KAITANGATA.

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1040, 29 June 1894, Page 5

KAITANGATA.

[FKOM OUII OWN CORRESPONDENT. | There appears some likelihood of Frazer's mine at Lakeside being worked to a considerable extent before very long. Borne of the directors were up last week, and work is being carried on — opening out the mine and laying down a tram-line, which will be run as far as the road. Even a cursory look over the ground is sufficient to satisfy one that coal exists in abundance. Of course details concerning it have to be proved, but the prospect is a very promising one. The registered name of the company is the Tualdtoto Railway and Coal Mining Company. A line of survey is being taken into the above property from Liovells Flat with a view to constructing a line of railway into the coal from that point. The property is held under lease from the Messrs Frazer, and the lesees will pay a, royalty of from 3d to 6d per ton. The amount and extent of the coal seams in the property is simply phenomenal. Outcrops showing seams 8 to 10ft thick are common, while one seam on the opposite side of the hill from the scene of present operations is an enormous mass of coal — 20ft from the top to a point level with our feet, while 10 additional feet have been proved by boring downwards, and then the bottom was not reached. Incredible this may appear to some of your readers, but they may easily remove doubt by making an inspection for themselves. The proprietors would 'be glad to point out the spot where this immense outcrop exists. Taking the whole of the outcrops which have already been exposed, we can feel safe in saying that some millions of tons of coal are visible. The work of opening out and laying the tram is being carried on by Mr G. Neill, of Colonial Mutual note, who superintends the work, while Mr J. Brown has charge of the men. Tenders are called for the construction of the tramline from the pit's mouth to the road — a distance of about a mile ; the distance will then be about another mile into Kaitangata. Mr Neill estimates that he can delivei the coal there at a small cost, owing to the cost of mining it being so little. When the line is finished it is expected that 50 to 60 tons per day can be delivered. The arrangements for making the railway are not yet complete, but the survey will be finished in about two weeks. The capital of the company is to be L 60,000 in 60,000 shares of LI each. The provisional directors are — Henderson Law, Esq., C. F. Greenslade, Esq., Alex. Thompson, Esq. (Dunedin), and R. Paulin, Esq. (Ngapara). John Wells, Esq., Dunedin, is interim secretary, and their bankers are the Union Bank of Australia. . Our boys are quite satisfied that the Owaka players are "worthy of theiij steel" after having held their own against Kaitangata last Saturday. A new hairdresser, Mr H. Mayo, has begun business in Mr Shaw's temporarily, pending completion of a new shop being erected for him by Mr Mackenzie. Lovers of fresh fish will be glad to hear that Mr L. Stewart has made arrangements for supplying fresh fish to Kaitangata two or three times a week. Mr Fred. T. Poole has just built a neat store at his house near the Castle Hill mine, and has stocked it with drapery, boots, and shoes. Mr Poole's goods are to be disposed of partly by means of ,his travelling, van and partly at the counter. Mr John Muir has been appointed agent for the Citizens' Life Assurance Company foi Kaitangata. Since the seam was struck in the Castle Hill mine on March 8 last, operations hay« been carried on vigorously. The chief aim appears to be to develop a good mine foi future working, rather than obtain a large present output of coal. The coal being novi placed in the market is giving every'satisfaction according to statements made to tht writer in Dunedin last week by consumers,

The work of enlarging and' rounding out the new shaft is b.emg pusbed ahead. It is nowdown 100 ft, and the brickwork is being carried on as the shaft proceeds. The inside of the shaft is strengthened by building cast iron rings in with the brickwork. . The purpose of this shaft is to afford proper ventilation for the mine. Two archways, one on each side at the bottom of the shaft, will connect it with the whole underground workings, and assure perfect ventilation for future extensions of the mine. Workmen are also busy with the erection of the large pump, which will be ready very shortly. The screens are now up, and all that is required is the engine to drive them. Mr Jordan, the manager, expects it up this week. When it arrives the screens will be set in motion as soon as possible, and GO empties and 60 loaded waggons can be made to run to and fro to the railway at a time. The Benefit Society is still making progress, and nearly all those who were not formerly connected with some other society now belong to this one. • The Ambulance Class is still progressing under the tuition of Dr Fitzgerald, and soon I all members will be capable of the useful and important work of first aid to the injured. In silence, though with activity, the company are pursuing their-- bbject at' the M'atau mine with a diligence and dogged perseverance worthy of success. The Kaitangata Company p,re putting out a large quantity of coal at present, and a fresh engine of greater power has been put on to cope with the extra traffic. The weather is at present fine but frosty. Mr M. Morrison, of Lakeside, is putting on a water-lff ting wheel for the purpose of draining one of his paddocks. All the water from the paddock will be made to run to the wheel, which in revolving will raise the water and discharge it into a shoot, which will convey it over the embankment and out of the paddock. Farmers p,re busy ploughing. Grass is scarce, but stock in fair condition.