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Official letter of the mine closure at Dobson mine. 1968.
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Descriptionhis is the official letter my father, Leo Blance, got upon the mine closure at Dobson mine. 13th September 1968.Date of Photo13th September 1968Map[1] ContributorArthur Blance
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PersonLeo BlanceOrganisation (eg business)Dobson MineEvent Official letter of the mine closure at Dobson mine
Category Information
Category TagCoal Mining
From Facebook
Linkhttps://www.facebook.com/photo.php?.....5283222778&type=1&theaterCommentsLaurence Pattinson yes i got one two was his nickname popeye
12 April at 18:50 · Like · 3
Arthur Blance pee wee
12 April at 18:51 · Like · 2
Laurence Pattinson pee weeyes what a good man
12 April at 18:52 · Like · 3
Arthur Blance Cheers Laurance
12 April at 18:53 · Like · 1
Brian McIntyre Any idea of how long he worked there. That letter is so unfeeling towards those losing their jobs
12 April at 18:59 · Like · 1
Arthur Blance twenty one years
12 April at 18:59 · Like
Judy Davis Just like that !
12 April at 19:02 · Like · 2
Sharon Kearns Unbelievable. Is this turkey still around.?
12 April at 19:03 · Like · 2
Barry Howard my dad work @ the dobson mine . i can remember when dad took me down the mine
12 April at 19:05 · Like · 3
Laurence Pattinson i went there to work when i was 17 dirty hard work but the miner all stuck to gether i would like to go and work there for 1 more shift with all the miner i new great mates good times
12 April at 19:07 · Like · 1
Brian McIntyre They really showed that he was appreciated then Arthur Blance bloody disgraceful
12 April at 19:07 · Like · 4
Arthur Blance Laurance hits it pretty good. great mates great memories and tough guys doing there best for this country
12 April at 19:09 · Like · 2
Laurence Pattinson connew was mine manager he was just doeing his job he would not like doing that but it happen all the time now every day
12 April at 19:10 · Like · 1
Laurence Pattinson when dobson closed mines went to all parts of new zealand a lot went to gear meat company i was lucky i went to nz railways worked there for 30 years a great job
12 April at 19:19 · Like · 2
Debbie Hughes My husband Michael is the grandson of one of the first mine managers in Dobson - Job Hughes
12 April at 19:26 · Like · 1
Laurence Pattinson must have been a long time ago
12 April at 19:27 · Like · 1
Debbie Hughes Took over the mine management just before the first mine explosion
12 April at 19:28 · Like · 2
Laurence Pattinson was that in 1926
12 April at 19:29 · Like · 1
Debbie Hughes Yep was only in management for about a fortnight
12 April at 19:30 · Like · 2
Jean Wilson who was popeye Blance?
12 April at 19:32 · Like · 1
Laurence Pattinson yes i seen that place where that happen down the bottom of the first stone drive i also have visit some of there graves in grey cem
12 April at 19:33 · Like · 2
Arthur Blance Popeye is Eric Blance my uncle and Leos brother also from Taylorville
12 April at 19:34 · Like · 1
Debbie Hughes Alec Coutts was my grandfather and I think he was the pay master. He also had the mine canaries
12 April at 19:35 · Like · 2
Laurence Pattinson when i new alex coutts he work in the lamp room where mines went to pick up the lamps he was a great friend of david steers both good men he loved a beer his wife use to give the paper to paper boys evening star paper still going today
12 April at 19:41 · Like · 2
Margaret Elaine Sadler Debbie Hughes... this piece of precious jewellery your grandfather made my g Aunt Julia Harvey..It's Wallsend coal and 99.9% Waiuta gold.
Margaret Elaine Sadler's photo.
12 April at 19:53 · Edited · Like · 9
Arthur Blance now thats a treasure
12 April at 19:53 · Like · 4
Judy Tawhiti Wow wat a cold cutting termination letter.more so dedicating 21yrs work.always thought way bak in the day employers had bit more loyalty towards loyal workers.dad kelly pattinson wud have also got same letter..hard times once mine shut.i remember my brother and i starting high school 4 or so months later and another two younger brothers..
12 April at 19:54 · Like · 3
Debbie Hughes Beautiful
12 April at 19:57 · Like · 2
Laurence Pattinson you cant blame the mine manager he was just doing his job dont worry he would have had many sleeples night i new connew persononly he was a good man like all coaster
12 April at 19:58 · Like · 2
Arthur Blance I letter is from state coal and probably not written by the mine manager but a government office somewhere
12 April at 20:00 · Like · 2
Margaret Elaine Sadler It's still happening today.. in the work area.
12 April at 20:04 · Like · 2
Laurence Pattinson yea right arthur he was just doing his job him he did not do it he would have been gone to he connew start at the bottom and worked his way up the ladder
12 April at 20:04 · Like · 2
Judy Tawhiti Yes i realise state coalmine head office wud have drafted the letters.mr connew and family lovely family.i also remember my older bro vern who was already at high school had to leave and got job at griffen and smith ...was hard on mum and dad deciding to stay put on the coast.they struggled until dad got job as crossing keeper at cobden bridge..well deserved job for our hardworking dad.
12 April at 20:16 · Like · 3
Paul Logie Im sure they could of been a bit more sympathetic with the letters they wrote,whoever it was,kindness never hurt
12 April at 20:18 · Like · 3
Arthur Blance so true paul
12 April at 20:19 · Like · 2
Laurence Pattinson well that was life in them days i worked with 3 mie manager when i was there cunninham partel connew good men just doing job
12 April at 20:22 · Like · 2
Ed Dando dad got one of these too, and the Dando family headed to welly!! Best thing that ever happened to me, maybe not dad. Made myself a great life and experiences and made a very cool family. Love going home to the coast once in a while, i seemed to get pulled there by a huge powerful force!!
12 April at 20:23 · Like · 2
Arthur Blance same ed
12 April at 20:24 · Like · 2
Laurence Pattinson good on ya edd fond memoray of your mum and dad darby
12 April at 20:26 · Like · 1
Laurence Pattinson yes same here edd went to the coast today the skys where crying rain bucket loades
12 April at 20:29 · Like · 2
Betty Woods Hi Arthur Mrs Elizabeth Bruerton gave me this photo a few years ago. She said that this was taken at the Dobson mine. Can you confirm, and do you recognise any of the miners My dad is Barney Woods, centre front. He died March 27th 1968
Betty Woods's photo.
12 April at 20:54 · Like · 5
Jean Wilson cannot see Bobby there
12 April at 23:04 · Like
Jean Wilson a Sweetman married a blance
12 April at 23:06 · Like · 1
Bernie Graham does anyone know any of the names in the photo
12 April at 23:21 · Like
Debbie Hughes Joyce Creagh you might know some of the names in photo
12 April at 18:50 · Like · 3
Arthur Blance pee wee
12 April at 18:51 · Like · 2
Laurence Pattinson pee weeyes what a good man
12 April at 18:52 · Like · 3
Arthur Blance Cheers Laurance
12 April at 18:53 · Like · 1
Brian McIntyre Any idea of how long he worked there. That letter is so unfeeling towards those losing their jobs
12 April at 18:59 · Like · 1
Arthur Blance twenty one years
12 April at 18:59 · Like
Judy Davis Just like that !
12 April at 19:02 · Like · 2
Sharon Kearns Unbelievable. Is this turkey still around.?
12 April at 19:03 · Like · 2
Barry Howard my dad work @ the dobson mine . i can remember when dad took me down the mine
12 April at 19:05 · Like · 3
Laurence Pattinson i went there to work when i was 17 dirty hard work but the miner all stuck to gether i would like to go and work there for 1 more shift with all the miner i new great mates good times
12 April at 19:07 · Like · 1
Brian McIntyre They really showed that he was appreciated then Arthur Blance bloody disgraceful
12 April at 19:07 · Like · 4
Arthur Blance Laurance hits it pretty good. great mates great memories and tough guys doing there best for this country
12 April at 19:09 · Like · 2
Laurence Pattinson connew was mine manager he was just doeing his job he would not like doing that but it happen all the time now every day
12 April at 19:10 · Like · 1
Laurence Pattinson when dobson closed mines went to all parts of new zealand a lot went to gear meat company i was lucky i went to nz railways worked there for 30 years a great job
12 April at 19:19 · Like · 2
Debbie Hughes My husband Michael is the grandson of one of the first mine managers in Dobson - Job Hughes
12 April at 19:26 · Like · 1
Laurence Pattinson must have been a long time ago
12 April at 19:27 · Like · 1
Debbie Hughes Took over the mine management just before the first mine explosion
12 April at 19:28 · Like · 2
Laurence Pattinson was that in 1926
12 April at 19:29 · Like · 1
Debbie Hughes Yep was only in management for about a fortnight
12 April at 19:30 · Like · 2
Jean Wilson who was popeye Blance?
12 April at 19:32 · Like · 1
Laurence Pattinson yes i seen that place where that happen down the bottom of the first stone drive i also have visit some of there graves in grey cem
12 April at 19:33 · Like · 2
Arthur Blance Popeye is Eric Blance my uncle and Leos brother also from Taylorville
12 April at 19:34 · Like · 1
Debbie Hughes Alec Coutts was my grandfather and I think he was the pay master. He also had the mine canaries
12 April at 19:35 · Like · 2
Laurence Pattinson when i new alex coutts he work in the lamp room where mines went to pick up the lamps he was a great friend of david steers both good men he loved a beer his wife use to give the paper to paper boys evening star paper still going today
12 April at 19:41 · Like · 2
Margaret Elaine Sadler Debbie Hughes... this piece of precious jewellery your grandfather made my g Aunt Julia Harvey..It's Wallsend coal and 99.9% Waiuta gold.
Margaret Elaine Sadler's photo.
12 April at 19:53 · Edited · Like · 9
Arthur Blance now thats a treasure
12 April at 19:53 · Like · 4
Judy Tawhiti Wow wat a cold cutting termination letter.more so dedicating 21yrs work.always thought way bak in the day employers had bit more loyalty towards loyal workers.dad kelly pattinson wud have also got same letter..hard times once mine shut.i remember my brother and i starting high school 4 or so months later and another two younger brothers..
12 April at 19:54 · Like · 3
Debbie Hughes Beautiful
12 April at 19:57 · Like · 2
Laurence Pattinson you cant blame the mine manager he was just doing his job dont worry he would have had many sleeples night i new connew persononly he was a good man like all coaster
12 April at 19:58 · Like · 2
Arthur Blance I letter is from state coal and probably not written by the mine manager but a government office somewhere
12 April at 20:00 · Like · 2
Margaret Elaine Sadler It's still happening today.. in the work area.
12 April at 20:04 · Like · 2
Laurence Pattinson yea right arthur he was just doing his job him he did not do it he would have been gone to he connew start at the bottom and worked his way up the ladder
12 April at 20:04 · Like · 2
Judy Tawhiti Yes i realise state coalmine head office wud have drafted the letters.mr connew and family lovely family.i also remember my older bro vern who was already at high school had to leave and got job at griffen and smith ...was hard on mum and dad deciding to stay put on the coast.they struggled until dad got job as crossing keeper at cobden bridge..well deserved job for our hardworking dad.
12 April at 20:16 · Like · 3
Paul Logie Im sure they could of been a bit more sympathetic with the letters they wrote,whoever it was,kindness never hurt
12 April at 20:18 · Like · 3
Arthur Blance so true paul
12 April at 20:19 · Like · 2
Laurence Pattinson well that was life in them days i worked with 3 mie manager when i was there cunninham partel connew good men just doing job
12 April at 20:22 · Like · 2
Ed Dando dad got one of these too, and the Dando family headed to welly!! Best thing that ever happened to me, maybe not dad. Made myself a great life and experiences and made a very cool family. Love going home to the coast once in a while, i seemed to get pulled there by a huge powerful force!!
12 April at 20:23 · Like · 2
Arthur Blance same ed
12 April at 20:24 · Like · 2
Laurence Pattinson good on ya edd fond memoray of your mum and dad darby
12 April at 20:26 · Like · 1
Laurence Pattinson yes same here edd went to the coast today the skys where crying rain bucket loades
12 April at 20:29 · Like · 2
Betty Woods Hi Arthur Mrs Elizabeth Bruerton gave me this photo a few years ago. She said that this was taken at the Dobson mine. Can you confirm, and do you recognise any of the miners My dad is Barney Woods, centre front. He died March 27th 1968
Betty Woods's photo.
12 April at 20:54 · Like · 5
Jean Wilson cannot see Bobby there
12 April at 23:04 · Like
Jean Wilson a Sweetman married a blance
12 April at 23:06 · Like · 1
Bernie Graham does anyone know any of the names in the photo
12 April at 23:21 · Like
Debbie Hughes Joyce Creagh you might know some of the names in photo
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West Coast New Zealand History (1st Jan 2023). Official letter of the mine closure at Dobson mine. 1968.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 26th May 2026 05:02, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/2469