Page:Rambles on the Golden Coast of New Zealand.djvu/187

Rh many a long and weary year of doubt and depression, have at last become actual, accomplished facts, and are but the precursors of yet better things to come. Hope is ever the watchword of those who wish to conquer. But the tranquil and decorous Westport of to-day, whose chief export is coal, bears no manner of resemblance to the busy, noisy, turbulent Westport of olden times, when heavy exports of golden ore constantly crossed the Buller Bar. The compact little town of bygone days was literally swept from off the face of the earth by the continued action of fire and flood. But, Phoenix-like, it has risen again into a new and vigorous life, and is, at the time whereof I write, as prosperous and pretty a little town as perhaps any within the Colony. It can boast of no less than four churches, handsome Post and Telegraph Offices, three commodious schoolhouses. Town and Masonic halls, besides many other substantial public and private buildings. The people are intensely patriotic and political, hence the streets are named after celebrated statesmen; the principal thoroughfare, which, by the way, is over a mile in length, being called Palmerston Street, the rest bearing such honoured cognomens as Cobden, Bright, Brougham, Russell, Peel, and so on. As a community the town is at present more united than of yore, although it is but latterly that we have learned to acknowledge the truth underlying the well-worn old adage, namely, that true strength lies in unity of purpose, and not in perpetual petty warfare.

But now I must turn to the really practical part of my subject, the present development and future prospects of the various industries in the Buller district, and I will begin with the coal. Notwithstanding the lack of land available for agricultural and pastoral purposes, Westport possesses natural resources of such a character as to require no specially far-seeing attributes in prophesying a great future for it. The Buller coalfield, situated from ten to eighteen miles from the port, is at once unique in its position, and the great thickness of the seams. Placed at a height of 2000 ft. above the sea-level, the surveyed portion covers an area of 86,000 acres, whilst large areas of coal-bearing country behind the present field have not been surveyed. In the area surveyed, however, are found seams of coal of many thicknesses, varying from 4½ ft. to 53 ft. The coal is of exceptionally high quality, as proved both by chemical analysis and by practical experience from its use on a large scale—containing, as it does, only a very small percentage of ash and water, and being free from all impurities. One seam now being worked is specially adapted for steam purposes, rivalling in this respect the celebrated South Wales steam coals, and is being used almost entirely in the large direct Home steamers on their trips from the Colony to Britain, on the refrigerating vessels, and in the colonial steam service. For with a high quality and freedom from impurities, much less quantity is required to perform the same work than is required of Newcastle (N.S.W.) coals, or other New Zealand coals; consequently, shipowners find that in addition to less coal consumption, more cargo space is rendered available for freight, and therefore better earnings are derived from the steamers working on a long voyage, such as between the Colony and Britain. It will be seen at a glance that an advantage of this kind is a great consideration. Another seam, also now being worked, is specially