NEW COAL MINE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4545, 31 March 1923, Page 4

NEW COAL MINE.

DAIRY COMPANY’S ENTERPRISE. THE GLENAFTON COLLIERIES. A party of thirty-three farmers of the Paterangi and Te Awamutu districts, who are shareholders in the N.Z. Co-operative Dairy Co., Ltd, paid a sui prise visit to the company’s mine at Pukemiro —the Glenafton collieries —last week. Mr Hunter, the mine manager, was not advised cf the visit until an hour or two before the arrival of the party, but .on their arrival he welcomed the party, and took them into the office, where an interesting half hour was passed in explaining the maps and plans of the workings. This explanation was very interesting, and showed the whole pa’’ty that the development of the mine was proceeding upon the most modern and up-to-date lines, Mr Hunter stated that he anticipated the railway line to the mine would be in full working order jn two months’ time, and the mine would then be able to immediately undertake deliveries at the rate of approximately 200 tons a day. This rate of delivery would be increased to about 500 tons a day in five or six months’ time Mr Hunter pointed out that the whole of the development work had been done in the last eighteen months, and this meant that the mine would be brought into productivity within two years from the time of starting operations. This was rather a record in the development of coal mines, because on the West Coast of the South Island, it usually took from four to six years to develop a mine to the point of production, and in the case of the Balmain mine in Sydney, it had taken ten years before the coal had been won.

After luncheon had been partaken of the party was shown through the screening house, where the provision for the automatic loading of trucks in three separate bays of coal was much admired by the party. A trial skip of coal was put through the screening to demonstrate the manner of working. The party was shown all the buildings and equipment on the surface of the mine, and thereafter, armed with lights, explored the various shafts that had been driven into the mine. This part of the experience was the most interesting to the visitors, as it demonstrated conclusively to them, the enormous wealth of coal available for development. in one heading it is estimated that over a quarter of a million tons of coal lie i;eady for immediate extraction, while in others much bigger reserves are available, but a little preliminary work requires to be done. A solid seam in one heading of 14ft of coal was much admired by the visitors, who all put samples in their pockets to show their farmer friends.

At the conclusion of the visit Mr C. J. Spiers, of Paterangi, heartily thanked Mr Hunter for his courteous attention and explanation of the mine,, and said he and all the other suppliers were greatly impressed with what they had seen, and could convey their impressions to others m their district. He called for three cheers for Mr Hunter, wbach were heartily given. Mr Hunter suitably acknowledged the compliment, and said he would always be pleased to show parties of farmers oyer the workings.