47

C.—2

Ventilation has been efficiently maintained by two fans and natural circulation. No. 1 drainage drive has been cleaned out and repaired for nearly the full length. The mine employees are conveyed from Denniston and Marshallvale to Burnett's Face in char-a-bancs. Millerton Colliery.—This mine was frequently idle during the year, the market for steam coal having been poor. The greater portion of the output was won from pillar-extraction. In the Mine Creek north-east section the number of men employed is gradually being reduced, the major portion of the pillars having been extracted. In the Mangatina section narrow drives in the bottom coal have been continued with the object of extracting pillars. As the first workings were exceedingly high and wide, heavy falls have taken place, making the work of removing the remainder of the pillars difficult and expensive. In the third west dip pillar section the work of removing pillars has proceeded steadily throughout the year. The alteration in the method of pillar-extraction is giving better results, but the excessive height and width of the places renders the work difficult, and several accidents have occurred in this section. The fires in the adjoining workings have been kept in check by flushing the connecting drives. Short rises have been put up to the surface. The surface soil is stripped by means of an hydraulic pump, working at a pressure of 120 lb. per square inch, and the debris is flumed into the mine. In the second west section the work of building the earth-dam is being proceeded with. The first section of the drive has been successfully stopped, and the earth filling has completely covered the concrete stoppings. The results achieved have greatly improved the outlook for the mine. Stoppings a few chains away from the main rope-road which formerly registered a temperature of 106° P. are now normal. In the first west section the work of cleaning up old falls and relaying the roads is proceeding, and pillar-extraction has been resumed. The fire-stoppings in this section have remained normal throughout the year. In the old Dip Mine pillar-extraction on the straight-line system is giving good results. The line of extraction is parallel with the line of concrete stoppings erected to seal off the fire. Towards the end of the year the fire crossed the barrier in the inbye workings; stoppings were erected and the fire sealed off. In the Settlement Extended faults and rolls prevented development to the rise, and pillar-extraction was commenced. Development work : Continuity of the seam having been proved by bore-holes, the work of putting a stonedrive through the barren area has been commenced. A large area of coal, estimated to contain several million tons, will be opened up by this drive. The crosscut heading has been continued in stone over the Mangatina fault, and the grading, &c., are now well in hand. The completion of this road will greatly reduce haulage costs from the fourth west sections. A seam of coal overlying the fourth west section has been tapped by a stonedrive, rising lin 4. The coal is clean and of good quality. -From the head of the crosscut haulage-road a level road has been continued to the surface to open up a section known as Brown's outcrop, but results have been disappointing, the area being badly faulted. In the western area section, estimated to contain 2,000,000 tons of coal, a surface tram-line, 23 chains in length, is being constructed. Progress of fire, Evan's section : The work of filling in surface breaks and flushing the drives is having a beneficial result. The fire, however, appears to be extending in the direction of No. 2 dip, and plans have been prepared to deal with it at this point. Stone-dusting has been efficiently carried out, and the ventilation well maintained. Stockton Colliery.—This mine has worked steadily throughout the year. Development work has been confined to Ply Creek section, and a large area of good quality coal has been opened up. The extension of the electric haulage-road has improved the daily output. In the east dip the winning-places are being driven in the top coal. The seam at this point is 30 ft. thick. The main west headings have been extended, and a fault, with a throw of 14 ft., has been pierced and 9 ft. of coal got at the face. To the north the seam has dipped, and extra power for pumping purposes is being installed to remove the water in order to extend the workings in this direction. In the south-west the main headings are standing on what is considered to be the Webb fault, and prospecting is necessary before further development of the workings in this direction can be carried on. The panel system of working has been adopted. All places are being driven 14 ft. wide, and, where conditions permit, 8 ft. high. This is a considerable improvement on the old system of working, and a more complete extraction of the pillars should be possible. Pillar-extraction has commenced to the south of Plover Creek. As the mine is extremely wet, stone-dusting to a limited extent only is necessary. Westportmain Colliery.—This small mine is working in the seam adjacent to the Millerton Colliery. During the year the output has been won partly from solid places, and partly from pillar-workings and surface stripping. In the main lease the solid work is nearing completion. To the east the seam thins and faults. The coal varies in height, and is 50 ft. thick on the western outcrop. The ordinary system of bord-and-pillar work is being carried on. The coal is liable to spontaneous combustion, and provision should have been made in the initial laying-out for dealing with fires. It is proposed to open up a small area to the west of the present workings by means of a surface tram-line. Clydevale Colliery.—The broken nature of the lease has severely retarded the progress of this mine. It is now being worked by a tribute party which proposes to extract the standing pillars, after which the mine will shut down. Cardiff Bridge Mine. —The output from this mine has been well maintained. The coal, being of exceptional quality, finds a ready market. The fluming of the coal from the working-face is being successfully carried on. Owing to the isolated position of the mine and the rough nature of the country over which the coal is carried, the transport of eoal by means of water has much in its favour. Unfortunately, the figures as to loss in transit can only be approximated, and the system is liable to stoppages through shortage of water in dry weather. During the year the major portion of the output has been won from pillars. Old Cardiff Mine (Dove's). —This mine was owned and worked by a party of miners employing outside labour to a limited extent. Early in January an old fire in the adjoining workings broke through No. 4 stopping on the main haulage-road. Several small explosions made the work of sealing off the fire dangerous. The main entrance of the mine was then shot in and the mine abandoned. The working of this property by numerous small parties acting independently resulted in the starting of a serious fire, which finally spread throughout the mine. In the initial stages it was possible to have controlled the fire, but subsequent mining operations near the outcrop gave it fresh impetus. Had the colliery been properly handled it could have been profitably worked for a number of years. Chester and Party's Mine. —This small mine employs three men. Two winning-places are being driven. The seam is thin, and split with stone bands. Coal Creek Mine, Upper Mokihinui (Go-operative).—The old mine, having been lost by fire, the party have constructed 15 chains of tram-line to open up a small area of 7 acres in the eastern portion of the lease, adjacent to the upper mine. The bord-and-pillar system is being followed. All places are being driven 7 ft. high and 8 ft. wide. The seam of coal is 25 ft. thick. It is expected that better results will be obtained by driving narrow places. Quinn and Party's Mine, Upper Mokihinui. —This small mine has been idle during the greater portion of the year, the owner having been unable to dispose of the coal. Celtic Mine (Westport-Stateville).—The main headings are being driven in a southerly direction towards the old State mine. The coal is transported by flume to the railway-station. A small circular saw, driven by waterpower, is being used to cut all timber used in renewing the flume. Glasgow Co-operative Party.—To the dip the pillars are being extracted. The solid workings to the rise are proceeding towards the old State mine, and one place has been holed into the old workings. The mine has worked continuously throughout the year. The coal, being of good quality, finds a ready sale. Westport-Mokihinui Mine. —The pillars to the rise are being extracted. The area is badly faulted.