STATE COAL DEPARTMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2561, 23 July 1909, Page 5

STATE COAL DEPARTMENT.

PROAIISING PROSPECTS

[Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, July 22. The State Coal Department is now thoroughly well-established as a profitmaking institution', and its prospects, as indicated by tho Hon R. AlcKenzie, Alinister of Mines, to a New Zealand Times representative, arc of the most promising description. Air Reed, inspecting engineer of mines, has just concluded an inspection of the Seddonville mine, and reports that the output can be well maintained for a considerable time. “The mine has now got up to a paying point,” Air AlcKenzie continued, “We made a. loss the year before last of £SOOO, but now it is paying. They are getting an excellent quality of coal ; ill fact, the best coal we have how. Air Reed reports that there is a good supply _in sight, and the condition of tho mine appears to be very satisfactory. We are carrying out* large development works at Point Elizabeth, putting in three miles of railway, costing about £75,000, and opening up a second mine so that the output can be doubled; and there arc plenty of customers for State coal. We were thinking of starting in Auckland some time ago, but we did not proceed, though we have not dropped the idea. Aly personal view is that it would be a good thing to acquire and work a mine in Auckland district. The new briquettemaking process brought under Sir j Joseph Ward’s notice oy tho inventor at Fremantle is to undergo a practical test in New Zealand, for, acting upon the Prime Alinister’s advice, the originator is now on his way to the Dominion. ITc has written- to the Alinistcr of Mines, stating that lie is prepared to give a demonstration of the process with slack from the State mines and to negotiate for the sale of the working rights, either for State mines alone or for the whole ol Now Zealand. The process is one by which it is claimed briquettes can be made without heating slack or using pitch, which is now the binding agency. If the process is really successful, it will be an important improvement, ’ commented Air AlcKenzie, “for we spend £4OOO or £SOOO annually on pitch for bnqiiettc r making under the present .system. - i 1 ■ ■ • : ■ • ■ .■ 1