THAMES DEEP LEVELS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15047, 17 July 1912, Page 7

THAMES DEEP LEVELS.

■..mmmxmm m. m*W ■ .. DEVIATION OF CROSSCUT.

THE DANGER OF THE SLIDE. A HEEToro of tli© Thames Deep Level*;] Board was held at the office of the seciretary {Mr; 3. B. Sheath), at noon yesterday. Present: E. H; Taylor (chairman), Messrs. Chas. Hudson, H. Gilfillan, «F. Erieebpne> A. Bruce, and Graves" Aickin. On the motion of air. Brace, it was resolved that the ambulance appliance which the Board had decided to procure, should b> available for any employee injured in either of the mines connected with the Board's workings. The secretary stated that the appliance had already been ordered from.v Melbourne at a cost of £10 17s 6d. .. ■ A matter of very great importance was brought up by Mr, A. Bruce, ae & result of a letter from the supervisor (Mr. Geo. Warne), regarding the deviation of the main crosscut. Mr. Warne explained, that the deviation took place early in the driving of the crosscut, but that the drive was gradually being brought back to its proper course. It was seen from the plan that: the tunnel, at a distance of 2000 ft, was about 12ft more in a hillward direc- J tton than it should, be, consequently bringing it nearer to the Moanataiari slide, j Mr. Bruce, in"■his'remarks, saidthat this was a very serious matter, as, if the slide was tapped it "would fill the drive with mud, and practically brjng, the whole I scheme of the deep levels.to naught. He stated that he had conferred with MK, E, F. Adiuns, the surveyor, on this matter, and suggested that » prospecting "working" drive be put in to endeayauift to locate the elide. He characterised the possible cutting of the slide by the main tunnel, as the worst thing that could happen to the Thames goldfields. j The Chairman remarked that in his j opinion the tunnel was already within the | danger zone, Mr. Bruce then moved that a monkey drive be put in, Mr., Chas. Hudson strongly opposed the scheme. He said that Mr. Warne, their/ manager, thought that they need not look for trouble, and he added that the Boards bad no authority from thei companies concerned to look for the slide, "We don't want to cut the slide," said Mr. Hudson; " let us keep away from it. It was agreed that Mr. Warne be asked to report as to the advisability or otherwise of putting in a prospecting drive to locate the main slide, and the General Purposes Committee was empowered to act, if deemed advisable, upon the report being received from Mr. Warne. Mr. Gilfillan remarked that the tunnel shMid never have been diverted. The secretary was instructed to write to ask the surveyor if tile course of the crosscut was now ;in a dii-ection |to get undar the Kuranui-Caledonian shaft' as originally agreed on. On the recommenda'tion of iMtv Geo. Warne; it was resolved to; embody certain regulations witli regard to the driving «f the Victoria subsidiary crosscut. . Mr. Warne, in his letter, also pointed out that under the new award the Board could only retain 25 per cent, of the contract money, for one month, from the contractors. Mr. Hudson remarked that this would mean contrat*j being thrown up ae soon as hard country was met with. A letter was received from the Mine«' Department, notifying that a third payment of £1000 has been authorised as part of the Government subsidy. The registered office of the Board is to be moved to th© Imperial Building.