MANGAPEEHI MINE

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21229, 27 September 1940, Page 3

MANGAPEEHI MINE

DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT INTEREST IN TE KUITI (Special to Times) TE KUITI, Tuesday Some 50 business men and representatives of town organisations at a special meeting held on Monday night resolved to cater more adequately for the needs of the Mangapeehi district, which is developing rapidly since the State has taken over the privately-owned coal mine. Mr W. J. Broadfoot, M.P. for Waitomo, stated that much development was being pushed forward at the new State mine, which would eventually be turning out 600 tons of coal daily. This would mean a staff of 200 to 250 men and a wage bill of £I7OO to £IBOO a week. In addition to the mine, there were sawmills employing between 250 and 300 men. The transport facilities at present were poor. The train service between Mangapeehi and Te Kuiti, was most unsuitable. A special committee was set up to go into the question of a bus service to be run at convenient intervals. It was reported at a meeting that application had been made to the Waitomo Electric Power Board for a supply of electric current to the mine. In all there would be about 120 houses in the district to be supplied. Four car loads of business men left on a goodwill mission to Mangapeehi today.