FIRE IN A MINE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14461, 2 March 1909, Page 5

FIRE IN A MINE.

OUTBREAK AT MILLERTON. MINE CLOSED DOW,N. (Feb United Press Assochtion.). WJSSTPORT, March 1. Word was received in Westport last night that the Westport Coal Company's mine at Millerton was on fire.

It appears that the fire broke out yesterday morning in the main haulage way through the old workings. There is only one exit, anil consequently all work is stopped. The mine employs 250 men. The Westport News' correspondent sends (lie following account of the lire at the mine Early on Sunday morning a fireman coming through (lie mine met smoke in the drive. Returning outside, he reported it to Mr Davidson, who immediately went inside to investigate, and found a fire raging in the section known as <jjd east. Messrs J. Dixon and D. Dimn (superintendent and mine manager for the Westport Coal Company respectively) were immediaU'ly communicated witl), and arrived on the si,ene with all possible despatch. A gang of men set to work at once to try to reach the seat of the fire by using brattice and every means which human intelligence could suggest, but unfortunately the fire gained sunii a hold (hat- all their efforts were in vain. Messrs Dixon, Dunn, and M'Cormick stood bv until it was plain that the seat of tiro fire could not be reached. The only hope left was to stop up all the entrances to the mine, and wall up the' water drainage o[ the drive, and, if possible. to flood the mine. Unfortunately water is scarce, and unless rain comes soon the fire may travel above the possible available water level and mak'o it a difficult problem to save the mine. To-dav the Mine Creel: power-house was shut down, the fan being stopped as it was not required any'longer. The only work now going on is at the near end of the new drive going through to Mine Creek, which it is computed will take some 10 to 12 months to complete. Now only one end is working. While writing this I see a dray hi;ul of boxes and portmanteaux off down the hill. It is going to be very bard for the people left here, and if is to lie hoped, lor the sake of all concerned, that the fire may not spread so far as to become unmanageable. The origin of the fire is one of those things which can only be surmised. Several theories have been advanced, but. nothing definite is known yet, and may never be known. The visiting directors of the Westport Coal Company are up here, and it, must bs a trying time for tlieni to see their prowly in such u state, seeing that lately things have been going very smoothly and a fine sample of marketable coal was coming out of the mine. I believe, the Mine Creel; rope has parted, showing that the fire must, be pr:-tly fierce."

The loss which the fire must menu to tin; Westport f'oul lonuiany ;nn! district may be gtiugftl from the fact that the Oi'iinity mines lmve been producing 6000 tons weekly, ami until I lie fire is subilueil or a new tunnel completed ilie oiilpul from this section of the mines must entirely cease. H i.< understood Unit special efforts w'li in- iviule nt tlie Denniston uml Ciiiilhri'okiliile section, which now iiro:liires aliout 6000 tons weekly, to make up nart of the deficiency. The Westport fiiocktoii C.'iimnnny's out - jmt is also capable oi' considerable expansion, so that (lie production from the district mines will, il is hoped, not full very far short of the recent output.

Tint meafjre informal ion ims l>?en received by the ViVsiport C.'cal Company's office at Dnncdin in regard to the outbreak of fire in the Jlillerlou mine. What has received, fio-.ynver. slates that the workmen have, manured to seal un the iHea affected, with a view to extinguishing

the fire. If it is found necessary in water to flood tlio mine, that as a matter of course will 1® done. l'Vom tho information received by the local office, it is not fliouglit. 1 hat. work will bo interfered with for more than a few weeks. Mr G. Joachim, manager of tho Wcstport Coal Company, is at present on tho West Coast, in company with Messrs G. L. Denniston ' and 0. W. Chamberlain, two of tho directors, and it was their intention to leave on fho return journey to-day. The Millorton initio is situated just above (Irnnitv. which is about 1200 yds away. Th# pest ollice town is Ifranity, and Millerton is the township wliicii has'sprung- up around the mine workings. TJie output from the Millorton mine is about 1000 tons per day, and work lias been carried on there for tli* ' past 15 years. The output from the company's Denniston mine ie about 1200 tons \ a, day just now. Until moro is known, however, of fho extent and nature of the fire in the Millerton mine, it. is impossible to say to what extent tho general output will lie affected.