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Mclntosh proposes to start in the valley to the north-west of the mine with an adit, and work the coal entirely to the rise. He has already constructed a road three-quarters of a mile long from the main road. On the 13th February I wrote pointing out sundry portions for Mr. Macintosh's attention, but he has not yet sent me the name of the manager. 51. Kyeburn Goal-mine, Kyeburn. —On the sth March, in reply to an inquiry, Mr. McCready wrote that he had procured an approved lamp and hung up a copy of the Act. 52. Perseverance Goal-mine, Kyeburn. —ln response to a letter from me, Mr. Archer wrote in the beginning of March that he had a " suitable lamp for the Perseverance Coal-mine." 54-. Alexandra Goal-mine, Alexandra South. —An examination of this mine recorded the fact that Mr. Thomson had not only absolutely neglected all my warnings and requests, but that, when laying out new work which could quite as easily have been constructed in compliance with the law, he had treated the Act as so much waste-paper. 1,, therefore, gave him three weeks, informing him that, if he continued to put the law at defiance, I should reluctantly be compelled to take extreme steps. On the 9th instant I received a letter from Mr. Thomson stating that he had carried out the works suggested by me and had ordered an approved lamp. 55. Macqueenville Goal-mine, Alexandra South. —Mr. McLay, the manager of this mine, had also absolutely neglected to take any steps necessary for the observance of " The Coal-mines Act, 1886." In sinking a new shaft a space of only 4ft. by 3ft. was left, so that, to get sloping ladders in and leave a space for the coal-bag was almost an impossibility ; naturally, this was got over by putting in vertical ladders with 3in. footholds. Since my visit in 1887 two new shafts have been put down, the last but one proving too wet to be profitably worked. The present workings are unpleasantly damp. On the 20th March I wrote a letter to Mr. McLay in the same terms as my notice to Mr. Thomson, and, while at Clyde on the 22nd March, Mr. McLay called and appeared anxious, having at once mastered the fact that something must be done, to get things in order; he promised to write and let me know when arrangements were completed.* 56. Earnscleugh Goal-mine, Clyde. —Visited the 15th and 22nd March, on the former of which occasions I found that the old mine had been for some time closed, and that a pair of shafts, 52ft. and 35ft. deep respectively, had been sunk. Mr. Buckley, the owner, had obtained an Evan-Thomas safety-lamp, which he had been in the habit of using while the mine was at work, during which time also a daily report had been kept. There was apparently no fault—or hardly any—to be found, and great credit is due to Mr. Buckley for making every effort to comply with the law. If he can do it, there is no reason why other Central Otago coal-mine proprietors, who have done nothing, should be allowed to benefit by their parsimony and carelessness. After all Mr. Buckley's care it is the more to be regretted that a fatal accident, which will be hereafter described, should have occurred here on the 18th March. 57. WaiJcerikeri Coal-mine, Clyde. —Visited 15th March. Mr. Holt had certainly done something towards keeping the law, having obtained an Evan-Thomas lamp, which was kept at the mine. There was, however, no copy of the Act and no report. The workings were not very secure, as I pointed out. On the 23rd March I found that the old shaft by the river was very insecurely fenced, so in writing to Mr. Holt on the 4th instant I included a notice on this point. 58. Dairy Creek Goal-mine, Clyde. —l regret to state that on the 15th March last I found that Mr. Collins had paid no attention to the Act, except in so far as to post up at the entrance to the mine a notice of the names of the owner or agent and of the Inspector. Accompanying the statistical return, which, by-the-by, was not posted until a week after the legal time had expired, Mr. Collins sent a letter requesting me to interview the Minister of Mines with regard to a road, which, he stated, has been constructed in front of the entrance to the mine in such a manner as to hinder the free egress of drainage-water. I replied that my duties do not include interference with disputes of this nature. 59. Excelsior Goal-mine, Cromwell, has again changed hands, after standing idle for some months. The present owners, Messrs Clarke and Burrows, have been at some pains to get the place into a little better order. The seam is dangerous to work, as it dips at an angle of 60°, and neither of the men is a practised collier; so I cautioned Mr. Clarke, who alone was at the mine on the 14th March. They appear to have an intelligent idea of how they intend to work the seam, and have taken air in with the aid of a waterfall. It is unnecessary, perhaps, to say that the Act was totally unobserved; and so I wrote on the 4th April. 60. Bannochburn Goal-mine. —This mine also has changed hands, having passed from Mr. Parcell's possession into that of Messrs. Johnson and Andrews, the former of whom had the Excelsior Mine last year. The workings were on the 14th March in good 'order, but no attempt had been made to keep the law, unless having the old 1874 Act general and special rules hanging up can be construed into an effort in that direction. 61. Kawarau Goal-mine, Bannochburn. —This mine on the 14th March was in excellent order, and Mr. Pryde had obtained a safety-lamp, from which, however, he had not derived much benefit, as it was an ordinary Davy, and had never been used. The old 1874 Act special and general rules were exhibited. I wrote to Mr. Pryde shortly after. 62. Gibbston Coal-mine, Gibbston. —Messrs. Macale and Cowan are now the proprietors of this mine, and they had not, on the 13th March, observed the law in any respect, but the place is tolerably well timbered. The usual letter has been sent. 63. Steele's Coal-mine, Gibbston (13th March, 1888). —Worked open-cast, a drive which was put in having been covered by a surface-slip. This mine is upwards of 3,200 ft. above sea-level, and the seam, which is 25ft. thick, is covered by 18in. of white stone, above which is another thin seam of coal. 65. Jones's Lignite-mine, Boxburgh (23rd March, 1888), was, as usual, very well worked. 67. FernMU Coal-mine, and

* Sinco writing the above, I have heard from Mr. McLay that ho has been unable, on account of^floods, to get the alterations at the pit finished, but that he has obtained a safety-lamp and roport-book.