OUR COAL AND OTJE COAL POETS. 



By James Makktng, Esq. 



{^Read before the Royal Society, 6th Aiigusf, 1873.] 



The interesting subject of our coal export has lately occupied 

 much attention, and has given rise to the publication of various 

 letters in the newspapers, to some of which, namely to those 

 signed " New South "Wales " and " Veritas," I was about to 

 reply in the same form ; when it was suggested that the subject 

 might be made available for a paper to be read before this Society, 

 with a view to its first inviting discussion here. 



The subject of our coal and of our coal ports being of all- 

 absorbing interest at present, I trust I may not be out of place 

 by giving expression to those reflections which have long been rife 

 in my own mind, but which I had not committed to paper until 

 now. 



Then, with a hope of rendering some service to this really very 

 important cause, I will venture to lay before you the following 

 remarks and suggestions for what they may be worth. 



I quite agree with the writer " New South Wales" that New- 

 castle should not be the only outlet for our Northern coal. Port 

 Stephens and other places must soon come to our assistance, as 

 the trade gradually grows into magnitude ; but I think it would 

 be a great folly to try to induce the Grovernment or the public to 

 believe that the entrance into Lake Macquarie can ever be made 

 available for large shipping. I presume, from my OAvn long 

 experience in bar harbours, that if the sum of £15,000, which is 

 said by " New South Wales " to have been declared to be 

 " enough for removing all obstacles to the navigation of that 

 harbour," was multiplied by ten, it would still be insufficient, and 

 would only lead to ultimate disappointment. 



Little or nothing of value can be done to any bar harbour with- 

 out enormous expenditure. I have always advocated that it is 

 wiser to meet Nature in such positions, by leaving her work alone, 

 and by suiting the vessels to the port, instead of attempting to 

 suit the port to the vessels. Thus, Lake Macquarie may possibly 

 be utilized upon this principle (or at most to render only some 

 slight assistance), by adopting the existing entrance to the neigh- 

 bouring valuable coal fields, and suit the boats to the place by the 

 adoption of the following measures. 



