NEW COAL SEAM

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 76, 30 March 1944, Page 6

NEW COAL SEAM

WEST COAST FIND

EXTENSIVE AREA INDICATED

(By Telegraph.— Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, this day

The discovery of a new seam of coal which is likely to mean the opening up of a new colliery at Rewanui and to revolutionise bituminous coal production, was announced by the Minister of Mines, Mr. Webb, this morning. This new seam was discovered under the present Liverpool mine at Rewanui, on the West Coast of the South Island, as a result of drilling operations following a geological survey.

The Minister said that when Labour took office after the 1935 elections, it was found that only 20 years' supply of bituminous coal was known to exist. Immediate steps were taken to organise a detailed survey of the whole of the coal resources of the Dominion, a work which he considered should have been undertaken half a century ago. Geologists, after making a careful survey, recommended drilling in different areas where the strata indicated a possibility of lower seams of coal. A bore was put down in the Liverpool mine area, and the first drill penetrated an entirely new seam at 800 ft below the existing bed.

Drilling Operations Continue

To test the seam, drilling operations were also carried out ten chains lower down to ascertain whether a continuous seam had been discovered. At 1070 ft the seam was again tapped, showing a thickness of 17ft of coal. It was evident then, said Mr. Webb, that a big area of coal existed there, and drilling operations were being continued to ascertain the area of the whole field. The drilling was being carried out in very rough country, and the drillers were to be congratulated on the work they had done.

It was apparent that, for successful ecomonic operations, a new mine would have to be established by the sinking of shafts. The drilling would continue to see how far the new seam of coal x'ose towards the top workings.

"This discovery is most encouraging as it will revolutionise the production of bituminous coal, which is vital for gas production, and heavy railway haulage," added the Minister. "No doubt the new mine will have many years of life, and by the time it is properly opened up a good deal of other work will have been finished.

"There will be no difficulty as far as men are concerned. When the mine will he opened will depend on the drilling operations. We want to get a complete picture of the seam before it is decided wheu the location of the new mine should take place."