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THE COAL TRADE,
Waggous for thle Northern Dlatrict.
A DarunATrOa of gettlemen interested in
coal mines in the nortbrn district was (says
the S. Mi. Herald) intrduced to the Railway
Commissioners by Mr. . F. Burns, M.P., on
Tuesday, in reference te the accommodation
provided by the Govermoent for the convey
anco of coal by rail. hr. Burns said that
the attention of the prolrietors of coal mines
in the Hunter River disticts had been drawn
to the fact that the lovernment is pro
viding facilities for he conveyance of
coal for the western and southern col
lieries which were not o'ered for the north
ern, and that the Commisioners had recently
ordered no lees than 5002ew waggons, which
appeared to be intended or the western and
southern collieries exclhiroly. The depu
tation did not eeek to otain any concession
or privilege for the nrtheorn mines other
than is given to the sathern and western
mines, but as the purchas of waggone termed
an important item in theixpenditure of col.
lieries, which was gentally not less than
£20,000 or £25,000 fo new mines, they
wished to knowon whatterms the Commie.
sioners would be willing t extend the supply
of waggons to the nortern collieries, and
aleo what changes woul be made in the
charges for tractionin th event of the nor.
thorn collieries being icluded in the anr
rangements for the suply of waggons by
the Commissioners. MrW. A. B utchineson,
Mr. John Woods, M, T. Cowlishaw,
Mr. J. A. Brown, and MrOiC. F. Stokes also
addressed the Commissioare on the objects
of the deputation, wh~h they explained
specially represented the turwood, Burwood
Extended, and Burwoot South coal com.
panies, all of which were ieposed to accept
Goveornmental waggons ifshe terms and con
ditions were reasonable Mr. Eddy, in
reply, said he was glad timeet the deputa
tion for the purpose of diuessing the whole
question of the businiessonnecrtions of the
Commissioners with therarious coal com.
panics. He was disposeito take the whole
business of supplying waegns into the hands
of the Commissioners, bi that step could
not be taken for a long;ime, as there was
already a deficiency in t3 supply, and the
500 new waggons to whic'allueion had beeoon
made would not be ready, cording to the con
tractenterodinto for them ill June, 1891. The
extension of the system cld best be carried
out by collieries being gsuped together in
the business. The rates ould go up greatly
for the northern colliers if the Govern
meont supplied waggonafor them. The
minimum charge for mit of the northern
collieries was 10d per to, as against 2s in
the western and southex collieries. sOne
of the difficulties would i the detention of
waggons at the mines. )on now the trafIio
on the Newcastle lines e often interrupted
by coal intended for lipment, and the
Government could riot lethe collieries have
waggone to remain stating at the mines
unless demurrage was oh'ged When their
plans were more maturedhe Commissioners
would be happy to confeagain with colliery
proprietors on the chaes they proposed
making.
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