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party's bin has been completed, and reconditioning of No. 1 tunnel is in progress. On the completion of this work the coal from the mine will be brought out through No. 1 tunnel and the present ftuming system, in the Blackball Creek, dispensed with. Briandale Collieries, Ltd., Ten-mile Greek. —Development in No. 1 section and the robbing of pillars in Nos. 1 and seams were completed. Prospecting is now being carried out on an outcrop to the east of the bin at the bottom of the incline to No. 1 section. Wallsend Colliery.—No. I Slant Dip : During the year this section reached the Taylorville fault for the full width of the panel, at approximately 23 chains from the main roperoad. Since that time eight pairs of miners have been engaged splitting pillars. No. 2 Slant Dip : This section is also cut off by the Taylorville fault, and two miners have been splitting the pillars next to the fault on the west side, while in the east side places have been driven about 5 chains towards the barrier. This section was stopped for over three months due to a blower of gas, which was eventually piped to the return. Dip Extension Section : Seven pairs of miners are developing places in this section. Two levels have been driven west a distance of 9 chains, the greater part being on top of a stone band. The coal here is maintaining its quality and is slightly increasing in thickness. B " and " C " Panels : Four pairs of miners are engaged splitting pillars, and one pair is developing in "C " panel, where the coal is approximately 5 ft. thick. Plant: During the year additions were made to the plant including a new surge bin, a new drive for the creeper, and an extra GOO ft. Reavell compressor. A new electric haulage winch has been installed on the dip extension, and the wineh at the top of the stone drive has been shifted to the bottom of the main shaft. A start has been made to effect an improvement in the auxiliary winding arrangements. Dobson State Colliery.—This colliery was taken over by the Mines Department on 22nd February, 1943. The main dips have been extended but they have met considerable disturbance in the general lay of the seam. Development to the west in the No. 4 level section also showed the approach of the " Dobson "or another fault. Development in No. 4 east has been completed, and that in No. 5 east is rapidly approaching the steep rise towards Mount Buckley. The main endless haulage system has been extended to No. 5 level. Paparoa Colliery (Paparoa Coal Co., Ltd.). —Aerial Section, No. 1 Seam : Throughout the year six pairs of miners were continually employed in this section on day shift, with one pair " brushing " and retimbering on night shift. A line of pillar-extraction along the fault in the dip extension was completed in the first half of the year, a high percentage of coal being won. Work in the main south level was abandoned with the completion of the new return airway. The panel of the main north level, No. 2, was completed, and pillar-extraction along the fault-line is now in progress. No. 1 main north level has been reopened, and a new main level is being developed, 8 chains from the main dip, in goodquality coal. A main return airway for this section has been driven to the rise of the main level and is nearing completion. West Level Section, No. 2 Seam : Two pairs of miners are still employed in the old slant heading area and are approaching the old west level workings. Co-operative Mines in the Grey District Spark and Parly's Mine, Rewanui.—The output from this mine was won solely from development work to the east of the main dip. Old Runanga Mine (O'Brien and Party).—No. 1 Seam : The work of extracting roadside pillars on the rise side of the horse road has been continued. No. 2 Seam : Output from this seam was secured partly from pillar-extraction and partly from development work to the dip from the haulage roperoad. The dip has been advanced to a distance of 5J chains in coal of 3 ft. 6 in. in thickness. Moody Creek Mine (Simpson and Party).—Pillar extraction was continued throughout the year. Cloldlight Colliery (McKenzie and Party).—The output was won from development work. A considerable amount of reorganizing has been carried out during the yoar, chiefly in the method of handling the output. This included the erection of new bins and the hauling of coal to the surface from a lower level, thereby eliminating the dip haulage inside the mine. New Point Klizabeth Colliery (Guy and Party).—The output was entirely from pillar-extraction. The present operational area is quickly becoming worked out, and it is the intention to commence further development to the dip from the horse road. Fiery Cross Mine (Currie and Party).—Coal-production at this mine ceased in May and all plant has been withdrawn from the mine. Castlepoint Mine (Duggan and Party).—The work of pillar-extraction was continued throughout the year. Hilltop Mine (Armstrong and Party).—The work of solely advancing developing dips has been continued, and the boundary of the area reached 16 chains from the surface. Future work will consist of driving levels from the bottom of the dips and extracting pillars retreating from the boundary. Boote and Party (previously Kaye and Party's Mine), Ten-mile.—Development to the south and east has been carried on by the extension of the dip and levels from it. Hunter and Party's Mine, Dunollie.—Output during the year was secured from the driving of three levels to the south. The distance from the surface, including 4A chains of stone drive, is chains. The original boundary of the the lease has been crossed, the face of main level being 1 chain into an extended area. Coal continues to be of good quality. Sclmltz Creel Mine (Marshall and Party), Twelve-mile. —Working-conditions at this mine are difficult, the height of seam varying from 2 ft. to 2 ft. 9 in. A modified method of short-wall work is employed, debris from the lifting of floor stone being used to build a centre pack-wall. Bellbird M ine (Stuart and Party), Ten-mile.—Work throughout the year consisted of pillar-extraction, and the driving of a dip from the entrance of the mine in an easterly direction to develop the seam beyond the 45 ft. upthrow fault intercepted in dip workings. Cain's Mine, llapahoe.—This mine closed down in October and all plant was offered for sale. Output was secured from part extraction and robbing of pillars. Bellvue Mine, Rapahoe.—Solid work was continued between a line of faulting to the east and the old goaf of the James Mine. This was completed in July, when pillar-extraction commenced. Jubilee Mine, Rapahoe.—Output was secured solely from development work to the east of the level from the surface. Cliffside Mine (Moore and Party), Nine-mile.—Development jvork has been carried out during the year. A. considerable amount of trouble has been experienced due to the disturbed nature of the country and incidental faulting. Smith and Party's Aline, Dunollie.—Pillar-extraction has provided the major portion of the output. A level is being driven through the barrier pillar between adjacent mines preparatory to extraction of same. Braehead Mine, Dunollie.—The entire work at this mine has consisted of pillar-extraction from both sides of the haulage dip. Harrison and Party's Mine, Ten-mile.— Development work has been continued throughout the year in the section south of a fault encountered in the main dip. Reeeton District Archer's Mine, Capleston.—During the year this mine changed ownership, and is now known as Alborn's Mine, Boatmans. Development work is being carried out in No. I seam, contact with this seam having been made by a5O ft. level stone measure drift from the No. 2 seam. From a dip driven for a distance of 54 ft., two levels were driven east and west; the westerly level, 4j chains, to connect on to a tunnel from the surface, and the easterly in the direction of old workings in Archer's Mine. The height of the seam is 10 ft., but only 6 ft. is being worked. Doran's Mine, Capleston.—The major portion of output during the year was secured from solid working ; towards the end of the year extraction of pillars commenced.

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