GLENAFTON COLLIERIES.

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1371, 24 March 1923, Page 5

GLENAFTON COLLIERIES.

VISITED lIY SHAREHOLDERS. * RECORD DEVELOPMENT. A party of thirty-three farmers from the Paterangi and Te Awamuiu districts who are shareholders in the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company paid a surprise visit, to the company's miue ai Pukemiro, the Glenafton Collieries. on Thursday. Mr Hunter, the ntiraff yhanagcr, was not advised of the visit, an 111 an hour or two before the arrival of the party, hut on their arrival he welcomed them and took them into the office, where an interesting half hour was passed in explaining the maps and plans of the workings. The explanation was very interesting, and showed the party that the development of the mine was proceeding upon the most modern and up-to-date lines. Mr Hunter stated that he anticipated that the railway line into the mine would be in full working order in two months’ time, and the mine would then he able to undertake delivery at the rate of approximately 200 tons of coal per day. This rate of delivery would be increased to about 500 tons per day in five or six months’ time.

Mr Hunter pointed out that the whole of the development work had been done in the last IS months, and this meant that the mine would be brought into productivity within two years from the time of starting opeations. This was rather a record in the development of coal mines, because on the West Coast of the South Island it usually took from four to six years to develop a mine to the point of production. and in the case of the Balmain mine in Sydney it had taken ten years before coal had been won.

After luncheon 'had been partaken of the party was shown through the screening house, where the provision for the automatic loading of trucks in three separate bays of coal was much admired by the party. A trial skip of coal was put through the screening to demonstrate the manner of working. The party was shown all the buildings and equipment on the surface of the mine, and thereafter, armed with lights, explored the various sh'afts that had been driven into the mine. This part of the experience was the most interesting to the visitors, as it demonstrated conclusively to them the enormous wealth of coal available for development. In one heading it is estimated that over a quarter of a million tons of coal lie ready for immediate extraction, while in others much bigger reserves are available; hut a little preliminary work requires to be done. On one heading a solid seam of 14 feet of coal was much admired by the visitors, who all put samples in their pockets to show their farmer friends. At the conclusion of the visit Mr C. J. Spiers, of Paterangi, heartily thanked Mr Hunter for his courteous attention and explanation of the mine, and said that he and all the other suppliers were greatly impressed with what had been seen, and could convey their impressions to others in their districts. He called for three hearty cheers for Mr Hunter, which were lustily given. Mr Hunter suitably acknowledged the compliment, and said lie would always be pleased to show parties over the workings.