G.—6

10

The mine has been irregularly worked, and when the good coal is reached this point will require attention. Timbering seems efficiently performed, and the air is good. 11. Banbury Goal Mine, Westport. —ln last year's report (as, indeed, in previous ones) on this mine the subject of riding in trucks on the incline was referred to, and I wrote, "It is morally certain that, if this continues, somebody will be killed." An account of the fatal accident which occurred in February last from this cause will be found in the after portion of this report. Although not a mining accident—the deceased not having been at any time employed about the mine—l have inserted it, as the practice was prevalent among the employes. The shaft previously mentioned has now been sunk to the coal, and a furnace erected, which makes a great improvement in the ventilation. The mine was last inspected on the 24th May, 1884 : the men were off work, and the air seemed good, "though the furnace was damped down. No explosive gas has been seen. The headings have now arrived at " Smith's outcrop," where the coal is said to be 18ft. thick, but I was unable to get to the place where it is exposed. About the end of August the £ompany hope to have the endless-chain working to this thick coal. Almost all the seam between the main heading and the cliff has been worked out. The Act appears to be carefully observed, but, during the current year at least, there has been an abnormal number of accidents. 12. Oriental Coal Mine, See/ton. —This is an old mine, which had disappeared from the list for some years. It is worked merely for the battery. At my visit two men were employed. Mine well timbered. 13. Energetic Goal Mine, Beefton. —Has during the past year been practically at a standstill. On the 21st September, 1883, I was there, but the entrance was boarded up to prevent the intrusion of strangers. 14. Golden Treasure Goal Mine, Beefton. —Was examined. There is nothing to report. 15. Lankey's Gully Goal Mine, Beefton. —One man employed at the coal, and at the time of my visit the mine was vacant. A new tunnel has been driven, and well timbered. 16. Inangahua Goal Mine, Beefton. —This is a new mine on the left-hand branch of the Inangahua River. All the coal has to be " packed." I sent copy of Act, rules, &c. 17. Newcastle Goal Mine, Beefton. —Was closed during my visit to the district. There is, however, a prospect of recommencement. 18. Golden Fleece Coal Mine, Beefton. —Employs one man, who gets coal for the boiler at the quartz mine. 19 and 20. Boatman's and Burke s Coal Mines, Beefton. —Are still at work on a small scale. The workings seem well carried on. 21. New Durham Goal Mine, Beefton. —There is no road to this mine, and all the coal is "packed ;" consequently the output is very small. 22. Neiu Durham Goal Mine, No. 2, Beefton. —This is a new mine on the Reefton side of the line, and has been carried in about 400 ft. on a thin seam. 23. Dudley Coal Mine, Beefton. —Has been prospecting for some years, and was not on the list last year. This year, however, it has sprung into prominence on account of a most unfortunate fatal accident which occurred on the 10th May (see " Accidents' " report.) 24. Brunner Goal Mine, Greymouth. —Since the last report there has been no cause of complaint with regard to this mine. Frequent visits have been made, and, the fan having at length been started, the ventilation is much better. On the 16th July, 1883, it registered, in the farthest bolthole in the dip-workings, 5,775 cubic feet per minute for twenty men. The main return from that district was 9,947 cubic feet per minute, and the total return from the mine, 23,406 cubic feet per minute. The old stone drive which was driven in the fault slip some years ago was being cleaned out, and, though no gas showed, lamps were used. The rise workings, which had formerly given cause of complaint, were well aired. A man named Mclvor complained that he had sent for timber, and could not get it, to keep up a piece of stone, which, it seemed to me, would have been better down :he was told not to work till the timber was procured. The main level in the rise was clear of gas : reports kept, and boys registered. On the 10th August, 1883, I received a letter from Mr. Bishop, stating that the air-current was up to face of level in rise, and that he would consider candles safe; at the same time, would use lamps, if desired. I replied that, if gas did not accumulate when the air was shut off, there could be no objection to naked lights. On the 28th and 29th September, 1883, I examined the mine, which appeared in good order. Eefuge-holes had been constructed in the main incline. On the 27th November, 1883, a miner was killed in the rise-workings (for particulars see "Accidents" report). I wasin Southland at the time, and arrived at Greymouth on the 3rd December, and attended the adjourned inquest on the 4th. On the 17th and 19th January another examination of the mine was made. An attempt had been made to clean out the old fault drive, and the air was brought back in pipes, but the gas lodged in the roof for about a chain back; so, at my suggestion, the current was reversed, and the pipes made the intake ; but on the 19th this failed to clear the drive, so Mr. Bishop withdrew the men until the upper drive could be cleaned out and a proper return established. This was being done at the time of my last visit, on the 22nd ultimo, at which time no gas was to be seen in either heading. My last inspections were on the 22nd and 23rd ultimo. The men said gas lodged in a small natural fissure in the rise workings near the level, so, although we could find none, I requested that the place might be worked with lamps. The dip was well aired. During the year work has been carried on in the dip and rise districts; the latter is about 20 chains past the iine of fault but the coal is thin, and of very variable -quality. A section of pillars has been taken out, with my concurrence; the roof breaks well, and a good proportion of the coal is extracted. In the dip the same band, of coal which in the Coalpit-Heath Mine indicates the proximity of the fault has appeared, and several of the bords have been stopped. The coal away from this band is very thick. In the heading which was driven through the fault slip Mr. Bishop put down a bore, without success, as the rods gave out. Six chains from the place where the rise level crosses the fault-line a prospecting heading has been driven, and coal of fair quality reached : this required ventilation. A proposal has been made to work the dip pil-