Page 22 - 00 Volume 5 The Mine

On May 20th, 1882 the following article An advertisement for tenders was placed in the
appeared in the Waikato Times: Waikato Times, 26th March 1887:

It is reported that Mr Foote's coal mine, TO MINERS AND OTHERS
Miranda, is for sale. Several Auckland gentlemen, TENDERS are hereby invited for DRIVING
amongst them Messrs Fraser and Tinne, a DIP TUNNEL at TAUPIRI RESERVE
Brissendon and Errington, 0. E., have during the COLLIERY.
last few days inspected the property and extended
their visit to the Huntly mines, for the purpose, Plans and specifications can be seen on the
presumably of forming an estimate as to how long ground at Lake Kimihia.
the supply from this source is likely to last, rather Time for receiving tenders till Wednesday, 5
a difficult problem, as coal has been found near the p.m., March 30th, 1887.
Kimihia Lake, and at other places in the immediate
J. ORD,
neighbourhood.
Mine Manager
In 1885 a license to mine was approved as
indicated in this Waikato Times report of 24th March 24th, 1887

October 1885: Later the mine was to be declared unsafe and it
was closed down. The miners all transferred to the
At Thursday's meeting of the Auckland Crown "Extended" mine, the pithead of which stood
Lands Board, the Assistant Surveyor-General where the Huntly Memorial Hall now stands just
forwarded a report on the application of Henry off the Hakanoa Lake Domain.
Byron for a license of mine for coal under Lake
Shortly after the Waikato mines had been
Kimihia, near Huntly. combined as Taupiri Coalmines Ltd, a Royal
It was agreed to grant a license for twenty-one Commission of Inquiry into the working conditions in
years; rental determined by the chairman and the Waikato Coalmines was set up. They sat in
the Assistant Surveyor-General at any price not December 1900 and January 1901, in the different
less than 6d, and not to exceed 1/- per ton royalty. centres. A report on the Taupiri Coalmines Ltd
stated:
Kimihia Mine was opened in the mid 1880's with Situation: On Waikato River at Huntly, 65 miles south
John Ord as manager. At the time it was the biggest of Auckland.
mine in the Waikato.
Area: 2,000 acres.
The discovery of a substantial seam of coal at Capital: £85,000 ($190,000) in 85,000 shares of
Kimihia was confirmed in a media statement in the £1 ($2) each. 72,000 are paid up, 13,000 are
Waikato Times, 17th February 1887: unallotted. This nominal capital really represents
the interests of the amalgamated companies in the
NEW SEAM IN THE TAUPIRI COMPANY S property and does not represent cash.
Expenditure: £20,000 written down to
MINE
£9,000 at Extended Mine. £18,000 spent at the
A correspondent writing to the Herald from other two mines.
Huntly, says: Tenure: Lease from various owners.
"The Taupiri Coal Company have just bottomed Quality of Coal: Very good household coal -
the coal in their new shaft. The coal is said to be fair for steam but cannot compete with
excellent, and equal to anything yet found on this waterborne coal from Whangarei mines.
property. The seam is 40 feet in thickness. This
means years of work for the Company, and Output: 78,000 tons a year.

prosperity for Huntly. Total output: $,026,000 tons (sic).
"Mr Murphy is getting well ahead with the Average cost to company: 5 shillings and eight
branch line to the Taupiri Coal Reserve pence (58cents).
Company's mine, and the tenders are, I believe, to
Wages earned: £2 5 shillings a fortnight
be invited next week for the driving of an adit to ($4.50) or 9 shillings a day (90 cents) when
open the mine.
working. There has been much broken time. By
"The directors - Messrs E. Mitchelson and the ton, the men are paid 2 shillings 9 pence (28
R. W. Hammond - were here last week and cents) for household and 2 shillings 3 pence (23
inspected the work already done." cents) for steam. Price obtained 7 shillings and 3
pence (73 cents).