Conquering Cascade

- Blurb -

Founded on limited resources and iron will, the Cascade Westport Coal Company was a courageous player in the volatile, post WW1 coal trade. Forming in 1925 it was confronted with extraordinarily challenging access and coal transportation decisions, woeful finances, and a high level of union and political engagement. Bold in its vision and relentlessly tenacious, the fledgling enterprise sought to carve a commercial existence through exceptional times whilst contending with the vagaries of a wild and destructive natural environment. Conquering Cascade analyses the geological formation of the coal before chronicling its discovery. It then examines the daunting infrastructural challenge of building the nation' s longest coal flume through 71/2 miles of rugged terrain. Documented throughout are the exploits, successes and failures of the company and its contracted labour force. Spanning three decades, their story reveals startling insight into the trials and triumphs of inter-war coal mining and culminates in a powerful legal showdown between the company and its party of contractors. Set amid the famous Buller Coalfield-the birthplace of New Zealand coalmining unionism-this previously untold and detailed account focusses on a rare example of co-operative coal mining. The result is an intimate and comprehensively referenced study. From years of in-depth research, extensive interviewing and the sourcing of considerable unpublished literature and photographic material, detailed maps and diagrams, Conquering Cascade has established a broad foundation from which to bridge a critical missing link in New Zealand' s industrial coal mining heritage.