Page 4 Advertisements Column 4

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 275, 11 April 1911, Page 4

The Mokau trippers on Thursday were much interested in the coal mine at Mnryville, or Mangapapa. Some of them ventured in as far as the point where the miners were working. The piine is one of the safest and most easily worked in the world. The miners u9e naked lights, which are affixed to their caps. Though the mine has been in existence for over tweny-fivc years, nol apeiifcnt has occurred. The seam of eoa|Majracd by the mine is about Bft thick/separated in the middle by impure beds of fireclay, and the drive has an easy gradient of about 1 in 10, which enables the coal to be run out by gravitation, whilst the sandstone roof dispenses with much of the timbering usually required. The coal consists of two qualities, the upper seam being superior lignite, and thelower bright bituminous coal of superior quality. The extent of the field is considered practically unlimited, outcrops being found miles and miles inland. Steamers are able to go right up to the mine, the river being tidal up to that point, whilst the wharf is very convenient, lying only a few yards away from the mouth of the drive, in which the fresh air rushes at a rate that makes the keeping of a candle alight a matter of no little difficulty. The foul air is drawn ofT through another shaft by means of a powerful fan, worked by a steam engine, about the only piece of machinery to be seen on the Held.