PERSONAL RECORD. NEWBURN, J. [THROUGH WESTLAND'S COALFIELDS]

This film comes from the collection of Jim Newburn (1900-1985) who was from a mining family on the West Coast. In his early days (1920s -1930s) he was a projectionist at Kaitangata Theatre.

At the beginning of this century, Runanga was a busy mining town - state built and operated. Bob Semple arrived here from Australia to start New Zealand’s first mining union. This became the nucleus of the first Federation of Labour.

B&W and colour shots (this may in fact be two films edited together) of the mining settlement Runanga high in rugged mountain and bush clad hills north of Greymouth. Miners alight from a train and are transported to mine shaft by rail wagon. Miners pose in front of tunnel entrance, buildings, viaduct for rail coal transporters, beautiful native forest scenery. [Coal wagons in operation]. Shots of mining camp. Draught horses and miners emerge from tunnel. Steam tram winding its way up steep gorge. [Sterling Falls]

00:05 Intertitles, “RUNANGA. A WELL BUILT AND TIDY MINING CENTRE”
01:15 “ARRIVAL OF MINER'S TRAIN AT REWANUI 7.30 AM”
08:17 (COL) “LOADING COAL AT RAPAHOE”
09:30 “ASCENDING THE TORTUOUS INCLINE TO REWANUI”