Australian Town and Country Journal (NSW : 1870 - 1907)(about) |
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Saturday 3 May 1879
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Boring for Coal in Sydney,
SOME time since a company of capitalists was formed to employ the Australian diamond drill to bore for coal in the vicinity of Newington, but, although the machine worked splendidly, and fully carried out what it was intended to do, still, although a great depth was reached, no coal seam has yet been struck. To many the expenses which were incurred at the Newington bore without a return would deter them from again engaging in another spec., but not so with the Sydney people, for so confident is Mr. Coghlan, of the Drill Co., of the existence of coal in the vicinity of the city that he has formed another company of gentlemen to test the ground at the rear of Mount Rennie, and for that purpose has obtained the right to mine for coal in an enclosed space of five acres, which has been granted for the purpose by the corporation. The spot selected by Mr. Coghlan is in a basin surrounded by sand hills, and it is the opinion of practical men that a better spot could not be chosen, and that at a depth of about 1500ft coal will be struck. The Metropolitan Coal Co., by which the Moore Park venture is known, consists of seven gentlemen, who have subscribed sufficient to place a most complete drill and appliances on the ground, at a cost of nearly £3000. The entrance to the company's reserve is from Bellevue-street, through a right-of-way leading to the enclosure, which is securely fenced against trespassers, permission being granted to inspect the works by Mr. Coghlan only, who will be happy to give the requisite card for admission on application at the office, Pitt street. The engine-house in the enclosure is a sub- stantial erection, over which are the poppet heads reaching to a height of 50ft. On entering the build- ing, one is struck with the simplicity of everything in connection with the working of the drill, opera- tions being carried on by a comparatively small staff of workmen in almost complete silence. The drill is driven by two engines of 6-horse power, the whole of which machinery has been manufactured by Short's Engineering Co., and reflects high credit on the makers. There is also attached to the engine a steam winding gear from the poppet heads, which raises the drill extensions, when the core barrel is required. A full account of the working of the Australian diamond drill has so often appeared in the columns of the TOWN AND COUNTRY JOURNAL that it would be a work of supererogation to again describe it, and so, in this notice, we confine ourselves to placing before the public what is actually being done by it at Moore Park. In the first place, Mr. Coghlan had, in conse- quence of the nature of the ground, to sink an inch stand-pipe 143ft 6in through a sand-drift and water course, until the bed-rock was reached, and then the pipe was cemented, and the drill started on Wednes- day afternoon. The machinery worked splendidly, and gave an average bore of, for the first 10ft, nearly three inches per minute, but this speed did not last long, as the drill very soon passed through the de- composed strata and reached a fine hard strata of white sandstone, which it penetrated at the rate of one and a quarter inch per minute, a fair speed ; and it is expected at this rate when everything (now new) is properly in order, to average 25 feet, working in two shifts of 12 hours each, inclusive of meal hours. The drill has already passed through 20ft of sandstone, and there is every prospect of it continuing for some distance. The benefits which will accrue to Sydney if coal is dis- covered in the vicinity of the city will be incalculable, and if the drill ia successful in doing so, Mr. Coghlan will merit the highest encomiums that can be paid him. We are glad to hear that several orders for the drill are in hand from the sister colonies, and that the colo- nial governments are giving the diamond drill their sincere attention. It might be mentioned that in a few days Mr. Coghlan starts for Victoria with a dia- mond drill, to show the people there how to use it.
IMPORTANT to TIMBER GETTERS.—In each week's issue of the TOWN AND COUNTRY JOURNAL will be published the prices current for log, cut timber, pal- ings and shingles, in the Sydney markets. This will be found of considerable interest and use to our nu- merous readers engaged in this branch of labour in
tidal waters.
A correspondent writing from Armidale about the late hospital election, says that Mr. R. M'Donald retired from the contest, and had he not done so, he would have had upwards of 70 bona-fide town votes. Ho attributes the defeat of tho outgoing committee eutirely to the host of proxies obtained from Sydney and the oountry diatricts, by their opponents, and he thinka that it would have been better had tho selec tion of tho Bite for the new hospital not been deoided by outBido votes, but chosen by tho people of Ai mi dale, who are tho beBt judges.
A Blander action of considerable interest tb the residents of the Glebe, was heard on Tuesday afternoon in the District Court. Stephen Downs, of the Globe, sued Mrs. Morris, of Eivo Dock, a wealthy lady, for using the words, "You and that old scoundrel con spired together to burn the house down and gob tho insurance money." Several witnesses were ex amined for tho plaintiff, whon a verdict waa recorded for plaintiff with 31 guineas, with the expenaeB of twelve witnesses. Mr. Rogers by Mr. Carroll for plaintiff, Mr. Bull for defendant.
An adjourned meeting of farmers, auctioneers, commission agonta, and hay and corn dealers, was held last Tuesday at P. R. Larkins' hotel, Brlck field-hill. Despite tho inclement weather, there waa a largo attendance. During the discussion on the re solutions adopted on Monday, tho meeting waa unanimous in endorsing the terms of tho resolutions which wore in effect, that tho propoaed alteration in tlie condition of soiling hay and Btraw at Darling Harbour, that ia to insist on tho buyer taking delivery instead of delivering free of charge in the oity aa hitherto, is prejudicial to tho interests of all concorned in the hay trade. Also, that the meeting pledges itself not to purchaae any hay or straw or chaff at Darling Harbour only such sold on condition to be delivered to the purchaser within the city free of charge, as heretofore. Many of the speakers condemned the innovation Bought to be introduced by tho farmers na antagonistic to both buyer and Bollor, and urged that tho established cus tom waa by far tho fairest and moat equitable. No leaa than 50 signatures of merchants, auctioneers, and large consumers of produce have been obtained in support of the resolutions. Many more have pro mised to sign the document. Ample arrangement!! were then made to give the resolutions puniicity through the oountry presB,