Pukemiro.

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 3, Issue 6, 1 May 1914, Page 3

Pukemiro.

THE NEW MINE. Attention was first blrscted to tiie Pukemiro coalfields, situated about seven and a-balf miles west of Huntly, about 11 years ago, when an existing company refused to take them over. In 1910 a few Auckland men bought up the fields, about 1250 acres in extent, and s ion afterwards received an unaccepted offer from the company that bad already refused to purclia ~e. From then on development lias taken place, and an up-to-date plant, capable of turning out 1000 tons of coal per eight-hour clay, has been installed, while provision has been made for increasing the machinery to cope with a daily output of 3000 tons. In the main seam alone it is estimated that there is a total of 20,000,000 tons of coal, and altogether the company considers it has sufficient coal on its property to last for about 120 years. Practically everything at the mine is worked by gravitation. Shafts are not necessary, for the main seam runs into the face of the hill on an upgrade,' thereby ensuring free drainage and cheap haulage —tlie laden downward cars pulling up the empty cars. THE RAILWAY DIFFI CULTY. All the plant at the mine is in working oi der, but delay has occurred in tli© construction of the branch railway from Huntly Originally the company in-' tended to build the line itself, but difficulty arose in regard to the acquisition of the land through which the railway was to pass. Then the Government stepped in, acquired the land under Public Works Act, authorised the railway, and started to build it. Steady progress was made, but about 1.2 months ago the work, owing to the prevailing financial strngency, had to cease. Ultimately jt he Government decided to allow tlie company to take up Government debentures for about £15,000 to enable the construction to he proceeded with, and now the remaining one mile and threequarters is in course of completion by- the Public Works Department. Five contracts have been let. and under favourable conditions the line should be finished in six month’s time. Directly the line is open tlie company will place its coal on the market.