Fire at the Coalpitheath Mine.

Manawatu Herald, 5 November 1892, Page 2

Fire at the Coalpitheath Mine.

Shortly after four o'clock on Wednesday clouds of black smoke were seen ascending from the Coalpitheath Shaft, which is also a return air shaft for the said mine. The engi neer and mine manager went below and took such steps as they best could to conn je the fire; The fans were stopped and everything possible done to exclude the air ironk i3» . bottom of the shaft. There being no fire engine the Grey mouth one was telephoned for, and arrived with a full staff of firemen shortly ..before seven. At 5.80 the wood work at the top of the shaft took fire, and (q save the poppet heads and buildings surrounding, men with buckets were lined down the face of a steep rock to the river, who passed np the buckets filled. The steam engine did splendid work, throwing an immense body of water on the fire. The men kept the engine going from 8 p.m to noon. Having abundance of hose, three branches were taken through the Brunner mine into the < oalpitheatb, and the fire was fought foot by foot through the mine galleries, the men having to lie down to escape suffocation. The fire appeared in the tunnels as fierce as in a coke oven. At one time it was thought impossible to contend successfully with the fire, bat the men stuck to their work steadily, and the water supply being large und steady, finally gained the day and got the fire under. This mine belongs, to the Grey Valley Goal Company ; and was bought by them from Joseph Taylor some years ago. The upper levels are well-, worked, But a dip called the Kimberley contains the most valuable seam of coal, and is practically unworked.— Press Assq* Iciation.