COAL COUNTRY "CREEP."

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 219, 13 September 1923, Page 7

COAL COUNTRY "CREEP."

REPORT FROW^HIKURANGI. PEECADTIONS BY COMPANY. (By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.) HEKURANGI. this day. There arc considerable indications of a creep in the country near Ware, the scene of the mining operations of the Hikuramri Coal Company. Several cracks have, been noticed in the main loiid. and. apart from, those, elsewhere it bus been found necessary, to prevent a burst in the town water mains, to uncovpr the pipes. Remarkable tlioii"-li it may seem, t'lie coal .has not been removed from under the country where the phenomenon is noticeable." All is solid "round thereunder, jt seems as if nil tlie bill country is slipping towards the lower country. Where the creep occurred is in the old mine, which has no connection with the new one now being opened up. It is not likely this creep will reduce the output of coal from the Hikunuigi mines, .as this portion was about worked out. Inquiry made in town, elicited the information tliat the general manager of the Hikurangi Coal Mine reported to the directors about ten days a S o that there was a small creep in a section of .the company's property, and that all imen working in the vicinity had been I immediately withdrawn as a matter of precaution. At the same time tlio manager stated he did not consider the matter serious. Xo coal was being worked in the vicinity of the creep, ■because under the regulations a certain boundary of coal lias to be left .between the mine and the adjoining property. Tlie creep, which was only a small one in the mine, appears to have found its level, therefore it is not thought tliere will be any extension of the depression on the surface, seeing that solid coal is left to tne boundary.