C.—2.

Smith and McCormaek's Mine (Archer's Freehold). —This small party being unable to make a success of the mine, operations were suspended. Towards the end of the year, Mr. F. Archer commenced to reopen the mine by reconditioning and timbering the main level in order to win coal to the rise. Coghlan's Mines, Capleston.—Eone Mine (Leasehold) : Mining operations ceased during the year. Coghlan's Freehold : The bulk of the output was won from pillars to the rise. The work of driving the main level was recommenced and several small rolls crossed. The drive is in faulted country, the coal being of inferior quality. From the main level a main return airway was commenced and is being driven to connect with the old Eone Colliery to the rise. Waitahu Mine (A. D. Williams), Beefton. —The work of coal-winning in the No. 3 Mine was suspended due to the slackness of the coal trade, and the No. 1 Mine was reopened and a dip-drive commenced and pushed forward for a distance of 52 ft. on a bearing of 62°. At this point levels were broken away to the right and left. A hand-winch and hand-pump were installed. Golden Point Mine (T. S. Patterson), Beef ton. —The mine remained closed during the year. Venture Mine (Old Beechwood Mine (J. and I. Patterson's Lease), Reef ton. —The main level going northerly was extended in friable coal. Very little coal of a marketable nature was won from this mine during the year. Morrisvale Collieries, Beefton. —Perfection Mine : This mine worked intermittently during the year. Pillarextraction to the east of the main level was continued. A dip-drive was extended southerly a total distance of 3£ chains. Three levels were broken away. The two top levels were driven for a distance of 5 chains and the bottom level a distance of 3 chains in a north-easterly direction. A small amount of pillar coal was extracted from the top levels. The mine was temporarily closed due to slackness in the coal trade. Surprise Mine: The west levels were driven a distance of 8 chains from the main dip. This section was stopped on account of proximity to surface gravels. The east levels were driven a distance of 11 chains through troubled country into good coal. The panel adjoining the main dip was stopped owing to the poor quality of the coal and a new panel is in the process of development. A 75 kw. generator was installed on the surface. Welcome Mine : A fire broke out in this mine during the year and spread over the whole of the section. It was found impossible to prevent the spread of the fire, and the mine was abandoned. Higrade Mine: Pillar-extraction was continued intermittently during the year. No fresh development work was undertaken. Burkes Creek Collieries, Ltd., Beefton. —North-east Panel: Coal-winning operations were nearing completion when a heating occurred below a fall in the old workings. Attempts were made to fill out the heated material, but fresh falls occurred, making it impossible to get at the seat of the fire. Four concrete stoppings were then erected, completely sealing off this panel. To the south-west of the dip two drives were commenced and projected through the fallen ground, and two panels were developed. In No. 1 panel, four acres in extent, development work at the end of the year was nearing completion and No. 2 panel was commenced. All places were driven from 6 ft. to 10 ft. in width. The roof breaks readily and heavy timbers are required to secure the main drives. The coal was of good quality from 8 ft. to 12 ft. in thickness. During the year the main dip was retimbered and all old workings were sealed off, a total of twenty concrete stoppings being required to complete this work. Sparkless Mine (Loclcington's Lease), Beefton.. —Prospecting operations were continued throughout the year. A small amount of marketable coal was produced. Times Street Mine (H. A. Honey's Lease), Beefton. —Parallel headings were driven in a north-easterly direction in the No. 4 seam. Phoenix and Venus Mines (N. Collins' Lease), Beefton. —Several small drives: were put in from the outcrop during the year, the object of which was to locate and extract small blocks of coal that were left between the fire and the fault-line. Defiance Mine (D. McLaughlin's Lease), Murray Creek. —Development work consisted of driving the main level on the strike of the seam. Wealth of Nations Mine (Lankey's Creek Pty.), Crushington.—The bulk of the coal produced during the year was won from pillar-extraction. A level was commenced one chain below the present mine mouth and driven in a north-easterly direction parallel with the outcrop. Clele Mine (Albom and Party), Merrijigs.—During the year a block of coal approximately 3 chains in width and from 7 chains to 8 chains in length, outcropping on both sides of the spur, was developed by means of a pair of levels. The coal varied in thickness from 4 ft. to 4 ft. 6 in. Towards the end of the year pillar-extraction was commenced. White Bose Mine (W. Osborn's Lease), Merrijigs. —A small amount of pillar coal was won from this mine during the year. Bemarks on Beefton District Mines. The larger mines show some improvement in mining conditions. At the Morrisvale Mine electric plant has been installed. The smaller mines continue to carry on mining operations in a very primitive manner, without the aid of machinery for pumping, hauling, and screening. Bullbk District. Mitchell's Mine, Charleston. —46 tons of coal were won from opencast workings during the year. Price's Freehold, Brighton.—The mine remained closed throughout the year. Rocklands Mine (J. P. Burley's), Butter Gorge.—A small amount of pillar coal was obtained from the rise workings. Whitecliffs Mine (J. H. Burley's), Butter Gorge.—-No coal was won from this mine during the year. Coal Creek Mine (McGuire and Party), Seddonville. —A small amount of prospecting-work was done, but no coal was produced. Glasgow Mine, Seddonville. —A small amount of coal was obtained from pillar-extraction for local sales. Cardiff Bridge Mine, Seddonville. —The remaining pillars having been extracted, the mine closed towards the end of the year. Prospecting operations having been carried out on Kynnersley's area, the plant was removed and preparations made to open up a new mine. Chester's Mine, Seddonville. —This mine worked intermittently throughout the year. No new development work was undertaken. Mine, Seddonville. —The mine remained closed throughout the year. St. Helen's Mine, Seddonville. —This mine was closed down and all plant removed. Charming Creek Mine, Ngakawau.—Towards the end of the year the suspension bridge over the Ngakawau River was carried away and the mine-manager, who was riding on a rake of trucks that was crossing the bridge at the time, was drowned. Three main headings were advanced on a bearing of 78°. In the panel to the dip the main headings reached the fault. All places driven in a northerly direction towards the No. 7 borehole in coal 20 ft. thick were also stopped on a fault. In the top panel, two headings were extended in 17 ft. of clean coal. The floor was undulating, and as there was no power available for pumping, difficulty was experienced in driving the winning places. Roof conditions in the mine were good. Working-faces were driven from 12 ft. to 14 ft. wide and 7 ft. to 9 ft. in height. Westportmain Mine, Granity (Westport-Granity Coal-mines, Ltd.). —This mine remained closed throughout the year. 9—C. 2.

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