Page 17 - 00 Volume 5 The Mine

on the screens on the bank-head for screening the coal, roof of the workings to ascertain if not less than 9 ft. of
which will be the means of effecting a great saving in coal is left in on the roof. The ventilation in the mine is
labour, and by working the mine with economy he is good, and on our last visit everything in connection
sanguine of making the mine pay during the year that with the mine was n good order, and safe. The output of
has been entered upon, if nothing unforeseen happens. coal for the year ending 1898 was 28,721 tons, being an
The output of coal for the year 1898 was 15,874 tons, a increase of 5,192 tons compared with the previous year.
slight decrease compared with the previous year. There were seven accidents in the mine, one of which
The ventilation of the mine was good, and the may be considered of a serious nature. There were
mine safe. Eleven men were employed above ground seventy-seven men employed in and about the mine the
and twenty-nine below. There were seven accidents first six months of the year, but this number has been
happened in this company’s mine in the early part of reduced to ten men above ground and twenty-eight men
the year, but none of a serious character. below.
Report (b) This mine is being steadily worked,
and a fair amount of coal is being produced. The The Taupiri Reserve.
workings in the mine are still confined to that part of The operations in this company's mine are
the property under Lake Kimihia, but the principal directed in opening up the level from the bottom of the
works are directed from the new dip extension. Large incline shaft. The main level is being driven in a south–
pillars are left to keep the mine secure, and from 5 ft. to westerly direction under Lake Kimihia. The seam
8 ft. of tops are left on in the places to strengthen the continues about its average thickness, and from 8 ft. to
roof. The output of coal for the year was 18,870 tons, 16 ft. in height is being taken out in the level and bords.
an increase of 210 tons over the previous year. The The coal is softer in some of the bords than could be
ventilation is good, and the workings, to all appearance, desired. Still, I am informed the seam at this level is
safe; but, strange to say, no less than ten accidents were
reported, most of them being of a slight nature. opening up even than was at first anticipated.
The manager has been making considerable

Taupiri Extended Company's Mine. improvements on screens on the bank-head for
This mine has been worked continuously during screening the coal, which will be the means of effecting
a great saving in labour, and by working. the mine with
the year. The works in the early part of the year were
confined to what are termed the east and west districts economy he is sanguine of making the mine pay luring
at No. 1 level, but the manager is directing the the year that has been entered upon, if nothing
operations now in opening the mine at the dip or No. 2 unforeseen happens.
The output of coal for year 1898 was 15,874 tons,
level, near No. 2 shaft. a slight decrease compared with the previous year. The
The levels are being vigorously pushed ahead, so ventilation the mine was good, and the mine safe.
that no time may be lost in opening up this portion of
the mine, and, as the coal is of good quality at the dip, Eleven men were employed above ground and
the prospects of the company look very encouraging. twenty- ine below. There were seven accidents
The output of coal for the year was 33,066 tons and 847 happened in this company's mine in the early part of the
tons slack, an increase of 4,925 tons over the previous rear, but none of a serious character.
year. The ventilation is all that could be desired, and the
Ralph's Taupiri Coal-mine.
mine is safe.
Two accidents happened in the mine: one was of This company resumed operations in their mine in
a slight character; but the other, due to a fall of coal, the month of May last, and commenced to put coal on
proved fatal to a miner named William Crowder, but no the market about the end of the following month, and
blame could be attached to any one. for he six months ending the 31st December, 1898,
succeeded in disposing of 12,725 tons of coal.
Taupiri Extended.
The operations in the mine are confined to
This company's mine has been steadily worked working the coal in that portion of the company's
during the year, and although the output has not been as property under the bed of the Waikato River. The shaft
large as the previous year, yet the manager is sanguine is only 190 ft. in depth, but as the seam is 65 ft. thick,
that he year 1899 will be more prosperous, and is and rom 7 ft. to 20 ft. of the coal from the bottom of the
vigorously pushing on prospecting-works in the shape seam only is taken out, it leaves a great thickness of
of boring on the property to the north of No. 2 shaft, coal overhead, apart from the covering on the top of the
and also extending a cross-cut drive at the low level for coal; and the manager has been instructed to use every
the purpose of opening up a section of coal to the north precaution, by putting bore-holes 9 ft. up into the roof
of the present workings, which as been proved by every 5 yards in he headings and bords, to ascertain if
boring to contain a large quantity of coal that will pay the seam is thinning out, and also to prevent, if

to work. possible, not less than 9 ft. of coal being left overhead
Operations on the coal are proceeding as usual. whilst working under the bed of the river.
The level and headings are taken in about 7 ft. high, and The coal, of he kind, is of an excellent quality,
the bords from 16 ft. to 24 ft. in height, and, as the seam and the prospects of the company are encouraging. The
is from 20 ft. to 50 ft. in thickness, there is ample coal ventilation was good and the mine safe when last
left in on the roof to keep the mine secure. inspected. Ten men were employed above ground and
Bore-holes are also put up every 5 yards n the forty men in the mine.