LAWRENCE COALPIT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 340, 21 March 1874, Page 2

LAWRENCE COALPIT.

Since our last visit to the local coal workings, about twelve months ago, when the present proprietors had just finished sinking the shaft, great progress has been made in putting the mine in thorough working orJer. From the bottom of the shaft, which is about 100 f eot, a working level has been driven north and south, but neither end has yet reached the boundary of the liernite deposit, the exact width of which is as yet unknown, although the north end of the seam was worked by the original proprietors. It appears that the bed of coal is gradually widening out as it dips into the flat, and at the same time it is improving in quality, The depth of the seam in the Bhaft is 17 feet. From the working level five drives, which are laid with rails, have been taken towards the old workings, each of them about 13 feet in x width, with pillars of the same width between each. Only one of the drives has yet been broken through into the old ground, and that was done for the purpose of purifying the air. Although very little trouble has yet been experienced from foul air in the mine, yet a slight draught assists naturally in cleairng away the smoke aft«r a blast has been fired. Since the sinking of the shaft, the proprietors have let the working of the mine to Mr. John Coutts, whose contract expires next month. Mr. Coutts anticipates that when his term expires, he will have sent to the about 1800 tons of lignite. At the present time, two men can break down sufficient coal and truck it to the shaft to supply all demands j but, in tho

winter season, it requires three to do the work efficiently. When once the coal is placed on , the surface, the contractors have nothing more to do wi,j;h it, as the proprietors re- i serve the power of selling it to 1 " the public; but it is not drawn to the surface till required, as exposure to the atmosphere causes it to crumble to pieces. The Company hold a large area of ground, -with right to work thereon. There is not the slightest doubt but that the racecourse flat is a solid bed of lignite in an oval shape, as coal has been obtained and worked near to Mr. Peter Robertson's property. At that point the coal came near to the surface, as it did on the other side of the flat, and when followed with an open cutting rapidly dipped into the flat, thus in a very short period putting a stop to the work from the large quantity of water the miners had to contend with. Had they worked on the same principle as the present company, the mine would probably have been a payable speculation. From this we may conclude that we have a local supply of lignite to last, even at an increased rate of consumption, for generations, without it is to be hoped any great increase in cost. The expenses attached to the working of the mine are at present very small, although the first outlay for the substantial plant now in use was considerable. For the next three or four yeav3, unless any at present unknown difficulty arises, the mine can be worked without any large outlay of capital. After that time they will probably require to erect steam machinery, as the quantity of water they will have to contend with when the workiugs extend further into the flat will prove too much for the appliances at present in use. Attached to the coal workings there is a large brick field. Three kilns have been burnt this season. In the last ono there were 50,000 bricks bm-nt at one time. The demand is considerably on the increase. Several large brick buildings are now in course of construction in the neighborhood. For the next few years no doubt the demand for bricks will rapidly increase. The clays of iron and wooden buildings are on the decline, and brick and stone will have to take the place of the more primitive structures. We therefore expect to find Messrs. Cormack and Nicol's brick yard and coal workings at no distant date employing three or four times the amount of labor that is now found sufficient for all requirements.