THE BRUNNER COAL-MINE.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1188, 20 May 1872, Page 2

THE BRUNNER COAL-MINE.

Nelson, May 13. The annual report of Mr W. "W. Dartnail upon the working of the Brunner Coal-mine is included in Warden White-foord's-report, forwarded to the Provincial Secretary, and. by him submitted tq the Council. ' The repbrs shows that the receipts for. the past twelve months were L 6240 3s sd, and the disbursements for the same period L 5518 6s Bd, showing a clear profit of L 721 16s 9d. Included in the disbursements are costs^pf ermanent improvement and plant snd gear, consisting of the following :— lO tons 7 cwt iron tramway rails, including freight to the mine, costing I*l4B 14s lOd : erec> ing new shoots, two-thirds finished, L 204 ]s 3d ; erecting one large new drum and fixing same, providing wire rope, 900 yards, to work incline, 14 chains long, &c, L 175 Is 9d ; sundry works, plant, and gear, L2094511d; total, L 736 2s 9d. Included in the disburements are several minor items which do not usually occur in the working of the mine, viz., his Excellency the Governor's reception, with cost of conveying thither and back to Greymouth ; sending coal and slack to Wellington, to have same analysed and tested by Dr Hector—bags, freight, &c. ; loss by flood of 60 tons coal at 103 ; and eight tons coke at 30s ; amounting in all to LB7 Is 2d, which, added to the amount of Itf37 2s 9d before mentioned, makes a total of L82,4i3115. .■■"■■ - ' * On February the 9th (the report continues) considerable loss occurred from a flood in the Grey River, which rose at the mine 27ft Gin from its present level, and was 6ft 6in above the platform of shoots, sweeping them clear away, together with coke, platform, small office, a portion of the blacksmith's shop, besides doing other damage ! t6 the coke ovens, bank of rivers, &c. This misfortune caused the outlay of the L 204 Is 3d for erection of new shoots, besides causing a loss to the trade of at least 1000 tons of coal, not delivered inconsequence. The quantities of coal sold for the year were 12,284 tons 2 cwt., being a decrease on the quantities sold the previous yeas year of 197£ tons. This is clearly ac r counted for by the occurrence of a series of floods in the Grey river, continuing more or less for six months, finishing up with the calamitous flood already mentioned, during which period the coalboats could not get up the river at all for a considerable portion of the time, otherwise an increase might have been reason*

a jly oxpecled of about 2000 tons on last year's estimates. During the past year there have been no accidents whatever, and the mine is perfectly free from fire-damp, well ventilated, and in a good workable condition. The mine has been worked further up the inclines, and at a greater distance from its mouth. This has necessitated the erection of a large new drum, break, and wire rope, 900 yards long, to work the inclines with greater economy and with less labor, otherwise the contracting truckers could not do their work at the same prices per ton as at present. This is now ready, and will be worked when the new shoots are completed. In the statement showing cost of raising coal per ton, the whole of the disbursements Are charged to the same, which, of course, include improvements, and also burning coke, &c. This makes the average price of coal rather higher than the true cost of coal alone, but is near enough for an approximate cost. Referring to a statement showing profit for each month, it is seen that in October, February, and March there is a loss shown. This is caused by extraordinary expenses in plant and gear, viz., in October, 600 tons of iron rails, including freight from Melbourne only, U37 3s 4d ; in February and March shoots washed away, less quantity of coal sold, and extra expenses going on in erection of shoots, L 204 Is 3d. This fully explains the apparent loss during these raontha,