A DRURY COAL MINE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12550, 18 April 1904, Page 6

A DRURY COAL MINE.

VISIT TO THE PROPERTY. Some sixteen gentlemen interested in the company now being formed to work coal mines at Drury paid a visit to the teen© of operations on Saturday, leaving Auckland at ton o'clock in the morning, and returning by the five o'clock express. The party consisted of Messrs. A. Aitken, A. J. Denniston, and W. Thomas (provisional directors), W. Culpan, A. Taine, H. Thompson, J. Buchanan, J. M. Morr&n, H. Dexter, W. A. Graham, W. Swanson, Stuart, J. St. Clair, J. E. Taylor, and Messrs. P. Fergusson and Bennett, mining experts. Mr. A. Gordon French, mining expert and geologist, met the party at Drury and conducted them over the property. The property is some 2i miles from Drury railway station, and the syndicate has secured the mining rights over about 1000 acres, partly bush and partly under cultivation, and it has also obtained tramway lights to the station. The coal on the property was worked before the outbreak of the Maori war, but ceased when the troublous times were being experienced. When peace was restored, the proprietors had dispersed, and aftei some time the property passed into the hands of the late Mr. Charnberlin, who was preparing to open it again at the time of his death. The party first inspected No. 5 gully, where the coal had been opened up, and a shaft sunk through an aggregate of 17ffc Bin, of what is believed Jo be first-class marketable coal, including two bands of house coal and a large band of steam coal. The prospecting shaft has been put down sft of the 17ft Sin, and the coal being put out is reported to bf of high quality. Several members of the party descended the shaft to inspect the seam of coal, and secured soma specimens. No. 2 gully was next visited, and Mr. French exhibited the coal that had been exposed. At No. 1 gully considerable development workhas been completed. The drive made into both sides of the coal disclosed a large body of the material. ■ A forge close by was lit and a quantity of the coal burnt in order to give a practical demonstration of it? quality. Some 90 acres of the ground have been proved to the satisfaction of the owners, the coal seam beginning at the margin (No. 1 gully), with a thickness of sft 6in, and gradually increasing in towards the centre of the property unto 17ft Bin, where a shaft has been sunk. There are surface indications that the coal extends the whole length of the property. The coal is of different texture, but it is generally found to br almost smokeless. The inspection over the party were hosmtably entertained by Mrs. Charnberlin at hei residence, and afterwards returned tr Auckland thoroughly satisfied with what had been seen. ;