New Gas Coal Seam Found At Rewanui

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29728, 23 January 1962, Page 15

New Gas Coal Seam Found At Rewanui

A seam of good quality coal very similar to the gas coal produced at the nearby Liverpool State mines has been discovered in the Rewanui area, where a new stone drive is being opened up to what will eventually be a new State mine.

The senior engineer of the Mines Department at Dunollie, Mr H. Hutchinson, said the seam was found within a few feet of where it was predicted to be. 486 ft below the surface. He said the drive contract was let to a group of 12 district State miners in January of last year and it was then estimated that it would take them at least 12 months to reach the first estimated seam.

Within a few days of the exact year therefore, the seam, known as No. 5, has been reached. The contractors will now carry on to a depth

of 1000 ft where the main No. 4 seam is considered to be. It may be another year before they reach their objective but they have been working in sandstone country and there may be an increase in the yardage covered each day. ■ The life of the Liverpool mine has been estimated at another two years but, as Mr Hutchinson pointed out, it is difficult to say exactly how long the mine will last. The coal could run out within two years or it could last beyond that time. However, it appears likely that working faces in the new mine will be opened up and the men transferred from Liverpool some time before the latter is Anally abandoned.