SOME OTAGO COAL MINES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2527, 20 August 1902, Page 12

SOME OTAGO COAL MINES.

CFeou ©tjb Own Cobbesposdekt.) WELLINGTON. August 1. Reporting on Messrs Sutherland and Shanks's cDlliery at Wharekuri. in Otago, tiie Mines Inspector says: — '"Although theowners are old miners of many years' experience, I fully expect, from the careless manner in which their in* ls worked, that one or other of them, will eventually meet with a serious accident. The old workings (of which no plans are in existence) are a source of danger, which is not sufficiently realised by Sutherland and Shanks, although I have impressed it upon them."

Reporting on the Shag Point mine on .September 10, the Inspector says: — "The undersea cro3s measures drive (Hitnt't) has been extended, and at 130 ft east from Xo. 1 sram a 4-ft seam of clean, bright coal was struck. The north and south levels have been csmmeneed. The roof is quartz conglomerate, containing 'cutters,' or small nWirc, from which feeders of water are flowing, making at the rate of 15,000 gallons cf water per hour. Owing to the breakage of the eccentric strap of the pumping engirt imd its consequent stoppage for repairs, the water ro&e over the pump, and two tanks, holding 360 gallons each, were put on for baling the water, but very little progress i-> being made. A dam is being built in the stone drive to enable repairs to the pump to be effected. The water from the figures is brackish, and tl'e mine water, wjiich is that which is available for boiler feed, is proving mere troublesome then formerly, each of the three boilers requiring to be blown down at intervals of not more than seven days The No. 5 landing in tho shaft is being cut off by water bomg up o\er the door heads. The intake air i-> t-onuectsd from No. 3 landing, which i 3i 3 also u->ed as a travelling way. The cover overhead from the face of Hunt's time is 300 ft thick vertically, and numerous soundings of tho sea taken some years ago give t> depth of 30ft to 35ft of water in this locality On the 29th September he reported : ' Still patiently baling water, which is 28ft up the shaft, and the manager expects thai it will take about eight weeks' baling to uncover the pump and get the water down again.' Two months later a report gay 5 ; : ' Water in the shaft still at 28ft mark. — Johnston.' Pumps having a capacity of 10,000 gallon-, per hour have just been s-tarted, which, together with, the tanks, reduced the water in the shaft 13in in. 24hours. The bojler feed water from the pit is pro\iug very injurious t>nd is the cause of Lcquent stoppages aud delay, during which the water in the pit gains rapidly on the plant in use. The Government analyst finds tl at the water from the mine is composed of 60 per cent of r ea water and 40 per cent, of fxr^h uiti j wiuUs the water t,akaa direct

from the fissures in the new seam under sea» consists of 90.9 per cent, of sea water, diluted with 9.1 per cent, of fresh water."

; The latest report on the Kaitangata mirse ie dated December 18, 1901, and is as follcws: "Air at intake 19,9:0 cubic feet per inmute. M'Dougall's section being gradually robbed back to the drum. Mr Broome estimates that fully two-thirds of the si-am, which averages 30ft in thickness, is being won. Return airways, with the exception of the No. 1 heading section, are all in good , order. Traces of gas in potholes are found in No. \ dip section, and at the top of No. 2 heading north aection. The air is good throughout the mine, which is in good working order. The new deflector safety h>mps (maker, Ricliard Johnston) are giving excellent results. They are etrongly made, give an excellent light with best oil, and are \ory sensitive in the presence of Ch 4." The latest report about the Allandalo " ir.ine, dated December 2, 1902, says:— "Air at upcast 6000 cubic feet per minute. Tha intake airway requires attention in several places. There is no impiovetnent in ths ' No. 3 seam workings. The roof is still , tender, and the floor is as soft as ever. Tho i No. 1 seam places are turning out as well j as expected, and the seam, being oft thick, j good returns mafc he looked for from this i part of the mine. The air is good through- . out the mine. Preparatory to sinking a ghaff; j for tho new upcaat, a trial here is to be I put down at a point near the sckooihouse. The work will be commenced at an early date."