A VISIT TO HUNTLY AND THE GOAL MINES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9146, 13 March 1893, Page 3

A VISIT TO HUNTLY AND THE GOAL MINES.

[JY our special correspondent.] The Other day I visited Huntly after a lapse of two or three years, and was struck wfoh the great changes which had taken pjuce sinco I passed through en route for the Taupo Country. THE TOWNSHIP.

Huntly is now a straggling township, of some 600 people, oxtending along the Great South Road a distance of two miles, and if it goes on progressing at the same rate as hitherto, will in a few years give the hand to Taupiri. The central portion of the township belongs to the Ralph family, the lower portion to the Taupiri Extended Coal Company, while the upper portion is mainly held in freehold. Like most mining townships, the residents are principally dependent on the staple industry which made it, the railway taking out about 50,000 tons of coal per annum. The railway authorities are at present enlarging and altering the railway station, so as to provide facilities for the increasing business of the district. At present Huntly is comprised in the Rangiriri Riding of tho Waikato County Council, but its population and growing importance would justify its having its own local body —a Town Board or some authority of that kind. Owing to its surrounding's, it is essential that some local authority should bo in a position to enforce the observance of sanitary laws, as tho natural drainage is defective. In the summer of 189*2 there were some cases of typhoid, and at the time of my visit Dr. McLachlan was attending one case, and was apprehensive of another developing. The rates would be spent in tho locality on the creation of a local body, so that the financial bugbear is disposed of, while the public health, which should bo the first consideration in a well-ordored community, would be efficiently guarded. Huntly has had the reputation of being rather a lively township, but I was assured that there are mining townships and mining townships, and that it was not so bad as it was painted. The miners were, as a rule, of tho settled class, having homes and families, and a number of them wore nob simply moderate drinkers, but pronounced teetotallers. Working as they do little more than half time, with wives and children to keep, the men have little chance, oven if they had the inclination, of spending spare earnings at the hotel. The hotelkeeperand there is but one for the whole township —depends for his custom less upou the mining population than upon the travelling public, and this branch of his business, with tho extension of settlement going on in the surrounding districts, is likely to increase.

MANAGEMENT OF ENDOWMENTS. There is no land available for tho miners anil settlers at Huntly (as the University endowment, stretching back over the ranges, and treacling away towards Taupiri, is closed and lying idle) nearer than the head waters of the Mangawharo and the Matahuri block. This higher education reserve is lying unutilised and neglected, the gum being taken off ibby private pat-ties, while others have tho gratuitous run of the land for their cattle. It is all open fern land, and some of it said to bo very good, with little patches of bush in the gullies for fencing. If cut up into suitable areas, the miners (at least those so disposed), who are working about half-time, would be able to spend their slack time on the land, and thus be in a fair way of getting settled on homesteads, instead of remaining in a state of enforced idleness. There is considerable feeling in the district at this endowment being blocked up, and of no earthly use, either to the University or to the country.

A NEW OUTLET To HUNTLY. A new road has been -'aid out through the Waikato Coal Company's property, with an average grade of 1 in 17, from tho Ngarua-wahia-Hot Spring* road to Ihelluntly ford, which is the natural outlet for a large part of tho upper portion of tho confiscated block. Tho old road over the Pukemoro Range is o» too poor a grade to bo of any real use, and will probably bo closed whet) the new one is constructed, which is only a raattor of time. The Raglan County Council b»s already approached tho company to ascertain what it will contribute towards me project, as the road will open up a large portion of their estate. Some years ago £10,000 was put on the estimates for a bridge over the Waikato at Huntly, but tho exigencies of party politics caused tho item to bo removed therofrom. It was expected that a punt would have been substituted, as at Ngaruawahia, but so far Huntly has got neither bridge nor punt. Some intending settlers on the laud opposite Huntly, on finding that there A\as neither road nor punt, and that they would have to bring their stores in and take their products out by a lengthy and weary detour of many miles, simply abandoned the intention. Many years ago Mr. Percy Smith, tho Sur-veyor-General, surveyed a crossing at Huntly as the most suitable outlet to tho railway for the settlers of the Pepepe Block. i The owners of the frontages at the Huntly | crossing, Mrs. Linkard and Mr. L. B. Harris, proprietor of the Huntly Hotel, are willing to give the necessary land approaches if a punt is established by the authorities, and it would bo hard to name any other work which would so promole and facilitate settlement in the Pepepe Block. When the settlers there get this I new outlet to Huntly it will give the township a fresh lease of life, and promises to do for it what the Hot Springs-Ngaruawahia road is likely to do for the erstwhile capital of Maoridom.

' THE HIGHER LIFE." Liko most mining townships, Huntly is rather weak on theology. Although it contains about (500 of a population, or taking the Waikato Coal Company's mine and the Kitnihia districts, 750, it lias not yet been able to boast the possession of a church, although services by various denominations are held in the public school. This reproach is likely to be soon removed, as funds have been subscribed to the extent of £250 towards the erection of an Anglican Church near the school, the ground being given by the Taupiri Extended Coal Company. The estimated cost is over £300, and it is expected that the balance will be raised during the winter, so that the church may be opened free of debt. Mr. T. H. White, architect, of Hamilton and Taupiri, has furnished the design, which is of a neat character, and the building will accommodate over 200 persons. The Ralph Brothers own a hall, which is available for public meetings, etc., and this meets a felt want in a young township.

I HUNTLY FIREBRICK WORKS AND POTTERY. During my stay in Huntly I visited the abovo works, of which Mr. Collins, formerly manager of the Taupiri Extended, is tho present proprietor. Pottery works were established hero some years ago, but tho owners, after a time, stopped operations. Then they were leased to the Onehunga Iron Works for the manufacture of firebricks for their furnaces. The company's lease expiring, Mr. Collins re-opened the works two months ago for tho manufacture of fire and ordinary bricks, and pipe drains and tiles. He has manufactured some largo arched firebricks for the fireboxes of the locomotive engines. These have been sent down to the Auckland railway authorities for testing ami approval, and he has given a prico for the manufacture of these for the whole colony. The works are very complete, and ho has commenced his workings in tho fireclay in a different placo to that worked by the former owners, and of better quality. There tiro several seams, varying from five to six feet. Several thousand bricks were stacked in the yard, both fire and ordinary. An output of 6000 a day can bo attained, for which there is all the regular plant in grinding pans, pugmill, &c. Mr. Collins has a dry pressing machine for both classes of bricks, also a pipe machine equal to 24 inches, and ample steam power for driving tho machinery, additions to which have lately been made. He has not started on anything in the pottery line as yot. Some alterations are to be made in the kilns, suggested by practical experience, with a view of firing the bricks more efficiently. The Onehunga Iron Works brought up Newcastle coal for the manufacture of their fire bricks, but Mr. Collins finds since altering the kilns, that tho coal of the district is equally suitable. I saw some bricks going up country by rail, which compared somewhat unfavourably with Mr. Collins's product, and also drain pipes for culverts. These latter, when he gets fairly to work, should load to a considerable saving to the local bodies of the district, inasmuch as tne

[ cost) will bo diminished by the saving of railway haulage from Auckland. i PROGRESS OF SETTLKMENT. [ In reply to ray enquiries as to tho progress of settlement in the surrounding districts, I was informed that at Ohinewai, Wairangi, and on the Matahuru Block, settlement was progressing slowly bub steadily. Several pioneer settlers have recently gone in at the latter point, and commenced improvements. Some 20 years ago a settler named Hill went in there with his wife and family, and made a comfortable home. Mrs. Hill (her husband having died) possesses now 2000 acres, and several hundred head of cattle. The sons have taken up adjacent soctions, and aro said to bo doing well. Mrs. Hill recently built an eight-roomed house, which is a land-mark in the district. THIS lir/NTLY AND WAIKATO COAL MINES. One of the objects of my visit to tho Huutly districb was to have a look over the coal mines, four in number—the Taupiri, Taupiri Extended, Taupiri Reserve, and Waikato Coal Company's. The result of my tour of the mines will be found subjoined. So far as I was able to judge the mine managers were loyally fulfilling the requirements of the Act, and doing everything in their power to work the mines with duo regard to the safety and health of the men. The roomy, dry drives in which the men work form a great contrast to the stato of things prevailing in many of the mines of tho old country, especially where small seams are worked. Fire damp is scarcely known. I was sorry bo find that

the miners were not working full time, owing to tho exigencies of the coal trade. Those interested in tho coal minesproprietors, shareholders, or miners—with whom I conversed, while deprecating a policy of rabid protection, or anything which would lead bo rings or corners in the coal trade, advocated an import duty on foreign coal in the interest of the New Zealand article, say of 2s per ton, so that the local production might bo increased and our own mining population kept fully employed. It • was pointed out that a discriminating duty was put on the articles which Now Zealand exported to the Australian colonies, and that what was " sauce for the goose was sauce for the gander." There is no doubt that if the local coal trade remains in its present state an attempt will be made next session of tho General Assembly, by those affected and interrsted.toimposoanimportdutyon foreign coal. It took ma two days to visit tho whole of tho Huntly coal mines, the first visited being

The Taupiki (Messrs. Ralph Brothers). —On the expiry of the lease of the old Taupiri initio, hold by Messrs. Schorff and Captain Rich, the Messrs. Ralph Brothers continued tho old workings until the pillars were all taken out, and after careful prospecting and boring by Mr. Robb. Ralph, they a year ago opened. up the present mine between the Huntly railway station and the mine where they aro now working. During my visit bo the mine, Mr. Orel, the manager, invited me to descend the shaft with him and see tlia workings. Mr. Ord was formerly in the West Coast coal-mines, and also manager at one time of bho Kindhia coalmine in the Huntly district, which he opened up. Being provided with the necessary lights, we descended in tho cage to a depth of 173 feofc. After remaining a few minutes at the bottom of the shaft to get accustomed to tho darkness, we proceeded together up to the working faces, which were '20 foet high and 14 feet in width, where a • number of the men were engaged in blasting, hewing, and taking cub the coal. After looking at bho working faces, which showed a line hard, jet black coal, we Went on to the dip, running immediately underneath the Waikato river. The scam was found to dip pretty sharply for two chains, after this distance had been driven tho coal lay in a more horizontal position, indeed, almost wholly so. The coal in the face of this heading is extremely hard, and almost wholly household coal. " Tin's heading is about :i.V chains from the bottom of tho shaft, and is still extending underneath the Waikato river. The men here are working night and day in shifts. It is iutonded to push tho drive on until a distance of seven chains is reached beforo opening out working faces. The Ralph

Brothers have arranged with Mr. L. B. Harris to carry the drive when required underneath the bod of the Waikato Miv 1 ' into his property on the opposite bank. Ue retaining the- freehold, and they acq ''",- the right from him of winning the <*•"•' So far as can be ascertained byborio* ot '' °" tho river and on tho main lan-', (l, ° coal " bearing area is so extensive •■"' *° bo practically unlimited. Tho tiiie ll "' s3 of coal > ** proved by the different b'fcw> is * rom 45 to 05 foot. lb has been ascertained also by tho borings that So -«et of sandstone and fireclays overlie tM coa »i independent of tho river silt, tin'" forming a barrier of 165 feet of countr/ between the top of the coal ami the >' v cr flowing overhead. It is intended to -Have not less than 20 feet of coal on the roof, so that tlio river workings will be perfectly safe for the men, Twentyfive men. all told, are employed at the mine". Tho ventilation is ample and the drives roomy and dry. Two Tangyo pumps are put down, bub only one of these is required for eight hours per day to got rid : of tho natural drainage. The engines are ample ro provide for the winding, and the manager intends to put down a 12 inch cylinder Tangyo hauling engine, to work on the endless rope system, for tho underground works. After tho coal has been screened in the mine by the men, it is pub into the skips, brought to ban!;, and tipped I i into the railway waggons, which run in on a siding. For this siding tho Ralph Bros, had to pay the railway authoritiesJWu's, practically for the privilege of feeding the railway, and bringing grist to the Government mill. Tho output of bho mine is 70 tons per day, which could bo increased to '250 tons in a very short time if the local demand were equal to that figure. At present the minors are working only five days a week. Tho I Ralph Brothers, who are colonial born, deserve every credit for their perseverance and entcrpriso in single-handed, instead of by associated capital, successfully sinking through the alluvial drifts of the Waikato River banks. They informed me, and this will bo good news in some quarters, that at the beginning of tho winter they purpose sending down to Auckland a truck load of coal from the mine, distributing a ton each to the Oostley Home (Epsom), the Little Sisters of tho Poor, St. Mary's Orphanage, the Jubilee and Howe-street Kindergartens, respectively, and the Orphan Home, I'arnell. This is a very handsome act on tho part of those enterprising mine owners, and will no doubt bo gratefully appreciated by the recipients. v Taupiri Extended.—Having completed my tour of tho Ralph Bros.' mine, I paid a visit to the Taupiri Extended, at the lower end of the Hutitly township, half-a-mile distant. Mr. Tattley, tho mine manager, on learning tiie object of my visit, courteously gave mo evory information, and every facility to see the workings. Tho company have 150 acres of freehold, and also tho option of working an additional area towards Luke Hakamon. Tho mine has been opened up for three years past, tho company having previously worked tho ground known as the old Taupiri mine, which was leasehold. The old mine was first leased by Messrs. Scherff and Captain Rich, in 1876, from Mrs. Ralph, a royalty being paid on the output.. When tho lease oxpired they purchased tho adjoining block, now forming the Taupiri Extended. Having acquired the present freehold of 150 acres, the present manager, Mr. Tattley (who is an English certificated mine manager), openod the workings, and arranged the plant, which is on tho modern system, and one of tho finest of its kind in the colony., The coal in tho new ground is found to be moro uniform in quality than in the old workings, and is as good as any to bo found in tho district. Mr. Tattley stated that he was in a position to turn out 300 tons a day if there was a call for it: to that extent. The coal is principally for household and steam purposes, and a little slack is sold in the Auckland market for industrial uses. The winding engines are direct motion, coupled, by Thornwoll and Warren, of Burton-on-Trent, 20-inch cylinder, and four feet stroke, and there are two Lancashire boilors, by G. Fraser and Son. The cages are fibbed with safety catches. There is a Waddle fan for ventilating the mine, producing 27,000 cubic feet of air per minute. The fan is on the surface at the upcast shaft, and exhausts the air from tho mine, thus providing a strong current throughout the whole of the workings. As the cages reach tho bank with the coal they are run into revolving tippers where the coal passes through a self-acting screen, with various sized meshes, which can be changed at pleasure, and is separated into household, steam, and

slack coal. This screen is a useful laboursaving appliance, as it dispenses with the services of a man and does the work more effectually. Having been shown everything of interest above ground, Mr. Tattley invited me to go down the shaft with him and see the underground workings. Taking our stand in the cage, we were speedily lowered to the bottom of the shaft, which is nearly' 200 feet in depth. The shaft is lined with a cast-iron cylinder, builb in segments. The area of ground opened up is considerable, and the seam, as proved, is from 21 to 50 feet in thickness, and is found to extend not merely over the present workings, bub over an area of about 80 acres. The balance of the freehold has not yet been tested by trial borings. The workings extend over 10 acres, and ib takes nearly two hours to go through them. They are divided into the east, north, and south districts. The seam as proved is from 21 to 50 feet in thickness, and is found to extend nob merely over the present workings, but over an area of about 80 acres. The balance of the freehold has not yet been tested by trial borings. We went up a self-acting incline leading into the east district workings. Hero the men were working in bords, ranging in height from 16 to 20 feet and 14 feet wide. On the road up were to be seon lying in a bord a splendid block of coal, some two tons in weight, a good, hard coal, and the face of the bord presented similar characteristics. In going up the drives nothing but coal was to be seen either in the walls or rooting. Practically SDeakinp- timhfirintr is unneceasarv

in any part of the mine. Jusb before wo gob in to the face of the workings two blasts were fired, bringing down a large quantity of coal, which the stalwart miners, some of them working naked to the waist, were busily engaged in putting into the skips. Some horses, are in the mine for hauling; the waggons,^

drawing 2£ tons of coal each, out of, thf drive to tho incline. They speedily' g< trained to their new sphere of labour, a» on reaching tho top of the incline, wH cast loose, rush into a refuge or recess?-" the side of tho drive till tho liri' 0 * waggons has passed. After coining, of the east district we went ti n ? stables where tho horses are kep a , where the only relief to them ft" fch , sight of coal overhead on either I/*" an " underneath their feet, are the mo£. ancl forage rack. Still withal the ho** fclm . ve very well, and after their prelim ia '/ tram " ing feel as cheerful and healthy* l *',?" fc . he surface. The north and se»t* district workings are similar to t»o s ' alrGa .dy described. The upcast shat is" nef { with cast iron cylinders, and su»k trough tho sand a distance of 10G fast- rhese were forced down from the surftfO D y great hydraulic pressure (som©ihing»ke 400 tons), and the sections built/rora surface as tho cylinders were forted do'"- A Priestman's dredge was weed fo arodging the sand and clay inside the evader, the wat « r acting as a preventative to>« sand running inside the cylinder, keepitf i fc back. The cylinder was kepi ahead/'"' or five feet m Lite sand until fcbe solid i™ reached. Alter the cylinder was sunk tfthe solid the water was "pumped out, and he men went down to the bottom and commenced sinking in the usual way. The voridngs are examined every morning with sfety lamps before the miners go to work/and these lamps are kept on hand in caps of omerpency. The pumping applianos, a ana a - Universal, are eqial to fo*r times the amount of work tiny have fc-do, the pumps being only kept g)ing fou< to five hours a day. Although The mi* IS , equal to a " output of 300 tons per dd'» only 130 tons of saleable house and stf m coal are brought to bank daily, as the £ al demand does not exceed that output'" ri ? e . mine is amply provided with raiV*y « din g accommodation, and every «uvonietice for doing a largo trade wlir .required. Thero are at present in thf. mine 65 employees all told, but"tho work** are capable of taking on a hundred ' ietl ab an y time when their services r*y D 0 needed. The Company have bu ,3 ' near 'y ft SCol '° °* cottages on their '"d or t' lo accommodation of f,j, o carried miners, and they have | alsi> a block laid out in quarter and , j-acre sections for lease, reserving the . ..moral rights. In connection with tho bolliory is a band known as the Taupiri Extended Colliery Brass Baud, consisting of 16 performers, of which Mr. J. H. Skollern is conductor, and which goes in for self-improvement in music, and also assists at tho social entertainments of tho minors. The organisation is a very useful one, and its object laudable. We have it on midoubted authority that " music hath charms to soothe tho savage breast," and a brass band of 16-mati power ought to be able to subdue the most irrepressible coal heaver in tho district.

Tappiki Reserve (Kiraihia). —Mr. L. B. Harris, of the Huntly Hotel, kindly placed a horse at) my disposal, in order to enable me to visit tlio Kimihia coal mine and the Waikato Coal Company's mine, which latter lies up the Waikato River a mile or more on the opposite bank. A ride of a mile through the lower township, and of two miles over the ranges behind the Hakamoa hake, brought me to the Kimihia or Taupiri Reserve coal mine. Mr. Jonathan Harrison, the manager, gave me a cordial welcome. He is an English mine manager of lengthy experience, a Fellow of the Geological Society, London, and he was for many years a mine manager in the Brunner district, on the West Coast. The Kimihia was opened up six years ago, and the mining area is about 500 acres leasehold from the Crown. Mr. Harrison took mo through the incline and main level, averaging seven by nine feet, a distance of half - a-mile from the surface, and a quarter of a milo of which was under Lake Kimihia. Between the bottom of the lake and the roof of the workings is a strong strata of sandstone and fireclay intermixed, leaving a section of roof overhead of IGO to 170 feet in thickness. The workings aro perfectly dry, and but little timbering is done. The seam of coal in the workings was 24 feet thick, good for household and steam purposes, the works branching off at right angles to the levels, and in which a number of men were at work. Since the beginning of the year the new dip workings have been headed out, and the levels are now being driven in a fine hard, jet black coal. The coal-bearing area is believed to be practically unlimited. Borings have been put down in Kimehia Lake—7so acres in area, and averaging eight to 12 feet in depth—proving the coalfield to extend from east to west one mile in extent, and of good breadth. So far as can be ascertained the seam continues on. At the bottom of the level is a steam pump, which works Ah hours per day. The coal is hauled out by a pair of stationary engines, up an incline of 1 in 8, Horses are also used here underground in hauling the coal to the incline. About 45 men, all told, are engaged in the mine, working at present four days a week, owing to the glut in the coal trade. The coal is brought to bank in slaps, and after being gone over, screened, and suitably sorted, is tipped into the waggons, and taken down to the Kimihia railway siding, over the Company's line, two miles in length, by their own engine, and thence to the Auckland market. The Company have the contract for supplying the Auckland railway lines with coal this year, the quantity needed being about 8000 tons. This coal is suitable for marine purposes, and a largo quantity is sold for these , uses. The output is about 110 tons per day, but 300 tons daily can bo put out if the local demand warranted it. Ventilation is provided by an upcast shaft, and the exhaust steam from the engine in the mine, about 10,000 cubic feet of air passing through per minute. Waikato Coal Company's Mine.—Going to the upper township, i called upon Mr. William Wallace, the mine manager, and who previously fulfilled the duties of deputy for many years. On being made acquainted with the object of my visit, he obligingly rowed me across the river to the mine and took me over the workings. The company's property is 14,000 acres in extent, extending from the Waikato river back to the Ngarnawahia-Hot Springs road and the Waingaro stream. This mine has been in existence since the Waikato war of 1863, when the Government got supplies of coal thence for the useof the river steamers, but the old workings were closed some four years ago, with the object of working the seam from a now point of operations at le3S i expense, and with greater efficiency. On our road to the mine, we passed the loading i wharf at which were lying the company's steamer and barges, and rows of coal-laden ■ waggons on the siding. After a walk of over half a mile up the mine tramway wo came to the entrance of the mine, going up the adit level, 6 by 6, nine chains in length, and which has been cut and timbered through dioritic sandstone, and in which is laid a tramway, at the end of which we struck the . coal. We then travelled up the new incline

for a distance of e* chains. This is worked by a steel rofand , dram, ™ full skips coming down ling the empty ones up. All the we is > confined to that portion of t; mine afc presenb, as the output & i* » a more m fc . han sufficient to meetpl demands. There are also two otf inclines in working order, bub the Pt/° the coal trade is nob such as to requii«eir use. At the top 01 the new inclined foun d the headings branching off e/ and west, and a large number of bord4 therefrom. Air. Wallace informed r b "ab he had more work headed out thtf ould meet trade requirements for som**- In the bords were to be seen a lan/amount of household coal put aside rea|or loading. The average height of thefm was 14 feet, showing a good seam of/own coal, and some of the Blocks were 17 large. In this mine no powder is US' in winning the coal, as the miners findJat It can be easily hewn out The ne * 9 remarkably dry ana cool' the Ration being far in excess of the r<4 rements °" ™ Q ■° tC6, is ventilat/by natural ventilation, the air curref » bno adit level travelling roun tne workings, and passing up the upce shaffc - I" the il cou, ;? e of °" r iournev -came to a fault, that lies north and sou' of tne height of 16 feet, which is chiefly 'np° 3e( * a deposit of fireclay of very V d quality, and samples of which have/ 011 senfc to Auckland for testing. This/ U\y has also been used for the raan acturo °* firebricks for the fire boxes 0 J local locomotives. The coal, as in all filler mines, is hewn out by the miners {jyioutract, but a certain amount of day . is engaged for miscellaneous pur-j-es. About 25 men are employed all told, , 3 the monthly output about 1000 tons. j c present the manager has men, at interj Sals, engaged in boring operations at the /oob of the range, with a view of proving 'the quality of the coal in that direction. On the company's huge block of land tho coal outcrops in several places, notably on Blyth's road, and on the dividing range of tho Is'garuawahia - Hot Springs road. The Waikato coal mine is somewhat handicapped by being situated on the opposite side of the river to the Waikato railway line. The coal is hoisted in the skips by a steam crane on to the coal barges which are capable of carrying 100 and CO tons respectively. They are then towod by tho company's steamer the p.s. .Waikato to the company's stage landing at Huntly, and the coal skips are hoisted by another steam crane into the railway waggons on the siding, and thence to the Auckland market. The company have sold recently about 1000 acres of their block, portions of which block are stated very good land. One of the miners has taken up 300 acres, cleared, and drained it, and a goodly portion is being burned in order to get his seed in. Tho surrounding settlers have been lucky in getting the run of the company's block for nothing, and it carries a considerable number of cattle.