INCREASED OUTPUT OF COAL FROM SOUTHLAND SEAMS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22816, 10 December 1948, Page 6

INCREASED OUTPUT OF COAL FROM SOUTHLAND SEAMS

(P.A.) INVERCARGILL, Dec. 9. Two new records for coal production have been set up at the Wairaki mine, Ohai. The new production figures for one day’s work are 407 tons, a substantial increase on the previous best and for a fortnight’s work the total production figure now stands at 3256 tons.

Little progress has been made on the new Morley coal mine in the Ohai Valley because some freehold property lias still to be acquired by the State before access roads can be built and work on any scale started. Negotiations are in progress for the acquisition of the properties and it is hoped to be able to start operations after the Christmas holidaysCoal production generally in the area has been good in recent months and all mines are working at capacity. The output for the whole district amounts to about 950 tons of coal a day from both State and private mines. When the Moresly seam is started it is expected there will be a substantial jump in production. Once work on the field is started the mine should be producing coal within a year. At the Black Diamond mine, one of the largest open-cast mines in the south, the production is from 4000 to 5000 tons of coal a month and it has been estimated that at that rate there is sufficient supplies to last for five to six years.

Extensive boring tests have been made at Birchwood and seams of coal of excellent quality have been proved. Many of the tests have been taken in areas where there has been no previous mining and in one seam alone the presence of 100,000 tons of goodquality coal has been proved.