3

a—3b

SEDDONVILLE COAL-MINE. Mr. James Bishop, Manager of the State Coal-mines, to the Undek-Secbetaky of the Mines Depaetment, Wellington. Sib,— Greymouth, 11th July, 1904. I have the honour to submit my annual report on the State Coal-mine at Seddonville for the year ending the 31st March last. This property was formerly held by the Westport Cardiff Coal Company, who opened out the mine and worked a small area of coal on the northern part of the lease, after which they suspended work temporarily, and during this period of suspension fire broke out underground, and led to the company abandoning the mine. The area in which the fire broke out is cut off from the larger part of the lease by a fault of considerable magnitude, and the area now being operated on, and in which the workings of the State Mine are being opened, is on the southern side of the fault, in what is known as the Cave Area. A series of boreholes were put down to prospect this part of the lease, and coal of good thickness was found in many of these bores. The coal is also exposed in several outcrops in the cliff facing Chasm Creek. With the object of testing this coal, a tunnel, starting from a point known as Grant's Face, was driven a distance of 15 chains in excellent coal, when a slight dislocation of the measures was met with. The result of the work done here induced those in charge of the operations to recommend that the Cave Area should be opened as a State mine, and in order to provide for the exploitation of this area a main tunnel, 10 ft. wide by 7 fc. high, was commenced from the northern face of the range, and driven in stone for a distance of 24f chains, when coal was cut dipping at a high angle in a southerly direction towards Grant's Face ; and, as the coal in Grant's Face is 32 ft. lower than that cut in the main tunnel, and is rising in a northerly direction— the distance between the two parts being 33 chains —there can be no doubt about the existence of a fault or dislocation between them. The main tunnel is being continued on a line almost parallel with the prospecting-tunnel already referred to as having been driven from Grant's Face. The horizontal distance between the two lines of tunnel is about 3 chains. On the 31st March the main tunnel was completed for a distance of 28 chains, and had to be extended a further distance of 12 chains, to the point where it is expected the coal will be cut, on the southern side of the dislocation referred to. For the ventilation of the workings opened on the coal first cut in the main tunnel a shaft has been sunk, and a fan—originally in use at the Westport Cardiff Company's workings—was removed and re-erected at the top of the shaft. For the haulage of the coal from the mine-workings to the railway at Seddonville Flat an endless-rope-haulage line has been constructed and equipped. There are two lines of 401b. rails laid, the full tubs travelling on one line and empties on the other. The distance from the mouth of the main tunnel is 91 chains, and from tunnel-mouth to terminal wheel 25 chains, or 116 chains in all. The rope, which is of 3Jin. circumference, is about 250 chains in length. These works were completed in November of last year, when coal-shipments began. The development of the mine has been vigorously carried on since the completion of the haulage-road. The main level, with back level for air, has been driven a distance of 250 yards, and nine inclines are being driven on the rise of the seam, from which bords have been opened, the pillars being about 22 yards square. So far as mine-development has gone, the seam is of good workable thickness—from 8 ft. to 12 ft.—but it is of a soft and friable character, easily broken up in transit. But, although it is soft, the quality is good, and if used with fine openings in the furnaces it would be difficult to find a better fuel for steam purposes; and even the fine dross, if used for domestic purposes, cakes quickly, and makes, when broken up, a bright fire with a strong heat. The engineers on steamers using this coal speak very highly as to its steam-generating properties ; but unless the fire-bars are close there would be much waste owing to cinders and unconsumed coal dropping through into the ashpit. This accounts for the small consumption of this coal since starting the sale of it. From November last till the 31st March the total output from the mine was 7,190 tons, and since the end of March to the 30th June the average weekly output has been 812 tons, which can easily be doubled if a market can be found for the coal. The haulage machinery and coal-storage bins erected by the Westport Cardiff Coal Company have been utilised, after being thoroughly repaired and considerably improved. Indeed, the bins may be said to be almost new, as most of the timber in the old structure was greatly decayed and had to be replaced. The storage-capacity of the bins is 900 tons. The railway sidings or station-yard has been put in good condition and improved by the construction of a backshunt line 24 chains in length for empty wagons. From this line there are three lines branching and running under the bins to facilitate loading. The repairs consisted of filling in a washed portion of the station-yard and cutting a channel to prevent reflooding. The new works have been carried out in a very substantial manner, and they are well suited to their purpose. The whole of the plant is in excellent order, and when the tunnel is completed through the stone to the coal on the southern end of the lease a much-increased demand for the coal may be anticipated. The plan hereto annexed, made up to end of June, shows the coal-workings now being carried on : the main tunnel, Grant's Face prospecting-tunnel, shafts and bores put down for prospecting purposes. I have, &c, James Bishop, Manager. The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington.