WEST COAST MINES

Evening Star, Issue 23111, 10 November 1938, Page 1

WEST COAST MINES

REOPENING AFTER FLOODING CAPITAL FOR GOLD AND COAL VENTURES Two West Coast mines—gold and coal —are to be opened again, after being flooded for many years. Capital has been raised in Auckland to finance the reopening of the mines, in which work will be given for about 100 men. “ In spite of the oft-repeated statement that New Zealand money is going to Australia, we have secured sufficient capital in the North Island to put two South Island mines, owned by companies of which I am managing director, into operation again,” Mr E. T. Cox, a former Mayor of Dunedin, informed the Christchurch ‘ Press ’ on Tuesday. The gold mine was at Reefton, and was owned by Murray Creek Consolidated Gold. It was closed in 1920 because of the high cost of labour and the low price of gold. For 17 years the mine had been flooded, and the dewatering by the present company took 10 weeks. Since the dewatering a thorough survey of tbo levels was made by Mr Sydney, of Christchurch, the company’s consulting engineer, and the reports of the assays encouraged the directors to put the mine into immediate commission. A shaft of 150 ft will be sunk, and two drives, of 800 ft and 400 ft. will be made to new bodies of ore. The expectation was that these operations would give employment to 50 men.

The coal mine, owned by United Brunner Coal Mines Ltd., whose headquarters are in Christchurch, is situated on the Grey River, six miles from Greymouth, on the main ChristchurchGreymouth railway line. It has been closed for many years. Mr Cox said that recent surveys had reported a field of approximately 6,000,000 tons of bituminous coal and deposits of fireclay, used in making crucibles for furnaces and fire bricks. It was also estimated that ganister, a product used in steel manufacture, was in the block in large quantities. Work on the reopening of this mine would begin without delay. “ Financial interests in Auckland responded freely to meet our requirements, and I was assured that Auckland has plenty of money available for legitimate South Island industries,” said Mr Cox.