2** COALFIELDS AND COLLIEPxIES OF AUSTRALIA. 



egg-end toilers. The exhaust steam is led into an old boiler, 

 through which the feed water is circulated; any grease is then 

 filtered off through coke and bagging. A Weir hot water 

 pump is used for feeding the boiler. 



Electric signals are in use throughout the mine, and are 

 connected with the hauling engine house at the surface. 

 Communication by telephone may also be held between those 

 at the surface and pit bottom, and persons employed in the 

 different districts underground. An electric lighting plant 

 supplies lights for the offices, workshops, engine houses, and 

 also for the pit bottom. In the electrical workshop, the 

 armatures are re-wound, and other repairs effected to the coal- 

 cutting machines. 



The workshops, where repairs to the machinery and 

 rolling stock of the colliery are carried out, contain 

 steel turning lathes, wood turning lathes, shaping and drilling 

 machines, and a large steam hammer. 



The New Winning or Sea Pit. 



The "Colonial" Government was the first to work coal 

 in the Newcastle district, where it operated the " dirty 

 seam/' the output averaged 3327 tons per annum between 1826 

 and 1828. This was eventually abandoned, and the Austra- 

 lian Agricultural Co., commonly known as the A. A. Co., was 

 given a grant of 2000 acres on 2nd May, 1833, but previous to 

 this, permission had been given the company to bore for coal. 

 Mr. Henderson was the company's first colliery manager, and 

 he began to search for coal on 20th September, 1831. From 

 1832 to 1840, the company produced 123,000 tons of coal. 

 The retail business which the company had been carrying out 

 was given up on 1st January, 1846, as it barely paid. At 

 first, the "dirty" and "yard" seams were worked, but in 

 1848, a 10ft. seam of coal was found, at a depth of 145ft., 

 now known as the " bore hole " seam, and at the present day 

 this is the only seam worked. The following is a typical 

 section of the borehole seam : 



ft. in. 



Top band of coal 4 



Band 01 



Top lift coal 3 2 



Band 1 



Bottom lift coal 19 



Morgan ,0 6 



Four-inch coal 1 



Band 1 



Little tops 1 



Jerry 13) n 



Bottom coal , 3 1 f 



