0.—2

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Central Otago. Coal Creek Coal-mine, Goal Greek Flat. —New drive in from opencast. Mine in good order. McPherson's Coal-mine. Coal Creel,- Flat. —The new proprietor is displaying more energy than the prior tenant. The lire in the hill-face has been suppressed by water laid on. Perseverance Mine, Coal Greek Flat. —Opencast working at present. New inlet will soon be made for haulage convenience, but quite near the creek alongside. Alexandra, Coal-mine, Alexandra South. —The seam northward having improved in quality and extent, application being made for an extended area of 60 acres, at the same time applying for surrender of worked ground, on which reported W'arden not aware of any objections from a. mining point of view. Cambrian Coal-mine, Cambrian. —Opencast; in good order; stripping under water-pressure. Laudervale Coal-mine, Cambrian. —Workings inoperative on account of indisposition of lessee. St, Bathan's Coal-mine, St. Bathan's. —Lessee and two youths working under an overhanging face. Warned them of dangerous system, and recommended driving underground. Rough Ridge Coal-mine, OI urehua. —Opencast working; stripping kept, well ahead of working-face. Magazine approved for storage of 801b. blasting-powder. Idaburn Coal-pit, Oturehua. —Opencast pit, in good order. Seam dipping, and pumping heavy. Magazine approved for storage of 80 lb. blasting-powder. Oturehua Goal-mine, Oturehua. —Opencast; pit flooded. No output recently. Gimmerburn Goal-pit, Gimmerburn. —Private coal-pit. Shepherd's Creel- Mine, Bannockburn. —Only a small output now. Over-cast in disrepair; required attention. Cairmuir Coal-mine, Bannockburn. —Ventilation good. Ladders required on steep places on airway. Ranfurly Coal-mine, Bannockburn. —The place where formerly heating now cool. Mineworkings in good order. Cardrona Goal-jnt, Gardrona. —Opencast. Deep stripping from mountain-side sluiced away by water, and kept well in advance of the several thin seams, which it is a wonder how it pays to work at this altitude (3,500 ft.), and several miles from the nearest habitation. The market is limited, but withoui this supply residents of Cardrona would reqtiire to go twenty or thirty miles or more further for their coal. Gibbston Coal-pit, Gibhston. —Pillaring outward ; substantial fire stoppings in against the waste. Nevis Coal-mine, Nevis (per Inspector Whitley).—This mine has been purchased by the Lower Nevis Gold-dredging Company. R. Tom and another have been employed getting coal for the dredge, which uses about 3 tons a day. When visited coal was being mined from a drive 100 ft. from the surface. There was no permit-holder in charge, also no lamp at the mine for gas-testing, and the report-book had not been kept up. R. Thomson, former permit-holder for this mine, was to resume work on the 7th December. Nevis Grossing Coal-mine (per Inspector Whitley).—Two men employed. The seam has been followed on the dip to a depth of 20 ft. below free-drainage level, and a hydraulic pump installed for dealing with the incoming water. From the bottom of the dip a drive 12 ft. by 4 ft. 6 in. has been driven south on the seam a distance of 50 ft. Timber is used where required. Rules posted and report-book kept. This mine supplies the Nevis Crossing dredge with about 3 tons of coal per day, and also produces most of the coal for household requirements in the district. Clarke's Coal-mine, Nevis Crossing (per Inspector Whitley).—North side of Galvin's Gully. A seam of crushed coal was followed on the dip to a depth of 15 ft., when a heavy flow of water was met and operations ceased. Mr. Ritchie informed me that he did not intend to resume work. Dillon's Coal-mine, lilackstone Hill. —A private mine. Output for year only 10 tons. The New Zealand, Gold and Tungsten Mining Company, Mount Uighlay (per Inspector Whitley).—One man is employed in the company's lignite-pit. Owing to increasing depth of clay overburden and poor quality of the upper part of the seam the opencast method of working has been abandoned, and the lower part of the seam is being driven out. The dimensions of the drive are 6 ft. by 4 ft. in the clear of timber. It had been driven 20 ft. at, date of visit, and was securely timbered. Southland. Fukerau Coal-mine, Pnkerau. —Only a small local trade. Whiterigg Coal-mine, Fast Gore. —Mine in good order. Magazine approved for storage of 200 lb. blasting-powder. Green's Coal-mine, Gore. —Fan ventilation; places in good working-order. Weather favoui*able on clay of visit to ventilation ; return visit to be paid in dull weather to observe clearance of powder-smoke. Bitsliy Park Mine, Gore. —Small local mine. Bnrnwell Goal-mine, North Chatton. —Work recently resumed after being suspended for winter months. Seam strong and over 30 ft. in thickness. Ramsay's Goal-mine, North Chatton. —Seam thick and strong. The fire in old opencast workings now out. Water raised by the dam extinguished the remnants of the fire. Springfield, Coal-mine, Waikaka, Valley. —Set of timber required at mine-mouth I'm- greater security; also attention to brattice for conduct of air in the mine. Edge's Coal-mine, Waikaka. —Work now suspended and plant withdrawn. Rossvale Coal-mine, Waikaia. —Driving to northern boundary. Some bratticing was necessary for circulation of air to the woi-king-places. Magazine approved for storage of 6001b. of explosives used in blasting coal.