9

H.—l4

Malvebn District. 22. Springfield Colliery .—The old mine, which was in such a bad state at the time of my last report, is now closed. Before this took place its condition was slightly improved. The company have sunk a shaft to the dip. 23. Springfield, JYo. 2. —1 have not been down this pit since the levels were broken off on September Ist. The shaft.was sunk without accident. The company have till September Ist, 1882, for the formation of their second outlet. 24. Kowai Pass Colliery was in very bad order. I had timber set at the shaft-bottom, and the shaft fenced. If there had been no second outlet it would have been necessary to withdraw the men. 25. Eureka Coal Mine, Springfield. —Very little has been done here. I have not required these small mines to keep plans. 26. Fern Bale Colliery, Springfield. —Mr. Hamilton has been prospecting here, but has not put out any coal. Eight men were employed. 27 Canterbury Colliery, Sheffield, has recommenced, having passed into new hands. Air good, and the mine in good order. 28. Homebush Colliery, Olentunnel. —The Act is kept carefully here, and the ventilation is good. A sad accident occurred here on January 22nd, 1880. (See remarks on accidents.) 29. Hart's Coal Mine has not been visited. Mr. Saunders informs me that the coal has not yet been reached. The total output is copied from the Geological Department reports, and is from the old drive. 30. Wallsend. —Still standing. 31 and 32. Brockley and Mount Somers. —Not yet revisited. The former has not done much, and the latter is open-work. TiMARtr District. There are two mines in this district, (33) Albany, and (34) Kakahw: neither has been visited, Otago District. 35. Wharekuri, Duntroon, has been visited once. It has been a long time at work, but doing very little. The pit is in tolerably good order. Special Rules are established. I have not required a plan. 36. Kuvow Coal Mine is a very small affair, worked by the owner alone. No plan required. 37. 38, and 39. Prince Alfred Nos. 1 and 2, and St. Andrews.- —These continue in good order. They are still under the same management, and the Act appears to be observed. There is an excellent plan. 40. Ngapara Colliery. —The ventilation and timber are good. A plan is kept, and there is more than one outlet. 41. Shag Point Coal Mine. —As will be seen on reference to the last printed report of the department, this mine has occupied a good deal of attention. I have already reported very fully on its condition at various times, and explained my course of action with reference to the different breaches of the law which existed. Having been fortunate enough to secure the approval of the Hon. the Minister of Mines in the course which I adopted, it is unnecessary to enter here into any details. As mentioned in my report of June last, a man was in the habit of riding on the set in the engine-plane. As the manager declined to put a stop to this, even after another man had been hurt (see list of accidents), the only course open to me, in order to avoid a fatal accident, was to give notice under section 19 ; this I accordingly did, at the same time sending the statutory notice for the information of His Excellency. After this, the manager discontinued the practice. The ventilation is now much better, and may be called good, except at the ends of the levels, which are taken too far without a return. My efforts to persuade Mr Williams to drive double headings have been abortive. The fire is still burning, but does not interfere with the ventilation of the pit, being walled off: in fact it is to a great extent the motive power, and the new furnace has never been lighted : this is on the surface, as the condition of the mine did not allow of its being placed at the bottom of the shaft. The roof is very bad, hence the large number of accidents from fails. Of the two outlets from this mine, only one is always available ; but the company are about to form a second, by means of a shaft to the dip. This colliery has been visited ten times during the year. 42. Elliott's Coal Mine. —Prospecting has been carried on, but no other work done. 43. Mill's Creek Coal Mine. —Not visited. 44. Idaburn Coal Mine. —This is an open-work coal mine, and has not yet been inspected. Mr. Grant kindly sent me particulars. 45. Last Chance Coal Mine, Hyde. —This is a small mine on the banks of the Taieri, six miles above Hyde. For the first two months of 1880 it was worked open-cast, and the tunnel was opened in July. Introduced Act. Plan not required. 46. Dunsmuir's Coal Mine. —-Open work. Not visited. 47 Kyebum Coal Mine —The coal here lies at a very high angle. The Act is not observed, and there is no ventilation at the end of the workings. For this and No. 48 I have not required a plan. 48. Perseverance Coal Mine, Upper Kyeburn Diggings. —This coal is equally steep. I introduced the Act, and requested Mr. Stuart's attention to some loose stuff near the mouth, which might, if it fell, shut the mine completely. 49 and 50.—Not visited. Open-work. 51. Mount Ida Coal Mine. —Worked by an adit. Not visited. No coal has been put out. 52. Sioineburn Coal Mine. —Not visited. Mr. McAra has been good enough to write informing me that work has hitherto been carried on by stripping and driving, but as this became impossible, ho is making preparations for sinking a Bhaft. 2—H. 14