COAL SITUATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 237, 4 October 1920, Page 5

COAL SITUATION.

NOTHING FROM NEWCASTLE. NO WORK AT PUKEMIRO. WESTPORT CARGO NEXT WEEK This is the second week during which the Auckland tramways have been silent, and it is likely to he the last, for the Public Services Committee of the Auckland City Council have decided to set the cars running again next Monday, although they emphasise the fact that when the service is restored on October 1) there will be barely enough coal in hand to keep -he wheels revolving for a week. So it will be seen that a continuation of the present output from the Waikato mines is absolutely essential. The emergency motor bus traffic was threat ened during the week-end by the approach of a benzine shortage, but that anxiety has been removed by the release of stores in sufficient quantity to keep these passenger buses going. It is to he distinctly understood that none of this specially arranged for supply ie to be given for any other puprpose than for the substitute tram service. Coal prospects are not altogether dead. The taupiri mines are working at normal rate now, but the rattle of the truck and the hiss of steam are not yet heard at Pukemiro. There the prevailing dispute remains unsettled, but hopes for an «!arly adjustment are entertained in some optimistic quarters. Mr. P. Hally is now negotiating with the company regarding this question of the engine-drivers. The company has referred its part of the dispute to the Coal Mine Owners' Association, in whose hands further negotiations with the miners will remain. : The question is still being raised whether a fair apportionment of Westport coal is being sent on to Auckland. None has been loaded for this port foi several days now, and there will be nout sent up here before Friday. Advices have been received that the Manna will load on that day, and 1750 tons of it= enrgo is due to* go into the Auckland gasworks at the beginning of next week But there is no hint of any coal coming from Newcastle, though there is some small probability that a cargo may lie ] loaded there next week for this port j This hint has been standing without cither confirmation or direct contradie tion for so long now that people art beginning to be doubtful whether thest necessary and liighly desirable supplier from over tbe water will get here at al this month. Though it is scarcely a fact that th< coal being daily delivered from the Wai kato is only sufficient to supply the citx power station and tramways, with smal supplies to be distributed among indus trial consumers, yet ft is certain tha this output is by no means sufficient t( relieve the full measure of the coa famine. The important eoa.l -burning in dustries are being barely kept going, am very little fuel is available fop any con sumcrs outside these. STATE MINE IN WATKATO. The State Coal Mines report gives in formation regarding the proposed Stati mine which is to be opened in the Wai kato, at Waikokowai, near Rotowaro in the coal area there. This is to bi called Mac Donald mine, and its develop ment is dependent upon the. construction of a branch railway from neai Huntly to the valley of Brown Creek and a service road from the Rotowarc railway station. This service road i? now under construction, and trial sur veys of the railway branch have been made. The mine is on the property recently purchased from the Awaroa Land Company and the Whangape Coa Company. and has an area of 1,289 acres This property has been thoroughly tested and a seam of what may be dcs cribed as a superior brown coal has been proved to exist over an area of_ about 520 acres, and with an average thickness of 15 feet 6 inches. Tt is estimated that the quantity of, coal available is 9,360, 000 tons, and of this about 5,61(5,0011 should be won. Assuming an annual output of 120,000 tons, the life of the mine should therefore be about 50 years The capital expenditure on this new colliery so far amounts to £54,967 11/6 An assistant manager was appointed to take up duties at the mine at the beginning of June this year with a view !of commencing preliminary operations but no time is estimated when the firsf ton of coal shall be won.