WESTPORT COLLIERY FIRE.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 52, 2 March 1909, Page 5

WESTPORT COLLIERY FIRE.

« STIIX BURNING "FIERCELY. THE OUTLOOK SERIOUS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WESTPORT, Monday. The "Westport News'" correspondent sends the following acsount of the fire at Mine Creek:— on Sunday morning a fireman coming through the mine met smoke in tne drive. Returning outside, he reported it to Mr. Davidson, who immediately went inside, investigated, and found the ore raging in a section known as the old east." Messrs. J. Dixon and D. Dunn, superintendent and mine manager of the Westport Goal Mines, wer,e immediately communicated with, and arrived on the scene with all possible dispatch. A gang of men set to work at once to ■try and reach the seat of the fire by using brattices' and every other means that human intelligence suggests; but unfortunately the fire gained such a hold that all their efforts were in vain. Messrs. Dixon, Duain, and" McCormdck stood .by until it was plain that the seat of the fire could not be reached. The only hope left was to stop up all the entrances to the mine, wall up the water drainage drive, and, if possible, flood the mine. Unfortunately water is scarce, and unless rain comes soon it is possible the fire may travel above the ■ possible available water level, and make it a difficult problem to save the mine. To-day the Mine Creek power house was shut down, the fan being stopped, not being required any longer, as the intakes were all stopped up. The only work now going on is the near end of the new drive going through to Mine Creek, which it is computed will take some ten to twelve months to complete. There is now only one end being worked. The origin of the fire can only be surmised. Several theories are advanced, but nothing definite is known yet. The visiting directors of the "Westport Coal Company are up here. I believe the Mine Creek rope was parted, showing that the lire must be pretty fierce. The loss caused by the fire to tlie Westport Coal Company and district may be gauged from the fact that the Granity mines have been producing 6000 tons weekly, and, until the fire is subdued, or .the new tunnel com- ! pleted, the output from this section of the mines must entirely cease. It is understood that special efforts will be made at the Denniston Coalbrookdale section, which now produces about 6000 tons weekly, to make up part of J the deficiency. The Westport Stockton Company's output is also capable of considerable expansion, so that production from the district mines will, it is hoped, not fall very far short of the recent output. WESTPORT. this day. All efforts at V/s Millerton mine are being concentraffed in blocking up the outlet preparatory to flooding the mine. The cable from Granity to the top of the hill being burnt necessitates mater-1 ial for blocking purposes being "packed." There is scarcely any water at present, but should heavy rain occur it is thought that the fire could be put out in a couple of days. The average output from the mine lately has been 2L(HK) tons per month.