CO-OP. MINE PARTY LOSE WINCH HOUSE THROUGH FIRE

Grey River Argus, 30 June 1947, Page 4

CO-OP. MINE PARTY LOSE WINCH HOUSE THROUGH FIRE

A severe loss 'was sustained by Tinning and Party, co-operative coal miners, when their winch-house and contents, at the 8-mile on the Greymouth coastal road, were destroyed by lire a few minutes after ‘ they had left to go home on Friday afternoon. The loss is stated to be in the vicinity of £lOOO, and that considerable difficulty will be experienced in replacing the winch and other equipment lost. The Winch house is situated at the top of the bin fluming, about half a mile from the main highway and it was extremely fortunate that this was not destroyed also. Tne cause of the outbreak has not been determined. The fire was first noticed by a bulldozer driver, who was working on the new road, which is being constructed on the opposite side of the valley, and he summoned the aid of another man camped nearby. Be-' cause of a high easterly wind, however, little could be done and the two men concentrated on saving the fluming. As the winch, which was destroyed '(had been utilised in hauling coal from the mine for a distance of 1 about 50; chains, it is likely that the mine will be idled for some time. The new road is to serve this mine, among others but is only partly constructed and it will be some months before it can be .brought into use as an alternative method of transport. The plant lost, which it is thought will cost about £1,200, was insured for £5OO. The output of this mine is in the vicinity of 60 and 70 tons daily. ■