KAWAKAWA AND THE BAY OF ISLANDS COAL COMPANY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9184, 13 October 1888, Page 1 (Supplement)

KAWAKAWA AND THE BAY OF ISLANDS COAL COMPANY.

Although during the pasb winter the workings in the Bay of Islands Coal Company's mines have not been impeded from the extra influx of water consequent on the season of the year and the usual winter rainfall; still, when all expectation and hopes of the coming finer weather had begun to relieve the intense labour and anxiety of the management and engineer to keep down the overflow, the continuous rain during the last ten days caused an overflow that the full powers of the engine was not sufficient to keep back. Bub the lately erected dams had hitherto checked the extra force of the water, and enabled the entire force of the pumps to be fully utilised. In the township the news soon spread that the workings must stop, and the life-stay of the community come to a premature end. During the early part of the week this rumour spread quite a panic throughout the township. Things, however, were not so bad as the vox populi made them. I visited the mines yesterday, and was prepared, from the very glaring aspect of affairs, to see it borne out by facts of the case. I was agreeably surprised to find the workings in full torcc. There has no doubt been some cause for the rumour, bub the indomitable energy of the management and the unceasing efforts to use every possible means and power at their disposal, has so far succeeded, if nob indeed to entirely check the outflow of the water, in keeping it within such bounds that there has been no evil results from the casualty. There has been no lack of the usual output of coal, no diminution in the number of tho hands employed, and, in fact, all labour that could be used is brought into use, and the supply of coal from the workings is still equal to the demand. It is also true that the seams have been faulty, and much extra labour has been required to keep up the supply. There is every hope now that the worst is over, and thab finer weather will check the continuous springs thab cause this overflow. Although there ivas a rumour that thero would be an advance in the prico of coal, such has not as yet taken place, and ib is to be hoped that this cloud, which for the moment has so deeply affected the township, will soon pass away.—[Own Correspondent.]