91

C—2

McPherson's Coal-fit, Roxburgh. —Underground workings where fire occurred are blocked off with olay-stopping at surface. Output is being maintained from the opencast workings. Perseverance Coal-mine, Roxburgh. —No one about ; surface arrangements in good order. On the 3rd May a miner named Simon Weatherall sustained dislocation of spine, caused by being jammed between two trucks while riding on the haulage incline. Death ensued on the 7th May. Alexandra Colliery, Alexandra. —Workings clean, and ventilated adequately. Remaining pillars may soon become exhausted if present rate of output is maintained. New Alexandra Colliery, Alexandra. —Owing to the Clutha River being in high flood a good opportunity was afforded of examining underground workings under most adverse conditions of overlying water-pressure. Several hours' additional pumping were required daily, and slightly increased pressure was visible at " wet back " joints, otherwise the workings appeared to be in their usual safe and satisfactory condition. Underground workings are approaching the boundary of the dam-site, which, it appears, is the freehold of the Alexandra Borough Council. Cambrian Coal-fit, including Welshman's Gully Pit, Cambrian's. —An opencast pit, output from which fulfils local requirements. Landervale Coal-fit, Cambrian's. —Opencast pit ; worked for local use. St. Balkan's Coal-fit, St. Bathan's. —Opencast pit, which supplies local trade. Beck's Coal-fit, Oturehua. —Opencast pit, usually kept in good working-order. White's Coal-fit, Oturehua. —Opencast ; water-drainage troublesome. Oturehua Coal-fit, Oturehua. —An opencast shallow pit ; output used locally. Gimmerburn Coal-fit, Gimmerburn. —An opencast pit, worked in a small way for local use. Dillon's Coal-fit, Blackstone Hill. —A small quantity mined for own use. Macrae's Coal-fit, Macrae's Flat. —An opencast pit, worked for supply of steam-coal to the scheelite-mine. Clyde Collieries, Clyde. —A recent thunderstorm had been the cause of a deal of sludge which had lodged in the lower levels ; however, they are now cleaned up again. Ventilation fair. Shefherd's Creek Coal-mine, Bannockburn. —All places driven narrow towards the dip, where the roof is liable to sand-breaks ; floor also rather soft. Alterations of dip to flat and rising ahead provides strong indication of incrop of coal-seam. One roof-break, where running sand and water appeared, is now normal, with no further injury than the loss of the working-place. Ventilation fair. Ranfurly Coal-mine, Bannockburn. —A prospecting-drive is being sunk on old workings. The prospectors are aware that an accumulation of black-damp may be expected to exist in old workings which they are approaching. Cairnmuir Coal-mine, Bannockburn. —The coal-seam occupies an unusual angle to dip, where it is recurving and evidently rising to the surface again (evidently a syncline). The fault is being driven on, in the expectancy of again striking the good seam latterly worked. Cardrona Coal-fit, Cardrona. —Opencast, heavy stripping, 20 ft., being removed with water. The deposit is found much faulted and disturbed, consequently the lessee has difficulty at times in supplying the requirements of the settlers in this out-of-the-way district. Altitude of pit, 3,500 ft. Gibbston Coal-mine, Gibbslon. —Altitude of this mine, 3,350 ft. Having driven to the outcrop on the farther side of the Gibbston Saddle, the pillars are now being brought back to the rise of waterfree level. This work is being conducted in a safe and satisfactory manner. Twenty successive falls of snow during the past winter interfered considerably with the mountain-tramway haulage, by reason of slips, &c. Nevis Crossing Coal-fit, Nevis. —Opencast. During the year 500 tons of coal was produced. Southland. Pukerau Coal-mine, Pulcerau. —Output continues on same scale as formerly. Nelson's Coal-mine, Pulcerau. —Output reduced owing to water-inflow and natural disadvantages of working to dip. Hefferman's Coal-mine, East Gore. —Ventilation fair. The method of work in vogue appears to allow of rather extensive robbing of pillar and head coal at first working for future recovery. Green's Coal-mine, Gore. —The dip drive having been extended, levels are being broken away on both sides in the usual manner. Roof strong. Fan-ventilation apparently adequate. Report-book and plan kept. Bushy Park Coal-fit, Corydon. —An opencast pit, from which 2,160 tons of lignite was raised during the year. Burnwell Coal-mine, Chatton. —Seam, 25 ft. Workings in good order, and ventilation excellent. Chatton Coal-mine, Chatton. —Workings in good order, and ventilation excellent. Ram,say's (late Pacey's) Coal-mine, Chatton. —Drawing pillars and head coal from old mine, and preparing to drive dip of seam. Ventilation good. Powder-magazine approved. Sfringfield Coal-mine, Waikaka Valley. —Mine-mouth well timbered up and made secure. Powdermagazine approved. Rules posted, and report-book kept. ' WiUou'bank Colliery, Waikaka Valley. —A new roadway had been made through some old workings, which will facilitate haulage. Owing to stentons not being through in two of the lower places air was dull with powder-smoke. Instructed mine-manager that brattice was highly necessary for ventilation. Report-book and plan kept. Glenlee Coal-fit, Waikaka Valley. —An opencast pit, safely worked for small output. Edge's Coal-mine, Waikaka Valley. —Driving a pair of levels westward on the strike of the seam. Rossvale Coal-mine, Waikaia. —Mine in good working-order, and ventilation good. Extraction of inby pillars will be again proceeded with.