ST. ANDREW'S COAL PIT, PAPAKAIO.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 805, 9 November 1878, Page 2

ST. ANDREW'S COAL PIT, PAPAKAIO.

This coal pit, which is at p-esent the property of Mr. Thot. I'rooter, tic sub-Ussye, is being worked by Mr. Joseph fe-tiith, wuj has taken it in hand for th.j fotiyth time | .space of eight" year-; ; a.::d the perseverance he lias shown in contending with difficulties of no ordinary natuiv, entitles him to a short record of its li After having been opened out and worked for some time, the pit took fire in 1574, and 'burned for six months. Mr. Kearns then took the pit, when it again took fire throughout its ensire workings, and continued burning for two years ; at the end of this time Mr. Smith came forward and undertook to extinguish it, for the purpose of opening new workings. He accordingly cut a head-raise, five chaiiis long, from the creek which intersects thfe gully, to the air shaft, which is situated nearly over the centre of the workings, with the view of flooding out the firb. To do thisj it was necessary to dam up thy main level to prevent the water from escaping Vy 'tn>tJ outlet. Mr. Smith then put three dams into the level, completely blocking.up the exir of the water, lie then let the water go down the air-shaft, and by this means all the old workings, equal to 1200 yards in length, with an average depth and height of 5 feet, were completely submerged, The quantity of water thus thrown upon the fire wis enormous, and had the effect of thoroughly subduing it in the course of 24 hours. Tie task of relieving the pit, i.e., letting tile water off, was one of very great klanger oil account of the pressure, the level being 50fi. lower than the air shaft, in whichlthere ivasf 30ft. of water. Having taken oiw the hvo outer dams, lie proceeded to breal outjthe! innermost one, which was six chainsfromjtlie ■. mouth of the level. On finding t;ae watsr starting, lie ran. for it and just succeeded in landing himself on the high bank outsicij when the full flood burst out, carryiig everything before it, including the pi: head. After the water was run off he clea-ed tie workings of slack to prevent the }it frcJn taking fire again, and sunk a new air sha-t to clear out the foul air. This shaft bottomed on new coal, from -whence f'.'ejh drives have been opened and faces pnteroi. Mr. Smith is just starting a new. dri-4, • which will open a, much larger field.of c4l than that yet discovered, and it is: to j>e hoped that he will i - oap the reward iof Hs perseverance. ' \