GOAL MINE FLOODED.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 261, 27 March 1913, Page 5

GOAL MINE FLOODED.

AX UNDERGROUND RESERVOIR. By Telegraph —Press Association. Wliaiiga rci, Wednesday. The X.orthcrn Coal Company's new mine at lliktirangi was flooded last week. It was found Unit the ground was getting uneasy, and that more water was coming in. Tt gradually increased till the workings were Hooded, and then overflowed to the main shaft. The pump became submerged, and was thrown out of action. The water continued to rise in the main shaft till there was 100 ft. of water. The cages are now being used to bail the water out. till it is possible to get down to the pumps. A reporter last night found that the water was decreasing at the rate of IS feet in seven hours. The mining engineer states tlmt they have probably struck a water-pocket in the limestone formation, as the water ro~e very slowly after reaching 00 feet. There was some anxiety at. first, as they thought they had tapped springs, but as the water only rose slowly from the {soft. level to the 100 ft., he thought they had struck an underground reservoir, and considered it was unlikely the flooding would be of a permanent nature. The timbers in the mine broke, but this was caused by the weight of the water. ,and was not a ''creep" as at first feared.

Fifty-five men are thrown out of employment.