Lyttelton, Bth December, 1871. We got seventeen tons of the Collingwood coal, and gave them a fair trial between Nelson and Wellington. They are good steam coal, raise steam very fast, but they are too small for our bars. If they were larger, I would prefer them to most of the Newcastle coal we get. E. Brock, Chief Engineer, s.s. " Eangitoto." (5.) Wellington, 29th June, 1871. The " Waihopai" arrived and discharged the coal from your pit. They cost us 3s. 6d. per ton more than New South Wales coals, so I hope they will prove equally superior. lam now trying them on a large scale, and will inform you of the result. The gas made is no doubt superior in illuminating quality to any coal I have had from New South Wales. J. Bees George, Manager, Wellington Gas Company, Limited. (6.) Wellington, 10th August, 1871. The result of the trial of the coal received in " Waihopai " is very satisfactory; the gas made from it is very good, and the quantity given from an average of eight tons was equal to 9,300 feet of gas to the ton. I have used about half the cargo, and shall be prepared to receive another cargo in a week or two. At the previous rate, it costs 4s. per ton more than New South Wales coal; the quantity and quality ofthegasis however superior. Mr. Kebbell is trying some experiments in its steaming qualities, which he tells me are satisfactory. If you could land the coal here at 255. 6d. or 265. per ton, I could arrange to receive a regular shipment of at least fifty tons per month, and coal merchants would also be prepared to take a supply at that price. J. Eees George, Manager, Wellington Gas Company, Limited.