■a—2

44

Boote and Party's Go-operative Mine (Brae Head). —Owing to stony bands in the coal causing a thinning, work was commenced on the extraction of the pillars. A new haulage-tunnel is to be driven at a lowor level to-work an area of coal on the dip side. Smith and Party's Co-operative Mine. —Work is confined to the extraction of pillars to the rise of the horse level. On completion it is proposed to exploit a block of coal on the dip side. Manierson and Parly's Co-operative Mine. —Operations consist of driving places on tho west side of the dip haulage with a view of working a few small pillars known to exist in the upper seam. Tho pillars on the east side have been exhausted. Scott and Party's Co-operative Mine. —The seam of coal worked was of such poor quality that it could not be sold at a profit, and tho mine was closed down towards the end of the year. Wafer's (Te Miko) Mine. —The seam worked is about 3 ft. thick, and of fair quality. Three men are employed. Coal-seams are known to underlie the one at present being worked, and an area has been taken up under prospecting license. Marshall's Mine (Co-operative). —An area of thin coal, about 3 ft. thick, is being worked in Scliultz Creek. Three men are employed. Dennehy's Mine (Schultz Creek). —Two men are employed on a seam about 3 ft. thick. An outcrop of coal, about 17 ft. thick, is showing in a creek about 20 chains away on the eastern side. Briandate Mine. —Operations consist of driving level and incline headings in a seam of good coal on the northern side of tho Ten-mile Creek. Tho scam is vory undulating, and the inclination steep in parts. The coal is very hard. New Grey Point Elizabeth Mine (Co-operative). —A small area of coal, which cannot very well be worked from the James mine, has beon leased to a co-operative party. The seam is about 6 ft. thick. Levels are being driven on the seam to win places. Cain's Mine. —A small area of coal is being worked on the western side of the James mine. Two men are employed. James Slate Mine. —The main headings have only about 3 more chains to go to reach the outcrop. Panels arte being opened up off these headings. On the outbye side tho pillars are being extracted in the outcrop and dip sections. Arrangements are under way to install a coal-cutting machine. Electrical plant is to be installed, and the steam plant scrapped. Dobson Mine. —After the disastrous explosion of December, 1926, the mine was flooded and remained so for some time. The mino was dewatered during April and May, and the bodies of the entombed miners recovered by the 18th May, after which some weeks were occupied in putting the mine in working-order, and it was not until the 30th Juno that coal-production was resumed. The workings are being stone-dusted throughout, and the ventilation has been greatly improved. The levels and headmgs in the mine, which is being laid out on the, panel system, are being driven to win places. The general condition of the workings is vory good. Very little water is making in the seam, and the main pump only works part-time. A coal-cutting machine, driven by compressed air, is being installed. Wallsend Mine. —Operations during the year have consisted of dowatering tho main dip. Arrangements are now under way to fully equip and develop the property. Allan and, Parly's Co-operative Mine. —A party of miners have obtained the right from the owners of the Brunncr lease to work a piece of coal supposed to have been left behind when the Coolgardie section of the Brunner Mine was abandoned. The coal is very much crushed and does not find a ready market. Blackball Mine. —During the year operations have been confined to developing the solid coal to the dip in No. 9 and on the east and west sides of No. 9, and the splitting and robbing of pillars inNos. 2 and 3 levels. Blackdamp outbursts and blowers have been giving a lot of trouble, and the management is having difficulty in keeping the ventilation up to the required standard. The new electrical plant is in operation, and as a result the management can easily deal with the inflow of water. A new and up-to-date bathhouse has been constructed and is now in use. Paparoa Mine. —During the year work has been confined to the extraction of pillars and the pushing-ahead of a level on the western side to reach an area of good coal which is known to exist across the creek. The pillars in this mine are very much crushed, due to the overburden and the tender nature of the coal. • ' Inangahua District. Osborn's Mine. —This is a small area of coal, about nine miles from Reefton, near Merrijigs. Two men are employod, and the seam is about 3 ft. thick. Clele Mine. —The workings in this mine are nearing exhaustion, and it is proposed to develop known areas of coal on the eastern side. Tho seam is about 6 ft. thick and of fair quality. Eight men are employed. The coal is transported by flume and tram to the Reefton-Groymouth Railway at Taipoiti. Phoenix and Venus Mine. —Small quantites of coal are being produced from an area of coal on the dip side of the fire area. McLaughlin's Mine. —A small area of coal-bearing country adjoining the Caliope area is being worked on a small scale by two miners. The coal is sold locally. Reddale Coal-mine. —This mine is being worked by a company which has acquired rights over areas on which have been worked the Empire, Lishman's, and Woodlands mines. This mine will work all the areas. A haulage drive is being driven to prove the seam to the dip. The coal is of fair quality. During the year much trouble has been experienced through fires, caused by spontaneous combustion, in the old~workings to the rise. These were temporarily sealed, off, and the work of constructing heavy stoppings is now in progress. This mine has suffered from lack of orders for coal. Reefton Coal Company's Mine. —During the year work has been confined to developing the area on both sides, of the main dip haulage., The main dip heading has not been extended during the year owing to tho present plant being unable to cope with the water and provide extra power for driving the dip heading. A small area to the riseis being worked by a co-operative party of miners. ... , Morrisvale Mine. —During the year a party of men were employed to drive through the fault to prospect the country beyond. This area is on the dip side of the fire area. Matchless Syndicate's Mine,- —This small mine is on an area of coal - bearing land owned by W. J. Morris. The land is leased to a party of miners. The seam is about 10 ft. thick. Operations are confined to extraction of pillars. Perfection Syndicate's Mine. — This mine is on a small area of coal-bearing land leased to a party of minors by W. J. Morris. The seam is about 10 ft. thick. The pillars are being extracted on the rise side of the old level, and a new tunnel is being driven on the seam at a lower lovel. Waitahu Mine. —This mine has worked very bad time during the year! Work consists of driving places in the outcropping seam to the rise. No development work has been done in the main part of the mine. Lack of capital and heavy transportation costs prevent successful working. . Archer's. Mine.—This mine has worked very steadily during the year, producing a good-quality coal. The seam is. about 8 ft. thick and pitching steeply. The seam being worked is known as the No. 2 seam of this district. Five men are employed, and the output is delivered by motor-lorry to Reefton Railway-station. '..c.:Q.oghlqn's Mine.— The_ jgJUars. t0.,-th.e-rise, of the main level having been, extracted, a level is now'being driven through the fault to prove the country beyond. Oh the north-eastern side a party of met) are driving places,.on an outcrop and producing good-quality coal. The seam is about 8 ft. thick. The coaFis transported by motor-lorry. Doran's Mine. —One man is employed winning coal from a small area hear Coghlan's mine. The seam is about 0 ft. thick, and of good quality.