MINE FIRE LOSS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21708, 25 January 1934, Page 10

MINE FIRE LOSS

mercuby workings EXTENSIVE DAMAGE DONE SURFACE BUILDINGS BURNED COSTLY PLANT DESTROYED [by telegraph —own correspondent] "WHAjSTGAREI, "Wednesday Serious damage was done by fire yesterday to the holdings of the British Mercury Mining Company at Puhipuhi, about 22 miles from Whangarei. A fire started in the dry scrub in the Whenuaroa Gully and swept onward for about two miles until it reached the location of the mintfi, which is situated at the edge of the farther end of the gully. A number of settlers, seeing the danger, made strenuous efforts to beat out the approaching flames with brush. They succeeded in saving temporarily two sheds containing stores, etc. When, however, the flames got to tbo main building, which is the retort and contains all the machinery, the air shute used for taking away the mercury fumes broke. Mr. H. Jordan, who is caretaker of the works, was, theicfore compelled to order the men to stop, since, after the shute broke by the heat, the mercury fumes became so strong that there was grave danger of the men being poisoned by them. Employees Save Cottages The main building burned quickly and was completely destroyed, together with both the sheds which were about 40ft. away. A number of cottages erected by the company were saved by the men. The company, which has a mining lease over this area, has not been operating for about a year owing to the low price of mercury, protection having been given the company by the arden's Court. Under normal conditions the mine must be continuously worked. The chairman of directors is Mr. T. A. Black, who resides at Hardle.y's Buildings, Newmarket, Auckland. Although confirmation cannot be obtained, it is thought that no insurance is carried by the company. As all the valuable machinery was destroyed the total loss is estimated to be several thousands of pounds. The greatest danger, however, wqs that the underground workings might have caug!:t fire. If that should prove to be so the timber supports in the mine would be burned and the mine fall in and become useless. Large Sum Expended THe present company and previous companies who have held this lease have spent about £35,000 on prospecting and development work in the area. A fire underground would mean a loss of all the capital expenditure. It was reported last evening that a large volume of smoke was rising from the mine, but inquiries this evening from Mr. Jordan indicated that there is now no indication from the top of the mine that there is fire underground. He intends to make a thorough examination of the interior of the' mine to-morrow.

There are two main deposits in North Auckland of cinnabar, the ore from which mercurv is extracted. These occur at Ngawha Springs, between Kaikohe and Ohaeawai, and at Puhipuhi, near AVhangarei. In June, 1928, Imperial Chemical Industries, Limited, purchased 600 acres in the neighbourhood of Ngawha, but in September, 1931, owing to the depressed state of the mercury market, operations there were ceased and -the plant dismantled. The licence for the Whenuaroa claim at Puhipuhi was granted in August, 1915, for a period of 42 years.