C—3a

12

General Remarks. The increase of output for the year was 27,216 tons, against 84,281 tons for the year 1902; but the increase for the first half-year exceeded the total increase for the twelve months by 13,699 tons. This shrinkage in the second half-year can be attributable only to the restricted trade demand on the collieries during that period. Foreign Trade. Westport Coal Company. —The total tonnage shipped directly from the Port of Westport to ports outside the colony was 53,816 tons. This does not include the coal taken from Wellington to complete the loading of the larger vessels. The increase on the preceding year is 1,076 tons. I have, &c, R. Tennent, The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Inspector of Mines.

No. 4. Mr. E. It. Green, Inspector of Mines, Dunedin, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Office of Inspector of Mines (Southern District), Dunedin, Sir,— 26th March, 1904. 1 have the honour to submit the following report on the coal-mines in the Southern District for the year ending the 31st December, 1903, in fulfilment of the requirements of section 67 of " The Coal-mines Act, 1891 " :— Canterbury. Springfield Goal and Pottery Works, Springfield (J. Taylor, permit). —(25/5/1903): Main level now in good order. Working-places standing well, and carefully timbered as required. Ventilation fair throughout the working's. Only a small quantity of coal now sold, bulk of output being used on the premises in the manufacture of pottery and sanitary stoneware from fireclayseam underlying coal-seam. About 616 tons of fireclay had been produced and worked up during the year. Victoria Mine, Springfield (Luke Greening, permit).- (25/5/1903): Workings in good order. The mine continues to provide coal for local sales, and fireclay for manufacturing purposes in Christchurch. P. Campbell and Sou, Springfield. —(25/5/1903): Mine now abandoned, coal-seams having proved too thin to be remunerative. llomebush Colliery, Glentunnel (J. C. Campbell, manager). — (26/5/1903): Pillars to rise •continue to be successfully withdrawn. Dip being extended and bords opened off. Coal in dip section very hard and strong, but roof weak on account of partings in the clays overlying coalseam. Air good throughout the workings. (17,12/1903): Pillars continue to be safely drawn in the old rise and westerly workings. Dip extension now 8 chains to face, bords being broken away and left standing for future requirements. The coal-seam to dip continues good in quality ; if anything being an improvement. A cross-measure prospecting-drive from the level is being -driven to test the measures overlying main seam. Brockley Colliery, Glenroy (W. Woods).— (17/12/1903): Mine now closed. The difficulties of working the narrow vertical seam having clay walls, combined with the inaccessibility of the mine, had resulted in financial loss to the lessees. St. Helen* Colliery, Whitecliffs (H. Levick, permit).- (17 12/1903): Pillaring in 8 ft. seam still proceeding safely; timber freely used. Air good, new air-shaft 90 ft. in depth having been sunk near the face of cross-measure drive. A downthrow fault of 10 ft. has been met in southgoing level, main seam. Gerard's Coal-mine, Snowdon. —(18/12/1903): Level drive in new seam (6 ft.) in about 200 ft. Coal superior in quality to that formerly worked on the terrace. Output required for station purposes only. Woolshed Colliery, Mount Soiners (John Harris, permit). (22/5/1903): This company recently acquired the lease of the old mine held by the Mount Somers Coal Company. The pillars and head coal towards outcrop having been extensively robbed, attention will necessarily require to be paid to winning coal from the dip. Mount Somers Coal Company, Mount Somerx (J. Gibson, general manager ; Andrew Thomson, mine-manager).—(22/5/1903): Old mine sold to Woolshed Coal Company, this company retaining new mine recently opened on the hill. Mine-workings in good order. Ventilation good. New shaft sunk provides return airway and a third outlet. Waihao Coal-mine, Waihao Forks (A. A. Adamson).-- (20/1071903): Coal-seam 14 ft. in thickness being worked out in small section, and pillars robbed to the last degree with safety. Timber being a scarce commodity in the locality is carefully drawn and used over again.