5

a-3b

heading, rather warm, but fairly fresh throughout the faces. Spragging attended to. Timbering, as a whole, well done, but one or two sets might be better put in. Thirteen places working in this section, and five in the new mine district. Cascade section : Nine places working. Air fairly good. Powder-smoke hanging in an advanced face, but this should hole through to-day. In the Big Dip section twenty-three faces are working. One or two sets of timbering to be improved in setting. Air not quite so fresh as to be expected with so strong a ventilating current, which is now by fan. Another stopping will be put in. New area Coalbrookdale : This was applied for with a view to driving an incline to drain the Cascade section in which the dip-heading faces are standing on thin stony coal. Much of this will be without workable coal, and what there is is better to be worked now than left with a waterlogged area to the rise, as would otherwise be the case. Fourteen chains of driving have been done at date of writing, and several faults intersected. Ironbridge Colliery. —(lß/1/94) : Mine not working. In the main dip, which is in the lower seam, the air was not good, but it should hole through into the place which is meeting it in a day or two. Set of timber where starting to go into the lower seam requiring to be braced; this will be seen to ; also, some bad places in roof. This mine was also inspected on the Ist June. (29/11/94): The shaft section is being reopened to keep up the output at times of sudden demand. The coal, which is 20ft. thick to start with, gradually thins to 4ft. 6in. when followed to the east, being cut out by wedges of fireclay. In the lower seam there are fourteen places, but no work was doing throughout the mine, which was idle for the day on account of want of trade. Some sets requiring bracing; these Mr. Milligan will see to. The Gentle Annie district has not been working for a month. In the workings from the big jig twenty men are usually employed at pillar-work. Air good. Work apparently being carefully done. A fan is in course of erection ; this will improve the air in the advanced districts like the Gentle Annie, where it was required. For both Coalbrookdale and Ironbridge Mines the reports have been duly kept, and the rules with names posted. The plans have also been duly posted, but have not been accurately kept, as succeeding tracings have shown. An improvement is now being effected by Mr. Lindop. Waitakere Goal-mine. —(lß/5/95) :No work being done at present. Still open-cast, and face not overhanging; Whitecliff' s Goal-mine. —(30/8/94) : The old mine is not working, but Mr. R. Lloyd is putting in a short drive on an outcrop on the opposite side of the road. Bad roof. Mr. Lloyd shortly afterwards abandoned this mine, but work in it has lately been resumed. Alexander Coal-mine. —(22/6/94) : The wall-face is now 30ft. long, and the distance back to the filling is 15ft.; the level-face is not working. Plenty of timber is used. Air good. Mr. Bear is still in charge, and keeps report. This coal-seam measures only 2ft. 6in. in thickness, including a band of stone Bin., leaving only 2ft. of clean coal. A lower seam, which is rather thicker, is intended to be opened up. Murray Creek Coal-mine. —(lo/9/94) : Mr. T. Bolitho working alone. Adit not in good order, and roof at places bad. Mr. Bolitho intends timbering the level and packing between the pillars, which have been left too thin. He applied for a permit, but I deferred granting this till the mine was put in better order. (9/10/94) : A good deal of timbering has been done, but more is required, and packing also. I informed Mr. Bolitho he would have to stop working if these were not attended to. (7/12/94) : Mine in better order, and Mr. Bolitho still going on with repairs. Golden Treasure. Goal-mine. —(lo/9/94.): A new level has been driven in the coal not far from the old one. Mine in good order. Mr. Davidson, however, although an experienced coal-miner, was holing without a sprag, the place being very narrow. I cautioned him, and one was put in at once. Copy of Act at mine. Report kept. Phmnix Goal-mine. —(10/9/94.) : Set of timber near mine mouth requiring to be stayed; this will be attended to. The coal-seam still continues very thick. Air good. Powder kept out of mine. Copy of Act and report of examinations kept. A little work is being done by Mr. James Bolitho at the upper part of this lease. Bar required at shoot; this will be put up. Lankey's Gully Goal-mine. —(9/10/94) : Mr Lamberton was holing without a sprag, but on my cautioning him one was at once put in. Air fairly fresh. Coal still keeping of fair quality. I drew Mr. Lamberton's attention to the roof not being good at the fault in the level, and this is to be looked after if work is continued, but it is intended to put in a new drive. Powder now stored outside. Report kept, but a week behind. Beefton Goal-mine. —Work has not yet been resumed in this mine. Cochrane's Goal-mine. —Work has been stopped in this mine during the year. Progress Goal-mine. — (13/2/94) : Two men working in a place which is rather too wide, but it will be kept narrower in future. Air good. Roof bad, but sufficient timber; some places to which I drew attention are to be taken down or secured. (14/9/94) : Not working for a fortnight. A well-made plan has since been forwarded me by Mr. Black. Breen's Coal-mine. — (12/2/94) : Work was started in what is thought to be a lower seam lying highly inclined, and two short drives put in, but these have been abandoned as the coal turned out too soft. About 100 ft. to the south-west another seam, 4ft. in thickness, has been opened up. This one has a bad roof, but the level is driven narrow. Air good, as there is a second outlet. No copy of the Act. (11/9/94): Two men working. The level has been extended, and from the inmost heading an air-course has been driven to the outcrop, so the air continues good. Plenty of timber in the headings, but the level at places was requiring attention, as the roof is still very bad. Mr. Breen will see to this at once. A copy of the Act has been procured. Sir Francis Drake Goal-mine. —(11/9/94) : This mine has been only worked for the supply of the battery, and at above date no one was about. At date of writing it has been abandoned, and a new mine, also worked open-cast, has been started on the opposite side of the road, some 12 chains distant.