MINISTER FOR WORKS.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 861, 8 April 1903, Page 3

MINISTER FOR WORKS.

Per Press Association, Ashburton, last night. .The Hon. Hall-Jones visited Mt. Somers to-day to inspect for himself the coal, lime and stono deposits, with tho object of enquiring into the wisdom of extending tho railway for nine miles for tho coal fields. At present tho mode of transit is by tram drawn by horses, at a cost of 4s 6d per ton, from the rninos to Mt. Somers. Tho Minister, accompanied by a large party, visited the various properties, and was greatly impressed with what ho saw. Tho Mount Somors Coal Company’s now mine, which is tho most developed property, was thoroughly inspected. This mine is driven into the hill 400 feet, with the coal thickening all tho way and improving in quality. An expert recently estimated that half a million tons of coal was in sight. At a banquet afterwards the Minister said that he had already reported on the survey of tho proposed railway, and would get tho Mines Department report on the quantity of coal in tho field, and if the report was satisfactory he considered the railway line should bo constructed or the present tramway much improved, as he considered the development of the field was being retarded by the high cost of transit from the mine to the railway line. Tho mattor would bo laid fully before his colleagues, and he would impress them with what ho had seen of the undoubted mineral wealth of the field.