THE BURNING THAMES GOLDMINE. A HOPE FOR THE IMPRISONED MINERS.

Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 75, 26 September 1898, Page 5

THE BURNING THAMES GOLDMINE. A HOPE FOR THE IMPRISONED MINERS.

[BY TELEGBAPH — P^ESS ASSOCIATION.] Auckland, 24th September. The origin of the fire in the Jubilee Goldmine, at Waitekauri, Upper Thames, was some sparks from a small engine used in one of the drives setting fire to the timbers supporting the wall, with the result that the timbers gave way and a large block of ground caved iv. eutombing the two men Wallace and Brennau, or Graham (it is not certain which is the latter's name, as he is new to the district) who were driving from a rise which had been put up to the surface. The level is 62ft below the surface, and the drive was in a distance of 30ft. It is a singular coincidence that Graham was working with poor young M'Gregor in the Jubilee shaft at the time the latter was killed. It was only a few days ago that he was removed to work in the rise. The manager (Mr. Barney), on the alarm being given, took prompt measures to extinguish the fire, which, from the fact that the chamber containing the engine is situated 500 ft in from the face of the hill, and was the seat of the fire, was a matter of extreme difficulty. A large number of people, principally miners, flocked to the locality to offer assistance, and the rescue work has been going on all day. Dense volumes of smoke are ascending from the rise, and though it is impossible for the rescue party to descend without smokejackets, it is yet thought possible that the fierce draught up the rise will prevent the smoke going to the end of the drive. There may be a chance, therefore, of finding the men alive. All the tunnels have been closed, and earth is being shovelled down the smoke stack.