Page 16 - 00 Volume 5 The Mine

direction from No. 2 shaft for the purpose of proving - John Dunn had his back injured by steel splinter

the strata to a depth of about 1,000 ft. below our present in Taupiri Reserve Mine, 5th March, 1896
seam, which was passed through at 172 ft., and proved
to be 20 ft. thick. Before cutting the main seam we
passed through two seams of coal, 8 ft. and 5 ft. thick 1897
respectively. The bore is now down 210 ft.” Taupiry (sic) Reserve Mine.
Report (b) This mine is being worked steadily.
The places towards the Waikato River are stopped, and The chief workings in this mine are under Lake
the chief workings are towards and under the lake, in- Kimihia. The cover over the coal is of sufficient
land lately ___?___ from the Government. The year’s thickness to insure the safety of the mine. Large pillars
output amounted to 40,160 tons. are left, and after the first working nothing further will
be done in removing any portion of the pillars, so that
Taupiri Reserve Mine. the probability of any subsidence is very remote. The
extension of the dip has been carried on, and new
Report (a) Mining operations are here carefully machinery placed in position to pump the water.
carried on. It has necessary to continue the dip a further Mr. Jonathan Harrison, the manager, gives the
distance of 15 chains, it having been found cheap: one following description of the work: During the year 1896
level of that length than to pursue the method formerly two new Tangye’s steel boilers, of 20- horse power
adopted, of making levels of when desiring to extend each, to work up to a pressure of 100 lb, have been
the dip into the seam. A new Tangye duplex pump, with erected, and a new brick chimney has been built. A new
a liftin, of 15,000 gallons per hour, has been purchased engine and pump, to lift 15,000 gallons of water an
for the extension of the dip. The output for this hour, have been placed in the mine, with 81-inch steel
amounted to 17,135 tons. steam-pipes and 6-inch steel delivery-pipes.
Report (b) The chief workings in this mine are The new dip extension is now down 7 chains, and
under Lake Kimihia. The cover over the coal is of is still progressing in good coal. The dip of the coal
sufficient thickness to insure the safety of the mine. continues at 8 ft.-to 1 chain. This gives us 220 ft. of
Large pillars are left, and after the first working nothing cover under the lake. The whole of the slits, returns,
further will be done in removing any portion of the and old workings are regularly travelled and inspected.
pillars, so that the probability of any subsidence is very All the reports at the mine are kept up. The
remote. Mining Acts and special rules are posted at the colliery.
The extension of the dip has been carried on, and The ventilation is taken weekly, and is very good. Hard
new machinery placed in position to pump the water. clay is sent into the mine, and kept in each bord for shot
Mr. Jonathan Harrison, the manager, gives the -ramming. Bore-holes are regularly put up in the bords
following description of the work: "During the year and levels. The output of coal for the year was 18,660
1896 two new Tangye's steel boilers, of 20- horse tons, being an increase of 1,625 tons on last year’s
power each, to work up to a pressure of 100 lb., have
been erected, and a new brick chimney has been built. return,
“A new engine and pump, to lift 15,000 gallons of 1898
water an hour, have been placed in the mine, with 3 in.
steel steam-pipes and 6 in. steel delivery-pipes. The Waikato Colliery Company's Mine.
new dip extension is now down 7 chains, and is still This mine has been steadily worked during the
progressing in good coal. The dip of the coal continues year. The operations in the mine have been confined to
at 8 ft. to 1 chain. This gives us 220 ft. of cover under taking out pillars, and the manager has exercised great
the lake. care for the safety of the men in taking out the coal, and
“The whole of the slits, returns, and old workings a very small percentage of the coal has been lost.
are regularly travelled and inspected. All the reports at Abundance of timber is kept at the mine ready for
the mine are kept up. The Mining Acts and special rules immediate use. The output of coal for the year was
are posted at the colliery. The ventilation is taken 13,317 tons, a decrease of 916 tons as compared with
weekly, and is very good. Hard clay is sent into the the previous year. Four slight accidents happened in the
mine, and kept in each bord for shot-ramming. Bore- mine, but none of a serious character.
holes are regularly put up in the bords and levels.”
The output of coal for the year was 18,660 tons, The Taupiri Reserve.
being an increase of 1,525 tons on last year's return. Report (a) The operations in this company’s
mine are directed in opening up the low level from the
Waikato Mine bottom of the incline shaft. The main level is being
This mine has again been steadily worked. The driven in a south-westerly direction under Lake
distance of the further seam from the main adit Kimihia. The seam continues about its average
necessitated the formation of a new jig to shorten the thickness, and from 8 ft. to 16 ft. in height is being
length of the road. Titilation is still satisfactory, though taken out in the level and bords.
when the wind blow from a certain direction it becomes The coal is softer in some of the bords than could
(very) sluggish in the extreme workings to the rise. This be desired. Still, I am informed the seam at this level is
will be improved by making a fresh ___?___ in the opening up even more than was at first anticipated. The
manager has been making considerable improvements
locality. The output for the year was 12,444 tons.