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Kaituna Mine. —A little coal was produced during the year from tho top-scam area. The lessee has removed the mining plant and intends surrendering his title. Kaidale Mine. —A little pillar-work was being done near the mine-entrance early in the year. As I considered it unsafe to further rob tho fow formed pillars, I gave notice that no further work be done on them. The party soon after ceased work at the mine. kaibrook Mine. —Tho lessee and his son did a little pillar-work, but in July I gave notice not to extract any more of tho formed pillars, and to make future ones, if any, at least 36 ft. square. The lower workings are full of water. Kaitangata, No. 1 Mine. —Work was resumed under the newly formed Kaitangata Coal Co., Ltd. on the 19th April, 1927. The upcast into the main seam was continued out of a place on the east side of the 6 ft. seam workings, and when up 150 ft. at a grade of lin 1 tho main seam, 24 ft. thick, was pierced. Tho lower 12 ft. is split up by play bands, but tho upper 12 ft., which is in clean soil, is workable. To connect with this upcast a dip is being driven, at a grade of 1 in 3, from a gully on the surface and to the north-east of the workings. About 800 ft. down the drive a seam of very hard coal was met 8 ft. thick, but containing a 9 in. band of stoneabout 2 ft. from the roof. The drive will be 1,200 ft. in length and will soon be completed. It will be used as a main return airway, the ventilating-fan being removed from the present air-shaft, which will then bo filled in. Most of the development during the year was done to the east and south in the 6 ft. seam, which continues clean and hard. The main heading, going south-east, in this seam is within 6 chains of reaching virgin ground east of the old main seam (Mundy's dip) workings. From the continuation of tho main heading a rise will be driven to work the main seam in this virgin area, A crosscut, going almost, due east from the main heading, has been driven in the seam. This will also soon reach virgin ground. A stono drive was put up to the main seam, but, meeting old. workings, it was sealed off, and the crosscut will be extended in the 6 ft. seam for a few chains; then another rise to the main seam will be driven. To work the main scam near the upcast from the 6 ft. seam the main haulage-road is being extended by a cross-measures drive. This level is now in 700 ft., and has another 300 ft. to go to cut the main seam. A place was turned away to the south at the 600 ft. mark, and a parallel heading to tho cross-measures drive commenced 50 ft. away, but rising at a grade of lin 4. For ventilation purposes a connection has been driven from the 6 ft. seam below. Kaitangata No. 2 Mine. —Five pillar places are being worked in No. 4a seam section, and six pillar places in No. 5 seam section, which are near the long connecting drives to tho No. 1 mine. This connection is therefore now broken by the waste ground. A level going south-east, being a continuation of the main haulageroad from the bottom of tho dip, is being driven in conglomerate and is now 700 ft. and connected with another stone drive which now acts as a return airway. About a chain beyond this connection a dip is to be driven at a grade of 1 in 3 to the south, crossing the measures, and to prove if workable coal exists in that locality. Castle Hill Mine. —ln September the marketing of coal from this mine was recommenced. Six miners then began pillaring in the No. 5 seam section and eight in the north portion of No. 7 seam section. The latter section places were stopped in November, and the section again sealed off. In the south section of the 6 ft. seam two shiftmen are extending the levels to the south. Many large rolls were met in these levels, three having recently been driven through. Summerhill Mine. —This mine is near the traffic-road between Kaitangata and the mouth of the Clutha River. A small party of miners reopened the mine early in the year, but as trade became very slack only two of them are now working there, and even they are occasionally idle for lack or orders. After retimbering the old drive an upthrow fault was crossed, and they drove into a seam of coal about 15ft. thick containing a band of hard clay 6 in. thick. They are working the 6 ft. to 8 ft. of coal below this band. Dunlop's Mine, near Lovell's Flat. —Early in the year two minors opened a small mine near the old workings of Dunlop's mine. A dip, 7 ft. by 6 ft., and timbered with sets, was driven 53 ft. at a grade of 1 in 4. To the west a level, 6 ft. by 6 ft., was driven, but a large downthrow fault was struck. A couple of levels were then driven to the east in tender coal. Trade becoming slack, tho mine was abandoned. Benhar Mine. —In tho old mine five miners are employed in the dip area a few chains north of the main haulage-road. As the No. 4 seam is being worked in this mine, and tho No. 2 seam, 60 ft. to 80 ft. higher, is being worked in the new mine, a vertical rise was put up from the old mine to connect with a level in the new mine. Only two miners are employod in tho new mine. Whiterig Mine. —A 4 ft. ventilating-fan of the axial or propulsive type was made by a Goro engineering firm and installed at this mine early in the year. The fan runs in ball bearings, and is driven by a small A.C. motor. The seam was found to be rising steeply in the old-level place, so it was stopped and is now used as a sump. The main north level has been extended and a couple of places driven to the west. Green's Mine, Gore. —Owing to the reduced demand, only seven miners are now employed at this mine. The main haulage-road, which is again being extended, was deflected 45° and is now going north-west and to the full dip of tho seam. It is now 11$ chains down from the surface. Brick and concrete stoppings 18 ft. wide have been built between the main intake and return airways, and the, ventilation has consequently been considerably improved. To prevent the need of such wide stoppings in the future, all places on the cast side are now being broken away narrow. Glenlee Mine. —Two miners are employed, one in the bottom level and tho other splitting pillars to the rise of the upper level. Ramsay's Mine. —Stripping has been abandoned, and the owner is now putting in a drive to the north. This place, 7 ft. wide by 7 ft. high, will hole into old workings on the west side. Argyle Pit. —The new owner is stripping off the overburden by sluicing, and ho has olaared away most of the large slip which covered the face of lignite early in the year. Mclver's Pit. —The lignite produced from this pit is from a narrow strip of land between the old Rossvale Mine workings and the cast bank of the Waikaia River. Stripping in this pit is also done by sluicing. Northcoat's Pit. —A few tons were won from an area about 10 chains north of Mclver's pit. Terrace Mine, Kingston Crossing. —No work has lately been done in the main level, but the back level has been extended and cut-throughs driven to the main level. The back level is now very wet at the face, and very little work has been done in tho south-west places owing to the heavy inflow from that direction. The pillars along the main level appeared to have been robbed early in the year, so notice was given that such must be stopped. «The new air-shaft was completed and ladders placed in position. Princhester Creek Pit. —An opencast pit, worked for local requirements. Lynwood Pit, Te Anau. —The customary small output, required by the steamer plying to Glade House, has been maintained from this opencast pit, nine miles from the Te Anau Hostel. Boghead Mine. —A little work was done in extending the No. 2 dip, where a small electric pump has been installed, but most of the output was produced from the two bottom levels going to the north. Mataura Lignite-mine. —Only five miners are now employed at this mine, and owing to slackness of trade they can only work broken time. All the men are employed in the north places, as the south places, have reached the boundary. A borehole was drilled from the surface and 2$ in. pipes driven down to carry the cables for an electric motor which will soon be installed for pumping purposes. Most of the pillars are now being formed to the required dimensions. Barking's Mine. —During the year a few places have been driven to the west and south, but, as they have only a hand-pump to cope with the mine-water, they are again working an opencast area just ahead of the traffic-road. Stripping of the overburden is being kept well ahead. Ola Creek Pit. —The owner is now working in the south end of tho pit, the north end being under water. About 5 ft. of lignite is being worked, covered by about the same thickness of gravel.
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