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40 ft., but at near faoe a downthrow fault is met with which apparently thins the seam to 15 ft. aa at first. Dip of seam lin 3 west. Three parallel levels arc driven ami stentons through for air. Coal scam tender and drives narrow, for which Mr. Duncan is fco be commended, as by greedy first working the mine mighi have easily ere this become mined, which would have been a loss to the district as well as to the public revenue. From indications, the workable coal-bearing area is less restricted than had been i bought to be the case. Cromwll and Bannockburn Collieries Company, Bannockburn (T. K. Harty, managing director, Dunedin ; W. R. Parcel!, mine-manager). —(2/12/09) : Crown lease. Kawarau or Shepherds Creek Mine : Retreating steadily with the balance of pillars, bottom rising fast in lower places. A new mine is being driven to southward, where the coal-seam is outcropping conveniently. Rules posted ; plan kept; report-books to date. Excelsior Mine : This mine is now practically abandoned, pump drawn, rails lifted, and maintenance ceased, as also weekly examination. The water, it is expected, will rise in dip-workings until it overflows by way of Wilson's old mine-entrance. The practical closing of this mine, the company claims, is due to lack of trade and the opening of new mines in the district. Cairnmuir Coal Company, Bannockburn (James Lewis, mine-manager). —(2/12/09) : Some heating had occurred at fault in the lower level south. Stoppings were put in, and the warm area deluged with sand and water. Pillars are being drawn in the first workings with every indication of success. Rules posted ; report-books and plan kept. Scott's (late Ryder's) Coal-pit, Nevis (Charles Scott, permit, lessee). —(5/11/09) : Crown lands. Seam semi-vertical. Opencast now discontinued, and shaft being sunk for winning coal by underground driving. Rules posted ; report-book kept. Nevis Crossing Coal-pit, Lower Nevis (Robert Ritchie, permit, lessee). —(7/11/09) : Crown lands. The overburden is sluiced away and the coal won by opencast working. Rules posted ; report-book kept. • Southland. I'iikerau Coal-pit, Pukerau (Hamilton, Sheddan, and Gill, lessees ; James Hamilton, permit, manager). —(28/7/09) : Crown lands. The new owners are working bord and pillar on similar lines to those of the late Mr. O'Hagan. Seam, 16 ft. of strong lignite. Ventilation good. Rules posted. Nelson's Coal-pit, Pukerau (J. H. Nelson, permit, lessee). —(28/7/09) : Crown lands. Rules posted, report-book to be obtained. Working-places in fair order ; safely worked. Riverview Coal-pit, Gore (J. and J. Nicol). —A small quantity of coal raised for private and local requirements. Heffernan's Coal-mine, East Gore (W. C. Burgess, permit, and lessee). —(12/6/09) : Rules posted ; report-book kept ; plan to date. Driving in solid to get around area where pillars drawn by former lessee. Instructed permit-holder that care would require to be exercised by timbering to roof where joints and partings occur in the seam. Green's Coal-mine, Gore (Thomas Green, owner; James Mason, mine-manager).—(s/11/09): Owing to the extent of the workings underground, the air-courses are becoming too lengthy to admit of the working-faces being adequately cleared of powder-smoke by natural ventilation, consequently a small ventilating-fan installation is receiving serious consideration. Rules posted ; plan kept.; reportbook to date. Edward Henry Matthews was found dead under a fall of coal which he had evidently been trying to bring down after shot-firing on the 18th November, 1909. At the inquest the jury brought in a verdict of accidentally killed. Smyth's Coal-mine, Gore (Broome Bros, and Brown, owners ; James Broome, jun., permit).— (5/11/09) : A considerable proportion of this shallow mine is fallen to surface, where pillars and head coal had been worked ; in fact, the method adopted is to win the bulk of these at first working, and ground falls in behind, a safe system in the hands of practical men in such a strong seam. Seam. 16 ft., three-fourths of which is being won. Ventilation good. Report-book kept ; rules posted. Bushy Park Coal-mine, Croydon (James R. Tait and Company, owners ; W. Dickson, permit).— (5/11/09) : A spontaneous fire having originated in the waste of pillared area, underground working is discontinued. The coal-face at outcrop is being robbed as much .as convenient with safety. A new opencast pit is being opened in the vicinity. Shortly after the aforementioned fire broke out the examiner and those with him observed an ignition of gas having a dark blue flame which travelled along the roof a short distance and became extinguished. There was no explosion, neither was any damage done of any kind. The liability to spontaneous ignition may be attributed to the presence of a seam of shale in the clays overlying the coal-seam, which on falling, as usual, quickly become heated in the waste or gob. Burnwell Coal-mine, East Chatton (Cameron and Johnston, lessees; D. Cameron, permit).— (23/11/09) : The old mine area is closed down, and now engaged extending the dip and breaking levels away in the strong seam of over 20 ft. in thickness. Air-shafts are being made. Rules posted ; reportbook kept; and explosives apparently carefully handled. Freehold Coal-pit, East Chatton (T. H. Maslin, lessee; Jos. Buchols, permit).—-(23/11/09) : Powder-smoke hanging, therefore required lessee to provide a ventilating-shaft near working-faces for adequate ventilation. Rules posted; report-book kept. Powder-magazine on surface approved, but to be shifted back further from the roadway for greater safety. Coal-pit, East Chatton (Ramsay Bros., lessees ; P. Ramsay, permit).—(23/11/09): Present workings in upper level toward outcrop. New air-shaft being made will further improve ventilation, which is conducted by brattice to working-faces. The drain for unwatering the dip-workings is being brought up at 10 ft. lower level, which will enable an area to dip being worked water-free. Rules posted ; report-book kept; and plan to date.