C—3b

4

(10/10/93): In the Coalbrookdale section 10,000 cubic feet of air per minute were circulating to supply eighty-one men. This is above the amount required by the Act, but a larger current is desirable, which will be supplied by the fan now erected. The plan is now kept well posted. Beportbooks duly kept. General and special rules posted up. No prosecution under the latter has been undertaken by Mr. Cameron since he became manager. The Coalbrookdale section at the foregoing date was proved to be a basin with the coal thinning at the edges in both seams. "With the view of seeing that no coal should be lost, inquiry was made of Mr. Cameron as to how he meant to work it, but he evidently thought I had no power to interfere in the matter. Mr. Brown, the general mining manager, subsequently went fully into the details with me of the intended method of working that area. . Generally speaking, there is no fear of the coal giving out, although the four working districts of the colliery are comparatively limited. Unlike the Grey Valley mines there are not great faults, and heavy water at a great depth to contend with, so that when the seam thinned, or a slate roll occurred, an extension of the above-ground system of haulage has hitherto sufficed to open up further areas. It is now, however, intended to build a locomotive line to supersede the most of the now lengthy endless rope. Waimangaroa and Wellington Mines have been abandoned. Waitakerc Coal-mine, Charleston. —(7/11/93): No one about. Still openwork as formerly. Evidently very little doing. Face in good order. Mr. Flynn, the owner of this mine, has also bought Powell's old mine, where stripping is now done before the coal is hewn. WJdtecliffs Coal-mine, Butter Boad. —(4/12/93): Work has been resumed in this mine since the dredge was raised, to supply it with fuel, but very little is doing. One man working in a short drive near the old one, but at a slightly higher level. Sufficient timber used. No Act, but copy is to be got. Murray Creek Coal-mine, Beef ton. —(ll/7/93): This mine was stopped, but has been bought and reopened by Mr. Bolitho, who started work at the beginning of this month. Copy of Act at mine, but no report kept. (20/11/93): Mr. Bolitho and son working; the former is an old quartzminer, but appears to take every care. Air right. A new drive is to be started shortly. Golden Treasure Coal-mine. —(lo/3/93) : Mr. Eear, who was formerly in charge, has left, and Messrs. Moore and Eoxburgh were mining in the old workings. Roof bad, and mine not in good condition. Cautioned both, and notified Mr. Eoxburgh, who applied for a permit, that this would be deferred till the mine was revisited to see that it was made safe. On the 15th May found it had been abandoned. (11/7/93): A start had been made with a new drive by Mr. P. Woods, who shortly afterwards notified me that he had abandoned it. (20/11/93): Work resumed by Mr. J. G. Davidson, an experienced coal-miner, in the new drive. Act not observed. Mine mouth not in good order, so requested Mr. Davidson to have it made safe, and deferred granting permit until mine is again inspected to see that requirements have been carried out. Phoenix Coal-mine was inspected in February, and again in July. (20/11/93) : Mr. McMurtrie now in charge, working without a permit; but, having had some experience in coal-mining, one was granted. It was found that, for convenience, he had taken his keg of powder into the mine; but he arranged to have it taken to a proper place. Ajax Coal-mine. —(10/3/93) : A start had been made to open up a fresh portion of this old lease, adjoining the old Inglewood Mine. So far, the workings were opencast. On revisiting this mine in November there was no one about, and the only underground work was one short drive. Lankey's Gully Coal-mine. —(15/11/93) : Mr. Lamberton and one man working from the same level as formerly. As the workings progressed in from the outcrop the coal has much improved in quality, and the roof has become stronger. Air a little dull, but a place is to be driven out to the other side of the spur. Cautioned Mr. Lamberton as to spragging. Bee/ton Coal-mine. —(10/7/93): Driving has still been continued on the thin coal some 2ft. in thickness, a contract having just terminated. I went over to the back of the lease, where a seam was formerly worked said to be 30ft. thick. The full thickness could not be seen, but it was over 6ft. of coal, which was overlaid by dark, marly shale. An old shaft which had been sunk directly on the track was quite unprotected, and Mr. Joice was requested to have it seen to at once, and this he arranged before leaving the ground. Work has since been stopped, presumably on account of not finding the thick coal. Cochrane s Coal-mine. —(9/3/93) : This is an outcrop in the Painkiller district, to which Mr. Cochrane has made a tramway from the Boatman's track. Two men working. Only a little driving has been done, and the coal so far appears of poor quality. As it rises with the hill, the prospects at that point are not too good. Devil's Creek and Inangahua Coal-mines have been abandoned, the coal where worked near the outcrop being of too poor quality. Progress Coal-mine. —(7/3/93): Arthur Smith, a quartz-miner, working without a permit. A new drive has been made for air, which is good. Eoof bad. Act not well observed. (12/5/93): Loughnan and Hally now working this mine. Eoof very bad but good strong timber. No sprags, but these will be used in future. (27/9/93) : Mr. Hally had left, so Mr. Loughnan was working alone. He is not experienced in coal-mining, so I advised him to get a practical coal-miner for a" mate, and in the meantime deferred granting a permit. Eoof still irregular and bad. Timbering strong. Copy of Act at mine. Eeport kept of examinations of mine. Mr. Hally has since returned to work, so the question of the permit is settled. Sir Francis Drake Coal-mine. —(14/11/93) :Is now worked opencast. The seam is 4ft. thick, with 7ft. of stripping. Only sufficient to supply the battery is worked. Cumberland Coal-mine. —(15/il/93) : This is only a short drive, which is too wide, far too much coal having.been taken out. As the young man who had worked in it had only had experience as a quartz-miner, I called on Mr. Irving, the legal manager, that night. He stopped work, and agreed that no more should be done till an experienced coal-miner was sent out.