SEEPAGE INTO COALMINE

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28256, 18 April 1957, Page 12

SEEPAGE INTO COALMINE

Work Halted At Wangaloa (New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN, April 17. Work in the new Wangaloa coalmine, near Kaitangata, has ceased because of serious flooding. Seepage water is estimated now to be about 180 ft deep. Two large electric pumps were this week rushed from West Coast coalmines to help to keep the water down, but the pumps have not been put into working order. The mine manager (Mr F. Lockington) said this morning that it was hoped to have them going by the week-end, even if it meant working during the Easter vacation.

He said that the two air pumps installed in the mine were only just holding the water back. It was hoped that the electric pumps would drain most of the water out of the drive. The new mine was commenced nearly 18 months ago, and is estimated to cost £250,000 before coal is reached at the 1500 ft level. When work stopped it was down to 1160 ft. It was hoped that the coal seam would be reached by early June, but Mr Lockington said today that he would not like to guess now when it would be reached. The round-the-clock shifts in the mine have not ceased. Miners have been trying to block with cement faults in the drive wall where water is seeping through. The mine is less than a mile from the coast.