WAIPA RAILWAY AND COLLIERIES.

WORKS APPROACHING COMPLETION.

llr. Ashley Hunter, acting-engineer to the Waipa Kail way and Collieries, Ltd., has just returned from a visit of inspection to the mine, and when seen this morning by a representative of the Auckland "Star" furnisiied some data as to the progress of works up there. It was in 190!) that the papers of the company were filed with the Registrar, and since that date the shareholders have been finding money for opening up the coalmine., ".Included in this svas the construction,. of bridges across the Waipa and smaller streams, also the formation of some seven miles of railway from Ngaruawahia to Te Akatea. Mr. Hunter states that the bridges and formation Work are now all- done, and railway lines have been laid for nearly four miles, as well as being partly "ballasted. In this connection Mr. Hunter mentioned that b« has Vpened 'up a stone quarry at the company's gfbund, from, which suitable iallast is-jobtainea. The company's own locomotive' is running on the lines. The manatrer of the Waipa Collieries (Mr. I J Thompson, formerly Government In--1 spector of Mines) is now busily engaged owning up the seams of -coal at various points so as to be Tcady to send to market a miliar snpftfv as soon as the other works are completed. A house for the s PT eenVns plant is nearly finished, and wnrksborts are -now heina erected. The Babcock boiler, fan and electric plant are expected to be on the around about the middle, of next month. r.nd there is every reason to how that the coal-from Waipa will- 1« on -the market in time for the ■winter trade. It may be mentioned that one seam "of coal is from eight to nine feet in -thickness. Like the coal from TTiintlv. that from Waipa is clean to hanI die. and therefore, apart from its steam qualities', is a good one for household purposes. .