WARONUI COAL MINE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21258, 12 February 1931, Page 17

WARONUI COAL MINE.

PROPERTY AND PLANT SOLD. There was a good attendance at the Waronui coal mine yesterday when the railway lines from Milton to the mine, the permanent way, the mineral rights, and certain property belonging to the Waronui syndicate, as well as the mining gear, plant, etc., of the Bruce Railway and Coal Company, were offered at auction by Messrs John Reid and Sons, Ltd. The auctioneer was Mr L. Deans Ritchie.'

The Waronui syndicate’s property was first offered, and bidding went to just over £IOOO, at which price it was passed in. The auctioneer, however, sold the property immediately afterwards. The Bruce Company’s plant and mining gear were then offered in various s-njall lots, practically every lot being disposed of satisfactorily. The attendance at the sale was surprisingly large, and it is interesting to note that one of those present counted no fewer than 43 motor cars at the mine. HISTORY OF THE MINE.

Coal was first discovered in Waronui district in the early days of settlement of the Tokomairiro district, when an outcrop was worked under the proprietorship of Mr Joseph Mackay, the original founder of the Bfuce Herald. The mining was worked under primitive methods, and the output was very limited. With the increase in settlement in the Milton district other mines were opened in the ’7os in what was known as Fortification district. These mines were worked by Me>ssrs Noah Hardwick, Anthony Young, and Thomas Reid, the last-named being assisted by Mr Thomas Wilson. Several miners were also employed. Coal was supplied at the mine mouth at about 7s per ton. and sometimes there were as many as 30 settlers’ bullock wagons or drays waiting patiently—sometimes overnight—to cart coal over unformed roads for the purpose of laying in stocks for the winter months, when the clayroads would be impassable. At a later period coal supplies were conveyed by barge up the Tokomairiro River to shorten the lengthy journey for carters. These primitive methods were continued until coal mining rights over the properties were Required by the Fortification Railway and Coal Company, which was formed in 1898, with a capital of £15,000. The shareholders consisted principally of Milton and district residents. The glowing terms of the company’s prospectus estimated the “handsome profit of over £9OOO per annum, with an output of 1000 tons weekly, delivered on trucks at Milton railway station at 9s per ton.” A dividend of over 24 per cent, per annum was the tempting bait offered to shareholders, and, as additional inducement, an influx of population was expected from the development of the mine, establishment of railway connection between Milton and Fortification and also the cutting up of a 10,000-acre estate for closer settlement. A township site of 40 acres was surveyed, and speculators vied with each other in purchasing quarter-acre allotments at Fortification at prices ranging up to £4O per section.

Their hopes of wealth were soon dashed, however, for the railway was built, but the demand for “Fortification” coal was not realised, and, after a few years of .troubled existence, the company went into liquidation, and the assets were claimed by’ the mortgagees. Sheep still grazed on the quarter-acre allotments, and the anticipated thriving town did not materialise.

The mining property and railway line were acquired about 1902 by the Bruce Railway and Coal Company, under whose ownership further developments were effected. Shortly after acquisition the Bruce Coal Company opened up a new seam across the river, and after much opposition from the Marine Department was finally granted permission, in 1904, to erect a bridge across the tidal waters of the Toko River at Waronui to give access to the company’s new mine. The railway line was extended, and coal shoots, buildings, and all machinery were transferred to the new site. Since that period the mine has been worked more or less successfully. New drives were opened up as development proceeded. Seams of coal were worked out, but other seams were opened up. The company, however, received its setbacks at different periods, and troubles were encountered. Finally, after about 28 years of a somewhat chequered career, the present workings were considered unsafe owing to threatening falls. The company spent a considerable amount of money during the past 12 months in opening up another new drive, but after proceeding about 700 feet without any encouraging prospects of striking a new seam, work was abandoned.

Upon acquisition by the Bruce Coal Company, Mr James Carruthers (now of Dunedin) was appointed mine manager, and he continued in that position for several years. On his retirement he was succeeded by his son. who was one of the victims of the double fatality which occurred last September. Since that date the mine has not been worked, and the company eventually served notice upon the owners of the freehold of cancellation of its lease to the mining rights.