Mountains of Coal

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 566, 19 January 1929, Page 12

Mountains of Coal

WEALTH OF THE WAIKATO

Big Future for Huntly Fields

MOUNTAINS of coal, each year bringing in increasing wealth to the province. That, in effect, is what Auckland possesses in the coalfields of the Lower Waikato. Few, however, realise the real value of the asset the province possesses in the Huntly fields; few realise their full development possibilities.

Coal was first mined in the lower Waikato during the Maori Wars, when an outcrop near Huntly was exploited to supply the needs of the troops. The first commercial proposition was opened up about 45 years ago, btit for a long time there was little profit in the trade. The requirements of the province were not heavy, and a large part of its coal was secured from the South, or from across the. Tasman.

The Taupiri Co. was the first commercial concern of any size to exploit the Huntly fields and, for many years, practically held a monopoly of the trade. About 1910 the Waipa Company commenced operations, and it is from somewhere about that time that the real growth of the Huntly fields dates. Since the year 1913 the annual increase in production from the Waikato fields has averaged approximately 25,200 tons per annum. The rate of increase over the past six years has been even greater. During the period three new mines have been opened up and, for the most part, big profits have found their way to the pockets of the shareholders. NEW DEVELOPMENTS Fukemiro coal first came on the market about 1915. Little more than four years ago difficulty in meeting the needs of the many associated factories of th© New Zealand Dairy Co-op. resulted in the promotion of the Glen

Afton concern. The latest company o any size, Renown Collieries, marketec its first lot of coal last winter. Th* Huntly fields also support a number ol small concerns working limited areas.

Fresh developments on a large seal are promised at an early date.

Yesterday a party of prominerr Auckland businessmen, interested ir the flotation of a new mine, inspected what, in effect, is a mountain of coal Situated across the Waikato Rivei from Ngaruawahia, the new field run? right through a large hill. At various points around the hill, outcrops, eight to I*o feet high, of hard, bright coal testify in no uncertain manner tc the richness and extent of the seam, Nature has left it practcially in readiness to be opened up for the market.

As far as the Waikato is concerned, the proposed scheme for getting the coal to the market is unique. An aerial ropeway, operated largely by gravitation, will lift the.coal from the pit mouth and run it down to the screens at Ngaruawahia, five and ahalf miles away. This method has been tested elsewhere and proved satisfactory and economical. OVER-PRODUCTION UNLIKELY In some quarters it might be argued that the exploitation of new fields will tend toward, over-production. The answer is to be found in the growth of industry throughout the province. Each year sees fresh manufacturing industi'ies started, and statistics over the past 15 years show that, such has been the growing demand for coal, there is room for a new mine with an annual production of 100,000 tons to be opened up every four years. Apart from that, indications are that a new era for the New Zealand coalmining industry is about to start with the introduction of the carbonisation treatment for the extraction of smokeless' fuel, coal-oil and other by-pro-ducts. Already the process is under investigation and, with the success being achieved overseas, it is quite on the cards that the industry will be. established in the Waikato within the next year or so. Financial interests are moving in that direction. Over-production is scarcely likely. But if there were, it would merely serve as fresh incentive for keen bruins to find fresh uses for an asset which, experience elsewhere proves, can be made to produce by-products many times more valuable than the" fuel that to-day is largely wasted in smoke. A big future awaits the Huntly coalfields. —By “NOON CALL.”