The Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. MONDAY, JULY 16, 1883.

Inangahua Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1271, 16 July 1883, Page 2

The Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI- WEEKLY. MONDAY, JULY 16, 1883.

We .were yesterday shown a number of samples of Reef ton coal, intended to be forwarded to Dr. Hector for analaysis. The specimens are all from surface seams. There are three samples from the new Dudley lease, one .from the Lankey's Creek seam, and -one from the coal site of the Golden Treasure Company. The parcels ■were all- collected by Mr Thornton, O. E., in accordance with a resolution passed at a recent meeting of the Reefton Railway League. In the face of tho very damaging statements which the late Railway Commissioners have made in .regard to the quality of the Inangahua coal, it certainly behoves the Reefton Railway League to take every possible means of proving the truth or falsity of the conclusions arrived at on this head by the Commission. To this end then we think the League should not stop short at their last resolution, but follow it up by sending samples of the local coal to either Melbourne or Sydney for analybis. We have not the slightest intention to cast a doubt upon either the efficiency or reliability of the tests proem-able from Dr. Hector's department at Wellington, but in a matter o€ such grave importance to this district, it is certainly desirable that the League should fortify itself with an analysis from an outside source. The cost of doing so would be a mere bagatelle, and as the question is one which, as it stands, is being made a good deal of by the advocates j of the Arthur's Pass route, the expenditure would not only be justifiable, J but in every way expedient. We commend the matter to the consideration of the League. There is another matter in this connection which appears equally worthy of consideration. It is understood that the Parliamentary committee to which the subject of the East and West Coast railway has been referred, purpose taking evidence in supplement of that of the recent Royal Commission. In this case it might be advisable' to send some competent^ and qualified delegate to Wellington"! to represent the interest of the League in the character of an expert. Otherwise the CoraraittGG will have to rely altogether upon the testimony of Government Engineers who, it may well be imagined, will be careful to steer clear of any statement calculated to weaken the case made out by the Commission.