376 COALFIELDS AND COLLIERIES OF AUSTRALIA. 



Analysis of the Coal. 



The following are the results of samples obtained and 

 analysed by the New South Wales Department of Mines : 



Vol. Fixed 



Sample. Moisture. H.C. Garb. Ash. 



No. 1 4.42 34.80 51.36 9.42 



No. 2 4.81 34.94 51.52 8.73 



No. 3 5.57 33.22 51.40 9.81 



Specific Coke. 

 Sample. Sulphur. B.T.U.'s. Gravity. percent. 



No. 1 811 11,810 1.317 (i().78 



No. 2 597 12,310 1.323 60.25 



No. 3 489 11,810 1.375 61.21 



A few words in connection with the birth of the Victorian 

 State Coal Mines might be interesting. During' the month of 

 November, 1909, the whole of the New South Wales coal 

 miners came out 011 strike, and as the strike seemed likely to 

 continue for some considerable time, the Minister of Mines, 

 the Hon. Peter McBride, with commendable promptitude, 

 called for reports from various officers of his department as to 

 how soon shafts could be sunk., coal mined, despatched to In- 

 verloch by bullock waggon, and shipped to Melbourne. From 

 four to five weeks was given as the time that the above work 

 could be accomplished, and the following officers were ordered 

 by the Minister to immediately start for the Powlett, and pro- 

 ceed with the work: Mr. Stanley Hunter, M.I.M.E., and Mr. 

 D. C. MacKenzie, M.E., in charge of the work generally: Mr. 

 Greo. Ealloon,, as secretary, and in charge of accounts and time- 

 sheets. These officers were ably assisted by the sterling 

 sevices of Messrs. D. H. Browne and J. MacKenzie, two 

 veteran mine managers of varied experience and tried ability. 



Work was seriously commenced on the 22nd November, 

 1909. Three shafts were sunk in close proximity to an old 

 prospecting shaft on a shallow area of coal in Allot. 26. 



Four of the drills working on the field were brought to the 

 shafts, and erected one over each shaft. These were ingeni- 

 ously converted into winding and pumping plants, and were 

 successful in raising 43,000 tons of coal in baskets before a 

 steam winding-plant was installed. Oil engines were used to 

 drive the converted drills. 



In working the emergency mine, the coal was filled at the 

 face into baskets holding 2 cwt. A trolley holding two 

 baskets brought the coal to the various shafts, where it was 

 hauled to the surface, placed on another trolley, and wheeled 

 out to the dumps. The gauge of the trolley roads was 18in. 



