47

C.—2

Clydevale Colliery.—The aerial having been extended to an area of coal further up the hill, work on the main heading was commenced about the middle of the year. Cardiff Bridge Mine.—The output from this mine is conveyed by fluming, and is now approximately 100 tons per day. The mine is being laid off with barrier pillars so that portions of the workings can be sealed oft' in the event of fires. The nature of the coal in this district lends itself to spontaneous combustion. Old Cardiff Mine (Dove'sV —The output is derived from pillar extraction in the old area adjacent to the fire, and from a new area opened up on the south side of the old mine. The fire is still active, and the stoppings are in good order. The output is about 100 tons daily. Old Cardiff No. 4 and Bell's Creek Mines.—These mines have not been operated during the year. Began and O'Brien's Mine. —This mine has not been worked during the year. Chester and Party's Mine.-—A small area on the south-western side of the old drive. Three men employed. Work has continued steadily throughout the year on the co-operative principle. Coal Creek Mine, Upper Mokihinui.—On account of fires the old mine was abandoned. Prospecting operations disclosed an outcrop on the north-western side, and adits are being driven to prove the area. A drive is also being put in at creek-level to work an area of coal known to exist in the old Mokihinui Mine. Four men are working this area on the co-operative principle. Celtic Mine. —Output about 8 tons daily. Three men employed. The coal is very friable and dirty. Stony bands and local faults disturb the seam. A cross-measure drift is being put through the fault on the higher side of the haulage to prove if the seam lives and is better on the other side. Glasgow Co-operative Party's Mine. —This area adjoins the old State mine on the north-eastern boundary. All work to the dip has been suspended for lack of a winch and pump. As soon as these are procured a new dip drive will be put in to work the dip area of good coal. Five places are being worked to the rise. The coal is of excellent quality. The places are being driven narrow, and the mine is in excellent order. Quinn and Party's Mine, Mokihinui.—Output about 12 tons daily. An area of coal on the rise or north-western side of what is known as the old Calliope Mine (worked out). The seam thins in all directions with stony bands and rolls. Black and Party's Mine, Seddonville. —This mine forms part of the State Coal Reserve. Only one working-place has been developed, the coal being about 5 ft. thick, and of a friable nature. The output is carted by lorry to the railway, about half a mile away. St. Helens Mine, Seddonville. —This mine has not been worked during the year. Grey District. Liverpool State Mines.—No. 1 Top Seam : During the year the whole of the output was won from pillarextraction. The crosscut section was exhausted, and operations are now confined to the pillars along No. 3 bank. The coal-seam is very thick, about 30 ft. The roof is very tender, and pillar-extraction is difficult. As most of the old bords have fallen, the pillars have to be split longitudinally. Morgan seam : The output is derived from pillar-extraction. Very little coal is left, and with steady work this area should be exhausted early in March. No. 2 Mine : During the year the output was derived from winning headings in the seams, of which there are three —Anderson, Kimbell, and Morgan, in order of being met with in driving the haulage-tunnel. The Anderson and Kimbell seams are really one and the same. The seam was crossed twice, due to a synclinal fold. All sections of the mine are in good clean coal except in the Anderson, where dirty stony bands intervene and the strike is ever changing. The Kimbell east and west sections and the Morgan east and west sections are inclined to be very gassy, and great care is necessary. Kimbell seam : This seam varies from 11 ft. to 20 ft. in height. In the east level the coal is of good quality, but very friable, with a tender roof. The incline headings going north are looking well, but the No. 1 east is thinning, the height now being only 9 ft. with a thin parting of stone, which will probably thicken as the driving continues. In the west level the strata is very highly inclined. The coal is of excellent quality, but the roof is very tender. Morgan seam : On the east side the coal is very friable and wet. The grades are easy, and a good mudstone roof obtains. On the west side the inclination is steep. The coal is of good quality, with a fair roof. No. 3 mine : Operations in this mine ceased in September, some pillars having to be left in to prevent any likelihood of slips occurring on the hillside above the storage-bins and screening plant. No. 3 extended : Operations in this area were confined to pillar-extraction. As the mine was nearing exhaustion, a few pillars were left in to enable a co-operative party to work a block of coal on the western side of Scott Creek. A concrete stable for eight horses has been constructed at the No. 2 mine, also a new concrete magazine. The change-house has been added to to accommodate the large number of men employed at this colliery. The speed of the fan has been increased, and the quantity of air traversing the main airway is.now about 100,000 cubic feet per minute. The old viaduct on the main incline haulage has been dismantled and a new one of tramway rails erected. James State Mine. —The main heading in this mine is being driven three shifts. The coal at the face is about 5 ft. thick, with a good roof. The coal near the roof for about 18 in. is of good quality, but the remainder is very poor and mushy. On the west side four pairs of miners are employed. An endeavour is being made to get a drive in coal out to the outcrop, so as to provide a drainage-tunnel and so do away with pumping of water from the higher ground, where pillaring is going on. On the eastern side pillar-extraction is going on. Oxidation of the pyrites in the lumps of stone thrown back is very evident. The heat generated has been dissipated by the cool air-current, and a brown coaty substance remains. Blackball Mine.—During the year the output from this mine has been derived from Nos. 2 and 3 levels off No. 9 dip. On the third level three parallel headings are being driven—a water level, haulage level, and return level. The roof is friable. The pillars are small, and in consequence a.lot of trouble is being experienced with the timber supports. Efforts have been made from time to time to get the management to increase the size of pillars, but they always say that the method practised in Blackball has been in operation for years. The rise from the bottom of No. 9 dip to the surface has been completed and serves as an additional intake. This should improve the mine-ventilation. A new electrical installation is in progress, and should be in operation early in 1927. The current will be generated at 11,000 volts, and stepped down to 400 volts for use underground. No serious fires have occurred during the year, for as soon as any heating takes place the area affected is sealed off. Owing to difficulties being experienced in coping with the water the development of the mine is in a backward state, but it is hoped that the new electrical installation will mean a big improvement in pumping efficiency and so enable a large area of ground to be opened up. Paparoa Mine. —During the year the output was derived mainly from pillar-extraction. On the eastern side of the main incline five places in the solid are producing coal. A new return is being constructed for the west level, which should considerably improve the ventilation in this section. A new electrical installation is proposed, when the fan will be motor-driven. The ventilating system is being reorganized, and beneficial results are anticipated. In order to strengthen the pillars several old drives are being filled with debris. The mine is well timbered. Small quantities of gas have been found from time to time in the prospecting-drives in the west level. Dobson Mine. —During the year operations have consisted of driving main levels, inclines, and dips in the seam in the north, south, east, and west. The thickness of the seam averages about 15 ft., but the seam thickens to about 21 ft. to the dip. The main No. 1 dip heading has been driven about 18 chains, and the No. 2 dip heading about 15 chains. Both are in good coal with a hard roof. One of the main levels going east has been broken away off No. 1 dip. Very little water is being encountered, but gas is very prevalent. The ventilating-current is up to requirements, but the method of conducting it to the working-faces could be improved upon. A booster fan driven by electricity is in operation for ventilating the No, 1 dip heading by means of iron pipes, A small electrical pump