Coalmine Flooded by Rapid Rise of Water

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7294, 2 August 1930, Page 16

Coalmine Flooded by Rapid Rise of Water

HIKURANGI WORK OEASES. WHANGAREI. Unfortunate developments have taken place in the Hikurangi Coal Company’s mino at Hikurangi. Owing to a mishap to the machinery tho mine was flooded aad all work has been stopped. Serious flooding which occurred early last year put tho mine out of commission for ,11 months. Tho company secured huge electrically-driven pumps and succeeded in unwatering tho mine bo such an extent that* work was resumed last February. A few days ago a mishap to tho machinery stopped tho pumps, which were covered by rapidly-rising water. This has resulted jn the closing of tho mine, and 250 men have been thrown out of work. How long tho stoppage will continue is not known, but there is reason to fear that it will not bo of short duration.

It appears that early on Monday morning the tubing burst in ono of the four boilers which operato all machinery in the mine, and it was neccsssary to cool it before repairs could be executed. The day shift resumed Work as usual at 7.30. In tho meantime there was a large increase in the water pressure . After the shift had been working three hours the management orderd all n»n out of the mine on account of the rising water. The electrical pumps dealt with the situation until about two o’clock on Tuesday morning, their discharge being 30,000 gallons per hour. However, the water rose rapidly, submerging all the underground machinery, including the pumping plant, and rendering it useless. Two small pumps wero rescued and taken to the top of*thc mine. Efforts aro being made to salvage the nineinch pump, the largest in the mine, which lies at the bottom of Number 2 shaft.