WAIKATO COAL MINES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1725, 26 July 1883, Page 2

WAIKATO COAL MINES.

[BY TELEGRAM. — SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Wkllinntox, Tuesday. The following is extracted from the Mines Report, just tabled: — Waihato Colliery.— Owing to the difficulty and cost of carriage across the river, there being no bridge, the owners of this mine have not been endeavouring to push on the Auckland trade. The output in consequence is less than half the previous year, being 3224 \ tons. In 1880 it was TSGOj tons,. During the year the manager," Mr McGlynn, has been altering and improving the levels of his main works, so that the use of a horse is not now required. Although the workings of the new mines are not extensive yet, having broken into the old workings both on the east and west, as these must be kept open for ventilation, etc., and as there is no plan of them in existence, I consider it necessary that a plan of the whole should be made. I have therefore written to the manager, leqnesting that this be done at once. Taupiri Colliery.— The main work during the year has been sinking the shaft a further distance oi 20 feet, and cutting an under-drift through the tireclay to carry the water from the lowest dip ; also extending the main incline tunnel (through the tire clay) to the bottom of the dip." In regard to Mr Cox having observed carelessness on the part of some miners when visiting this mine in April last, he says: "It is perhaps the greatest trouble mine managers have to force some men to take the precautions considered necessary for their safety. I quite approve of bringing such oases before a Justice of the Peace as examples to the others, but in regard to this very point, some fifteen to eighteen months ago, the manager said as there were no police or Justices of the Peace at Huntly, the complaint would before have to be laid, and the case afterwards tried at Hamilton, necessitating his being absent from the mine three days in each case. This, with so many men at work, would lead to very serious consequences. Indeed, this being so it was arranged he would in such cases at once dismiss the men. But here another difficulty crops up. The demand for coal has so increased that he cannot find enough colliers to supply it. The true solution of the difficulty is that Mr Collins should have an under-viewer, whose duty it should be to see that the work is properly carried out and that all instructions are obeyed, a thing that at present it is impossible for Mr Collins to see done. The increased area of the workings, the greater output of coal, and the larger number of men now employed more than fully warrants the appointment being made. In 1880 there were twenty-nine men employed' for an output of 14.81S tons, and in 1882 fortyfive men for an output of 23,381 tons. Now there are over fifty men, and this without any additional assistance to the manager, who, as I mentioned in a previous report, has everything to do in connection with the mine. If this appointment were made it would clear away the difficulty in regard to having cases brought into court, as there would always be a responsible party left in charge of the mines," The other matters alluded to under the company's report have been attended to. The mine generally is in very fair working order.

Mr James T. Camp advertises an impounding notice in another column. ( By special request "Self Accusation" and "Boots at the Swan," will be repeated in the Public Hall, Alexandra, on the 30th inst., by the Alexandra Dramatic Cliib; A- public .meeting will be, held in the Delta Hotel, Ngafuawahia 1 , on Saturday next, in order to arrange for the purchase ,of, instruments for the proposed band, <Any person .taking away timber of any .sbit.('sawiu dr.otherwisej.from .the^roads jta the Waitoa Road Distiict will be prosecuted without further notice. '; '', „ ' ;J ! ' Tenders are invited for repairs tooths, 'Hamilton , East School, , including papering, .cleaning paint,' &c., in, the teacher's h^use, rerrioving r closeds, opening up' drains,' crectinjf fence 1 , ttc?, tec.'' '■■'.tv ' 'v i*'* ' i i~" \Al11' biitatanding^ accounts'^ against thei -Roman"datholic iPresbyteryJ' Cambridge must jbe sentiri by the pls'tijAugust, or they will not be j