COAL AND FIRECLAY.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 September 1921, Page 5

COAL AND FIRECLAY.

CANTERBURY DISCOVERY

CLOSE TO THE RAILWAY.

The discovery within two miles of Cavendish railway station of a mine yielding good household lignite caused a stir in the district some few months ago. Apart from the fact that coal had not previously been struck in that district south of the Ashburton River, th© iqine had the valuable quality of accessibility, whereas previous deposits in the Ashburton Gorge were situated nine to ten miles distant from the Mount Somers railway station. The Cavendish mine is now being actively worked, the daily output being about twelve tons. The shaft has been driven in a direct horizontal line into the hillside, and has penetrated to a distance of four chains. No difficulty with water or other mine trouble has yet been experienced. The coal is carted by lorry to the Cavendish railway station, and there placed on trucks. Four men are at present the sole staff of the mine.

A valuable discovery in the form of what is claimed to be the finest fireclay in New Zealand has been made near the pit-mouth. The deposit is 18ft. deep, and is said to be a high-grade refractory fire-clay. 3'he development of this in conjunction with the lignite is stated to be a commercial proposition. The value to farmers in the district of a regular supply of lignite from the mine during the coal shortage, now fortunately ended, would have boon very great, and the mine, by its proximity compared with the main sources of supply in Southland, should still be ahlo to fulfil a useful function in supplying fuel for the Aushburton district. The larger question of fuller development and exploitation of the fire-clay rei&aiut open far aolutlofl