WAIMATE WAIHAO COAL

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVI, Issue 21361, 2 June 1939, Page 3

WAIMATE WAIHAO COAL

Suggestion That Mine Should Re-Open High Production from Allanholme Promise of Mineral Wealth There has been a suggestion that an effort should be made to re-open the Allanholme coal mine in the Waihao Valley. Over a period of 12 years, the mine produced 1300 tons of coal before it was closed down in 1927. The coal was a good quality lignite, and found a market in the Waimate district, and during the wartime shortage, as far afield as Christchurch and Dunedin. The Allanholme tunnel slants down into the ground from a more or less level surface, and is five chains long with branches every 15 yards. At an air vent about three chains from the opening, it is 60 feet deep. There are two seams: the first is only five feet deep surrounded by two feet of black sand. The second seam is 20 feet 8 inches deep and has a small twoinch band of shale.

As the tunnel lengthened and the depth increased, the quality of the coal obtained improved. During one period, the mine employed 12 men. and two traction engines and trailers carted the output. The distance to Waimate was 12 miles and cartage was one of the principal factors in the economical working of the mine Coal used to be landed on the staging at 6/2 a ton. The mine is only four miles from the railway at Waihao Forks, but that was of little advantage, because two handlings would have been necessary to reach the Waimate market. It ceased operations shortly before surface equipment and buildings were seriously damaged by a whirlwind. Coal Found 90 Years Ago The Waihao Valley was, according to historical record, included in the first mention of coal in South Canterbury and Mr W. Mantell, in a report on January 30, 1849, stated that in 1848 a Maori informed him that coal existed "inland from the Elephant north-north-west to the Upper Waihao Country.’’ Peculiar to relate, the Provincial Council, in 1854, offered a reward of £lOO for the discovery of j coal, but the money was never I claimed. Rules to be observed at the I Elephant Hill coal mine were con- | tained in "The Government Gazette” i of July 26, 1883. That mine in 1907 had been working for 39 years, and I produced brown coal. A seam 10 feet j thick was worked from a shaft 6 feet | by 5 feet. A total of 66 tons of coal was produced in 1907 and two hands were employed without any assistance from horses or steam power. Up to 1908, after being worked for 40 years, the mine had produced 628 tons of coal. Two other seams had been worked at Waihao for lignite from 1890 and 1893 up to 1908 and produced 4608 tons in that period. Great promise of mineral wealth has long been given by the peculiar geological structure of the Waihao Valley, but that promise has still to be properly honoured. As early as 1861 a gold prospectnig party left Timaru for the river, but returned unsuccessful. Gold, however, was reported in November, 1866. and a seam of yellow ochre was discovered in 1’877. Old miners who have been interviewed, consider that there is a better seam of coal below the two already discovered at Allanholme, but that contention has to be proved. A number of mines have been wo. red in the Waihao Valley in past years, even though none are operated commercial • at present. One commercial mine was located at Meadowbank a mile away from Allanholme. and probably on the same seam. Smaller mines were worked at the Devil's Elbow, and on properties owned by Messrs Christie and McPherson. RUGBY TEAMS SELECTIONS FOR TO-MORROW Southern—H. Lyall, T. Mcßae. W. Murphy, C. Chamberlain. J. Frost, R. Lundon, J. Balfour, A. Morrison L. Austin J. Bryce, D. Smart. H. Bryce D. Mahan, Fleming. Emergencies: J. Sheddan, P. Murphy, p. Connors. Makikihl—R. Barlow, W. Girdler, N. Shea. L. Shea, G. Vucetich, J. Shea F. Sole E. Sole, L. Sole. F. Robinson, J. Slattery, D. Crowe, F. Lunham, J. Coles, W. Tiffen. Huimai—T. Heath. W. Hobbs, J. Bartlett, Collins, John Flynn, R. Lundy. W. Chapman, R. Bartlett, A. Bartlett. G. Hossack, E. Allnutt, J. Seaman. L. Kilworth, W. Hay, F. Clearwater. Emergencies: H. Davis, A. Meynell. A. Sullivan, D. Marshall. The following team will represent Southern in the seven-a-side tournament at Timaru on Monday: J. Bryce, L. Austin. J. Balfour, J. Frost, G. Wright, C. Chamberlain, W. Murphy, R. Lundon. H. Lyall. BASKETBALL NEW PRESIDENT ELECTED Miss I. Wallace was unanimously elected president at a meeting of the Waimate Basketball Sub-Association held on Wednesday evening. Mrs H. V. O'Connor, who was re-elected president of the Sub-Association at the annual meeting, has resigned owing to unforeseen circumstances. A further election of officers resulted:—South Canterbury delegate. Miss I. Wallace: first grade selector. Miss Knowles; delegate to the South Canterbury Referees' Association. Miss Wallace. The draw for the competition games

to be played at Victoria Park tomorrow is as follows: I First grade—Waimate Bv. St. Patrick’s at 2.40 p.m.; referee, Miss R. Tumaru. Second grade—Waihao v. High School A at 2 p.m., referee Miss P O'Malley; St. Patrick’s v. Makikihi at 2 p.m., referee Miss N. Wilson; High School B a bye. Teams for To-morrow Waimate B—G. Rolfe, J. Ross, J. Bell, E. Kennett, M. McDonald, R. Dunstan, J. Webster, M. Clarke, M. Smith. Emergencies, M. Sutherland. N. Turnbull and M. Beattie. St. Patrick’s Club—First grade: A. Crowe, T. Ryder, N. Lyall, V. O’Malley, A. Hannifin, N. O’Brien, P. O’Malley, K. Breen, E. Hughes. Second grade: M. Eathorne F. Sheddan, T. McArthur, M. Naughton, J. Fitzharris, D. Morton, N. Breen, T. Crowe, D. Creva. Emergency, J. Lundon. In the third grade competition match played yesterday, Convent A beat High School by 11 goals to 2. SOCIAL EVENING X MR D. KIRKPATRICK FAREWELLED A pleasant function took place In Knox Hall on Wednesday evening, when a social was tendered to Mr D. Kirkpatrick, an elder of the Presbyterian Church, who has left Waimate to reside in Dunedin. Dr T. W. Wylie presided over a large attendance. The Rev. R. J. Griffiths, in presenting Mr Kirkpatrick with a chiming clock, referred to the great interest he had taken in the church's activities and conveyed to him the good wishes of all for the future welfare of Mrs Kirkpatrick and himself. Other speakers were Mrs B. Turnbull, Mrs P. Grant, Messrs J. Reid, G. J. Shackleton, L. Buckingham, John Murray and W. Peck. On behalf of the Ladies’ Guild, Mrs A. Sawell handed to Mr Kirkpatrick, a handbag for presentation to Mrs Kirkpatrick. During the evening items were given by the choir, Mr J. L. Menzies (monologue) and duets by Misses White and Sanson, and Miss Buchanan and Mr Kirkpatrick. PERSONAL Miss E. McDonald left yesterday to take up a position in Wellington. Mrs R. G. Kaan has returned to Waimate after a visit to Invercargill and Gore. Miss Olga Cooney. Redcliffs, has returned home after a visit to Mrs V. Collins, Timaru. Mr and Mrs J. Kelland, Miss M. Kelland and Mr P. Kelland, who have been visitors to Waimate, have left for a short stay in Timaru. Before his departure for the West Coast. Mr D. Taylor was met by members of the Waimate Tennis Club and presented him with a clock. Mrs A. A. Scott entertained a number of friends who were going to the North Otago Golf Club’s ball at Oamaru on Wednesday evening at her home “Ryde Farm.’’ Those present were: Mr and Mrs J. G. Ruddenklau, Mr and Mrs A. Dyer, Mr and Mrs F. Jull, Mr and Mrs C. Jones, Mr and Mrs D. L. Macdonald, Mrs Brock, Misses J. Nalder, H. Hayes, Farrell, Messrs J. Sutherland, j. Mitchell, R. Boulton, R. Murchison, A. Medlicott.