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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 71

(4) Collingucod and Takaka Coal-fields

(4) Collingucod and Takaka Coal-fields.

A small coal-field exists at Takaka, on the shores of Golden bay, but it was for many years unworked, as the coal is of poor quality. The total output for 1891, when two mines (both opencast) were at work, page 72 was 410 tons. The seam contains a band of sand 21 inches in thickness between two layers of coal, which measure respectively 2 feet and 2 feet 6 inches in thickness.

The Collingwood coal-fields proper may be divided into an eastern and a western portion, the latter known under the name of the West Wanganui coal-field. On the western side of the inlet bearing this name, which is of considerable extent, but almost devoid of water when the tide is out, are found seams of coal which dip into the hills between the inlet and open water. Natural facilities for working are not great, and the coal is not of the very best quality, so the place has been neglected for many years. The analyses of two samples of coal from the locality are:—
Per Cent. Per Cent.
Fixed Carbon 45.00 50.10
Hydrocarbons 38.90 37.10
Water 4.80 8.60
Ash 11.30 4.20
100.00 100.00

On the eastern side of the range is the Colling wood coal-field, which comprises the Lower Coal-measures, containing bituminous coal, while the upper beds contain the pitch coal of West Wanganui. In the lower beds the seams, though of fine quality, are mostly thin, and contain numerous intercalations of bituminous shale. The lease of the one mine working in 1891 contains 990 acres, held direct from the Crown at an annual rent of £16, and a royalty (the writer believes) of 6d. per ton.

The seams dip 1 in 10 into the hill and are worked longwull, the output being delivered by an adit level which cuts the seams. Two of these were worked in 1891, each having a thickness of 2 feet 6 inches, but not of clean coal. The workings are mostly to the rise, but a small dip area is drained by syphons. The total output up to the end of 1891 was 39,704 tons and the output for 1891 was 2,918 tons, produced by twelve men. Analyses of two samples of coal are:—
Pet Cent. Per Cent,
Fixed caron 53.39 57.31
Hydrocarbons 38.18 35.84
Water 2.06 1.95
Ash 6.47 4.90
100.00 100.00
The field is principally remarkable for the number of seams and their small vertical extension when compared with others in the colony. The harbour at present is fitted only for the smallest class of vessels, and the page 73 coal trade of the district—which contains some or the most valuable minerals found in New Zealand—is small and apparently stationary. In the northern portion of the field are some Further outcrops which have received attention. The locality is known as Seaford, utid the including strata are very much the same as those at Collingwood, that is to say, brown micaceous sandstones with pebble and grit-binds, all resting on a massive conglomerate. Two seams are known, the upper 2 feet in thickness, resting on a soft sattdy clay, and the other as follows:—
Ft In.
Coal 0 8
Shale 0 6
Coal 2 0
As indicating to some extent the conditions of mining in this neighbourhood, it may be Interesting to reproduce an estimate which was made in 1887 on the subject of working these scams:—*
Coat per ton.
s. d.
Capital, £10,000 at 7 per cent interest = £700, on an out put of, say, 28.000 tons per annum 0 6
Sinking fund, £500 per annum 0
Royalty 0 3
Mining 6 0
Haulage 0 6
Outside labour 0 6
Inside 1 6
Management 1 0
Cost of coal per ton on wharf 10
The analyses of two samples of coal are:—
Upper Scam Lower Scam
Fixd carbon 51.37 51.79
Hydrocarbons 39.72 36.18
Water 4.38 4.02
Ash 4.53 8.01
100.00 100.00

* Hector, Report of Geological Explorations, 1887-88, pages 12 and 13.