C.—2

On tho 17th August two charges were heard against a mine-manager. The lirst charge was under section 129 of the Coal-mines Act, 1925, and the second charge under section 61 of the Coal-mines Act, 1925. In both eases he was convicted and fined £1 and costs. o On the I I th October a shot-firer was charged with having committed a breach of Regulation 224 (2) ol the (x>al-mines Regulations 1939. He was convicted and fined" £5, with costs 10s. For aiding and abetting the commission of such offence a miner was convicted and fined £5, with costs 10s. SOUTHERN INSPECTION DISTRICT (J. Hughes, Inspector of Coal-mines) Canterbury District Acheron Mine (Anthracite), Broclcley Mine (Anthracite) .—These mines continued to produce a small quantity of anthracite. Pillar-extraction is proceeding at the former mine, and a limited amount of development work has been carried out under difficulties at the Brockley Mine. The thicknsss of the almost vertical coal-seam worked at tho Brocklev Mine varies from 2 ft. to 3 ft. 6in. , „ . Clearview Mine —The whole of the output from this mine was obtained from pillar-extraction. Steventon Mine.—The bulk of the output from this mine was obtained from pillar-extraction. However, towards the end of the year a commencement was made to extend the main dip heading. Development work at this mine was hampered during the year owing to insufficient power. , rnl . . Lucknow Clay Mine and Sheffield Clay Mine. —Fireclay continued to be mined throughout the year. I his work was carried out intermittently and on a small scale. Victory Mine —A seam of coal approximately 12 ft. thick was discovered towards the end of the year, but the amount of development work carried out has been too limited to allow of a reasonable forecast being made as to the development work was carried out at this mine during the year. A regular and reasonable output was obtained from pillar-extraction in the No. 3 and No. 3 north level sections. It will soon be necessary to extend tho main dip heading. . .... . , Mount Somers Mine— Several levels have been driven north for about 9 chains, and this work is being continued. Blackburn Mine.—Development of this area has been completed, and pillar-extraction was commenced towards the end of the year. „ . , .. , ... ~ Sunnydale Clay Mine.—A very small amount of work was carried out intermittently. Woodbank Mine (Alburi/). —Opencast operations were continued during the first half-year, alter which a commencement was made to 'develop the coal-seam underground, and electrical power was connected to the mine for tlUb New°Burnwdl Mine.—k prospecting cross-measure drive commenced in this new area adjacent to Mount Somers Mine, is being driven in a northerly direction through sand measures. North Otago District Airedale Mine. Development work has been continued to the south-east as far as the boundary, and pillarextraction commenced. , . » , St. Andrews Mine (Papakaio). —Development was continued to the north-west, and towards the end. of tfie year prospects in this direction had improved. A small amount of pillar-extraction also took place in this section. Naavara Mine.—The whole of the output has again been won from pillar-extraction. IVilletts Mine. —Pillar-extraction was continued until June. Since then a small amount of development work has been done to the west, but prospects of opening up much coal in this direction are doubtful. Rockvale Mine and Shag Point Mine.—The whole of the output from these mines has been won from pillar-extraction. Central Otago District Shepherd's Creek Mine. —The whole of the output from this mine has been produced from pillar-extraction. Cairnmuir Mine.—Development work at this mine has proven the area rather difficult to work. Ihe seam is faulty and the saturated overlying sand makes the roof at times almost impossible to control. A series of levels have now been driven north. The coal-seam is approximately 9 ft. thick and almost vertical. Oturehua Mine and Idalmrn Mine— Openoast operations have been continued at these pits. South Otago District New Fernhill Mine.—No. 1 Mine : Pillar-extraction has continued throughout the year. No 2 Mine : This is a new mine adjacent to and south-east of Green's old mine. The coal-seam has been proven by old mines on both sides of the area now being worked, and it seems safe to presume that an area of coal exists here for development. . 1 i j j Jubilee Mine. —This mine became exhausted in April and was finally closed down. Fair-Held Mine— Pillar-extraction was continued throughout the year. . Willowbank Mine. Towards the end of the year a commencement was made to extend the mam dip heading development work. Previous to this the whole of the output was obtained from pillar-extraction from the top seam. East Taieri Mine. —Pillar-extraction only was continued throughout the year. Elliotvale Mine. —Operations at this mine were suspended early in the year. Benhar Mine —The main dip heading has been extended a short distance and a limited amount of development work carried out, but the bulk of the output was obtained from the recovery of top coal from the old levels. Wanqaloa Mine.—The main dip heading was extended to the boundary and a commencement made to extiact the pillars. There is now a reasonable amount of coal in sight available for extraction. Kaitangata Mine.-- In the south dip heading section, pillar-extraction has continued throughout the year. lhis area has been the most productive part of tho mine for several years and is rapidly ncarmg exhaustion. In Samson s seam nillar-extraction has also kept pace with development work, and as this seam is lying at a very steep gradient it does 'not lend itself to the same degree of concentrated production as is usually the case at this mine. A cross-measure diii heading was driven in an easterly direction from the main seam with the object of working a 6 ft. seam of coal which it Is stated, was worked under the old No. 2 mine workings. Up to date the result of this work Z disappointing. Unless more coal is quickly made available for development at this mine difficulty may be experienced in maintaining the usual output. The development has not kept pace with pillar-extraction. Southland District Beattie-Coster, Firelite, Hawkanui Coal-mines.—Operations were abandoned at these mines during the year. Hedgehope, Coster, Waimumu, Croydon, Baby, Argyle, Ota Creek, and Asher's Stdtng Coal-mine.-Opencast "^^M^awa^Pap^mUl^ and Newvale Coal-mines.—Opencast operations were continued during the year. At the former mine the coal-seam continues to be stripped, mined, and loaded mechanically, and at the latter mine a similar, but smaller, machine is used. . Balfour Mine.—Development of this mine continues in a southerly direction. Boghead Mine.-A small amount of development work has been carried out to the dip, and lower levels have been Development work has continued to. the east. However, the boundary has almost been reached, and it is doubtful if much more work will be carried out at this mine.

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