hands of one of New Zealand’s most enterprising business men, and hearty supporter of all local industries, the working of the mine will be of undoubted value to the district. The two leases are contiguous, and consist in all of about 1400 acres, which are bounded on the south-west by the rapid flowing torrent of the Waimangaroa River. A large number of men are employed in the mine and on the inclines, but these will be doubled in a very short time. The mine-manager at present is Mr N. Jemieson, and the company have an able general manager in Mr C. Holdsworth.
Having, then, pointed out the immense importance of the coalfields, and shown that this unused wealth is the undoubted germ of much future commerce for the Colony, and of many industries and manufactures, I will now give some account of the vast works which have been undertaken to connect the coal mines with the port of Westport. In the first place, there is the Westport and Ngakawau railway, eight and a half miles long, a colonial work completed about 1878. This railway runs northwards along the coast from Westport, and keeps at the foot of the mountain ranges nearly all the way. Ten miles from Westport a branch line leads off to the right, and follows up the Waimangaroa River for a mile, where the foot of the Koranui Coal Company’s incline is reached, and where the screens, coke ovens, and offices of the company are situated. Northwards of the junction of the Waimangaroa side line, the main line is at present little used, all the coal now coming to port being brought down the side line referred to; but this state of matters will not last long, as the great bulk of the Buller coalfield as yet untouched lies from four to eight miles northwards of the Waimangaroa River. The Westport Coal Company’s works begin near the foot of the Koranui Company’s incline. Starting from this point, and still proceeding up the Waimangaroa River, the side line was constructed for a further distance of about three-quarters of a mile through somewhat expensive country, as the hills close in on the river, and the banks were very steep and liable to slips. About half-way along this portion of the line, the railway had to be constructed on the river bed, and a retaining wall 24 ft. in height was erected between the railway and the river. At this point the first view of the Company’s inclines is obtained, and on a bright clear day the observer can see the waggons appearing and disappearing over the brow of the upper incline, although 2000 ft. up and nearly a mile and a half distant. At the terminus of the company’s side line of railway, a series of sidings have been constructed for storing full and empty coal waggons, and for making up the trains; and it is on the full sidings here that the coal is handed over to the Government railway department for transit to Westport and for delivery on board vessels in port. These sidings are managed on a system of reverse grades, and the same system has been adopted at the loading sidings at the head of the inclines. The railway waggons are taken to the head of the inclines, where they are loaded at the coal screens. Each waggon weighs when full about eleven tons, and when empty about four. A great advantage, as far as the quality of the coal delivered is concerned, is gained by taking the railway waggons up the inclines to the screens, as in this case, there is only one handling of the coal, from the time it is sent
