Page 18 - 00 Volume 5 The Mine

Accidents: employed and 57,500 tons of coal produced. This is no
- James Evans met with a slight accident, getting
his hand jarred. 5th January.
- Herbert Tribe cut his foot with an adze. 21st
February.
- Thomas McQuillam received an injury to his leg improvement in the airways a much larger volume may
by a piece of coal. 22nd February.
- Robert Muir had his eye injured by a piece of
coal that flew from the pick.8th March.
- Jonathan Columbine had his side injured by
falling on a truck.
1899
Taupiri Coal Company (Limited).
(E. S. Wight, manager).-Ralph's section:
During the past twelve months the main dip and
headings have been extended in the direction of the
newly acquired lease of coal under Lake Wahi. This
work has been extended with reasonable dispatch, but
owing to the uneven slope of the floor a large amount
of expense has been incurred by straightening the main
dip in order to get a uniform grade, as this will be the
future main haulage road.
The work has been carried out with very great
care, and when finished will give increased facilities in
bringing the coal to the shaft. The greater part of the
haulage is done by the endless-rope system, which
works very well, and is a great when contrasted with
the means previously used.
The portion of the seam worked varies from to 12
to 20 feet in height. The coal is of a very fine quality,
and when broken out with ordinary care only only a
limited amount of small coal is produced on account of
its hardness, therefore the cost is minimum.
The mine has been inspected frequently, and
although there has been a number of minor accidents in
the shape of men receiving cuts and bruises, yet there
have been no serious accidents, and as far as the
working is concerned, there has been little cause for
complaint.
A fan is used for purpose of ventilating the mine,
and when driven at an ordinary rate of speed is capable
of causing larger inrush of air than is required by the
Coal-mines Act. The screening plant is working very
satisfactorily, and has been a great saving by enabling
the company to classify and deliver the coal into the
railway-wagons at less cost than hitherto, and gives
more satisfaction to consumers.
The output of coal for the year from this section
totalled 88,856 tons, and 159 men were employed.
The Extended section:
Some extensive improvements have been effected
during the year, and with completion of the screening
plant, the erection of a new and first-class ventilation
fan, a "Sirocco " ___?___ diameter and driven by a 54-
horse power compound steam-engine, the extension of
the main-dip headings, and other development-work,
this section of the company's mine may be considered a
valuable property.
For the year an average of ninety-three men were
mean output, but with the improved facilities a greater
quantity could be delivered if required. The ventilation
is good; the fan is causing 35,500 cubic feet of air to
circulate though the workings, and with a slight
be regulated.
An endless-rope haulage system was installed at
this mine, driven by a pair of engines, __?__ diameter,
30 in. stroke, placed on the surface, connected with the
mine by means of boreholes lined with iron pipes,
through which the rope passes.
Taupiri Reserve
It appears that this section of the company's mine
is kept as a reserve, so that the event of an increased
demand for coal the company has this section to draw
upon. The mine has been kept open and drained
throughout the year, and an average of eleven men
employed in keeping the workings and machinery in
good order and producing 6,158 tons of coal, which is a
sufficient quantity to comply with the terms of the
lease.
The coal is of a good quality, and there is yet a
large amount in sight. The mine when visited was found
to be in good order, with a sufficient volume of air
passing through the workings.
The total output for the year for the Taupiri coal-
mines was 152,588 tons, being an increase of 33,967
over the preceding year, whilst dividends to the extent
of £6,375 were paid.
Taupiri South (J Duncan, Manager)
The company has done but little work in this
mine. Their Mention has been directed to that portion of
the property near the top of the spur of the hill, where at
one place opened out in the early part of the year 2,856
tons of coal was obtained; but as this place became
exhausted another drive was put in the hill and 275
raised.
Since then a good deal of prospecting-work has
been carried out, but not with as favourable results as
anticipated, and it is said the company are likely to stop
operations for the present. Five men were employed.
Taupiri West Coal-mining Company (Limited)
(R. McEwen, manager).
This is a new coal-mine, the property being
situated on the western side of the Waikato River, and
about a mile and a quarter from the Huntly Railway-
station. The greater portion is on Crown lands held on
lease from Government, and includes coal under Lake
Rotoiti and the larger part of that under Lake Wahi,
alltogether about 1,050 acres.
A considerable amount of prospecting has been
done by the original syndicate who first took it up in the
shape of boring, and who discovered two different
seams of coal, the top seam being 10 ft. thick and the
main seam about 24 ft. The prospects met with being
very satisfactorily, the shareholders determined to sink
a shaft, which has reached a depth of 180 ft., where was
the seam was cut through and the coal found to be equal