Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-01-24

a Remarkable Mountain of c"mbusti
bic Carbon in Australia.

Thirty-five miles from Sydney is a
picturesquely situated township. whose
history is closely identified with that
o. the coal mining industry Of New
| South Wales. So far back as 1876
Flinders and Bass. during their adven-
| turous work of coastal exploration.
had seen under the high land and
cliffs on which the township OF Clifton
| is situated number of black Jumps,
which they took to he pieces Of slate.
| lying on the ground Not suspecting
the real character Of the Jumps. they
| gave but little attention to them.
About the same time a Mr.. Clarke
who. with number OF others. had
been wrecked on Cape Howe and
| thrown ashore by violent storm
finding himself in an unknown region
and threatened with attack of hostile
natives. undertook with a portion of
| the party. to proceed on foot along the
| coast to Sydney. distance of 800
miles. and obtain assistance for those
left behind. 1t was a most difficult;
and dangerous journey. Several per
ished from exhaustion, others We're
killed by the blacks and only a few
of the party reached sydney. They
were terribly emaciated and seemed
mere skeletons. their food supplies
having given out at an early stage OF
the disastrous journey. Mr.. Clark re-
ported that two days before he reached
Watta Novice (now called Watta-
molla), and forming a portion of the
coast line of the New South Wales
National Park, he discovered some
pieces of coal. which he and his COM
panions collected. and We're thus
enabled to enjoy a good fire. In con-
sequence of what Mr.. Clarke had
stated, Mr.. Bass was dispatched in
whaleboat from Port Jackson to as
certain where the mineral was to he
found.
After he had proceeded a considerable
distance beyond Capee Soander he ar
rived at steepfclif. in the face Of which.
washed by the sea. he found-aS related
in Collins account Of thc English col
ony of New South Waies''- stratum of
coal. in breadth about six feet. and eX-
tending eight or nine miles toward IA"
south. Both upon the summit of the high
land and lying on the surface at the base
he observed many patches of coal. from
some of which Mr.. Clarke had been con-
Vcniently supplied: and judging hy the
specimens of coal which were brought in
by Mr.. Bass. the quality appeared tn he
god. But ii was thought. from its almost
inaccessible situation that no great ad-
vantage could ever be derived from it,
The place thus described was Coal Cliff
or, as 1t Is now designated. Clifton. In
later years Bull and WolIongong became
available for the Shipment of coal Oh
tanned frou Clifton, but in the meantime
Newcastle. the site of which had been
discovered in 119S. had secured what was
practically a monopoly Of the coal export
trade. From the sea the coal seams in
the cliff have the appearance Of black
bands. Curiously enough. the natives 40
not appear to have become acquainted
with the use of coal. their fires being
made with leaves and sticks The sum
init of the cliff is reached by somewhat {
rough ziS-zag route. but the journey is
amply repaid by the beauty of the sur
roundings. The varied foliage" We are
told. lis most enhancing. and the trans
formation from one scene to another
makes it perfect paradise. There arr
sparkling cascades. bowers of ease bp-
decked with blossoms. and now and then
glimpse is caught of distant landscape
through the riffs in the foliage Whcr
the top is reached after an hours climb
ing the scene is one of cnchantmeut" "
The village is Seen costly nesting below
while a magnificent panorama Of ocean
and sky bursts upon the view. It is like
entering into new WOrd-a region ~
mingled beauty and subiimity
Clifton is situated on the top of IA Vcri-
table mountain of coal, and were it's car
bonlferouS treasure more readily acccSSi-
PIE IL WOu!d snare with aurllerouS Mount
Morgan and argentferous Broken Hill
the credit of being among the richest
mineral tnountainS known. The coal is
at present obtained from Il steam: the
broad black band familiar to all Voyag-
ing along the southern coast about six
feet thick, running along the cliff about
20 feet from its base. The seam is worked
from two aditS. the coal being conveyed
from the mine to the ship by means of Il
timber jetty 500 feat in length said to he
one of the bodeSt and most rcyna rka BILE
undertakings for working d mine known
in any part of the world