THE WAIPA MINE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 20085, 20 May 1914, Page 6

THE WAIPA MINE.

A party from Wanganui, who are shareholders in the Waipa coalmine have just retu.rr.ed from attending the oflicial openino- of tho mine, which is in the , Huntly* district. They speak very highly of the .future prospects ot that mine. Tho Waipa Company have secured the <right to a very large area of what is considered some of the best coal in the Dominion. It also has the advantage of being close to the surface, a face of j 12ft of hard shining coal shining out j in tbe face of the hill. The advantage wlifoh this mine "will have over other mines is the fact that there will be no sinking and no water to contend with. About 50 men are now employed in and around the mine, but a larger number will be employed after the mine is properly working. A number, of me:i are employed in erecting more machinery bui'ding workmen's cottages, offices and various other buildings; in fact, a small township is being erected in that locality, which has keen nainc^ Glen Massey. About six miles of costly railway had to bo erected to eonnoe; thy'mine with the Main Trunk line. That is now completed, at a cost ot i £45.000. to the coal company. On that shorh Jength of line there were 24 bridges, and one bridge is nearly as long aa the Wanganui bridge. There is also a viaduct 380 ft in length. The coal is brought to the hoppers and screens by m-aans of gravitation, which method ,51l mean a X considerable saving in haulage; in fact, everything connected wi"h this mine has been carefully and skilfully thought out to facditote and economise the handling of tbe coal. Mi Thomson, the manager of the A\ aipa tia^ =&%«?£ ord hand.. Those who visited the mine °troiSy recommend the large "number of shareholders in Wangamu to hold on to what shares they have. ■■"$«« oartainly a big future before the Waipa

MrF A Harkncss, who is the wholes3VaU:for Wanganui-and district was fortunate in making an-angements ft>r -a regular and immediate supply ot th» Waina coal for Wanganui, although informed by the manager that sufficient Lrto wire in hand to keep them goang for some time. But as soon as everjtbina was in proper running order they will b^ capable of putting out up to 200 torn per day. Considering tie fact*hat the kcal dealers ha-ve experienced much difficulty during the last two -years in obtaining. reg^Lar supphes of coal the opening of this mine null -be a welcome additional source of supply during the coming winters. A few trucks of the wSpa coal arrived in Wanganm on Saturday for local dealers. ( ; » .