MINE PUMP SAVER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21916, 27 September 1934, Page 12

MINE PUMP SAVER

"TRIUMPH FOR DIVER " FEAT AT HIKURANGI SUCCESS AFTER FOUR DAYS . EFFORT TO RAISE MOTOR [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN COBBEBPONDENX] WHANGAREI. Wednesday After strenuous efforts for nearly four days the nine-inch pump was salvaged from the Hikurangi Coal Company's shaft mine this afternoon, the success of operations being due to the work of the Auckland Harbour Board diver, Mr. R. Tew, his assistant, Mr. L. Martin, the coal company's engineer, Mr. W. Bode, and members of the co-operative party of miners. This pump, which is valued at £looo,'. and other machinery valued at £6OOO became submerged last week when the mino was flooded. immediately the main pump was brought to the surface Mr. Tew communicated by telephone with Mr. L. J. Stevens, chairman of directors of the company, who is in Auckland, and Mr. Stevens authorised an attempt to recover the motor of this pump. Owing to the extreme strain and difficulty under which the men have been working an attempt- to raise the motor will not be cofnmenoed until tomorrow morning. This will enable the diver to gain a well-earned rest before again descending the mine, in which the water has now risen nearly 100 feet up the shaft. Reward of Perseverance

The recovery of the nine-inch pump was the reward of great perseverance as again at a late hour last. night a further setback was encountered. The pump had been moved another six feet along the passage leading to .the shaft when the extension hook on the steel wire rope broke. This necessitated another descent by Mr. Tew at six o'clock this morning. - -i. f The haulage of the pump up the 350 feet of the shaft was accomplished with less difficulty than was expected., especially as there was only two indwss of clearance. When the pump was about 12 feet from the surface several strands of the steel rope broke and a second steel rope was attached to the pump. The fcime occupied in bringing the pump up the shaft was a little over one hour.

Mr. Bode stated that the pump was recovered in as good condition as when it was installed in the mine a few weeks ago. "In my opinion," said Mr. Bode, "its salvaging is an outstanding triumph for the diver and his assistant." Mr. Tew was naturally very pleased at the success of the venture. Asked the prospect of success in recovering the motor ho said he considered there was an even chanoe. Unbolting it from its platform and disconnecting the cable should not be unduly difficult. The chief difficulty will be in hauling it to the bottom of the shaft. Conditions In Waro Mine

Mr. Tew said that without the splendid assistance given by Mr. Bode he would not have been able to recover the pump. It was difficult to say how long it would take to recover the motor, but he jK>pe4?/to have -it on the surface in about, two days. One of the main problems w:ould be how long tha men could continue pumping air to the diver as the gradually rising water in the shaft was making the task more difficult each day. With the fate of the company's adjoining Waro mine in the balance the pumps in the farthest portion of the mine have l>een removed to a higher level in order to be prepared for any emergency. Hewing is proceeding at a fast rate in order to win as much coal in the limited time available as possible. It is understood that water from the shaft mine is already penetratine the Waro mine. The seriouji effect on Hikurangi from the losa of employment to the 160 members of the co-operative party of miners and the prospect of the 60 men in the Waro mine being shortly out of work is causing grave concern. It is understood that within the next few days Mr. R. Nesbitt, chairman of the Hikurangi Town Board* will proceed to Wellington in order to interview the Minister of Employment on the position..