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APPENDIX.

No. 1. ANNUAL EEPOET UPON INSPECTION ON COAL MINES, NOETH ISLAND DISTEICTS. Mr. Inspector McLaren to the Under-Secretary for Mines. Sir, — Inspector of Mines' Office, Thames, 15th June, 1885. I have the honour to forward herewith coal statistics for districts of Kawakawa, and Waikato, for year ending 31st December, 1884, having just completed a visit to these districts, I bring my report, up to date. The number of working colleries are the same as the previous year, but the output of coal is greater being 103,856 tons in 1884, against 92,761 tons in 1883. 1. Taupiri Colliery, Hit/nth). —I visited on the sth instant, and found it to be in good working order, both as regards the mine and machinery. It is now well opened up, and ready for a large output, over one thousand feet of narrow work having been driven during the year, ready for opening bords from. A number of main headings have been driven in a northerly direction to within 1| chains of the swamp opposite Lake Hokanoe. In them all, the coal thins off, becomes broken, and gives every indication of running out altogether, these indications are similar to what was met in approaching towards the edges of the swamp to the westward. The ventilation throughout was very good, I pointed out, however, that some of the faces in what is known as upper workings could be greatly improved. Mr Collins still manages this mine, the output from which continues to increase, it being 35,470 tons in 1884. 2. Waikato Mine, Kupakwpa, near Humbly. —Under the management of Mr Taylor this mine is being steadily opened out by driving headings in a westerly, and south-westerly direction. The former is now driven a distance of 12 chains from the entrance, and will be worked for 1\ chains by a self-acting incline, the coal from that point (head of incline) up towards face lying tolerably level. The second heading is in 6 chains from the starting point. It is intended to continue this heading through to an outcrop in a gully, on western boundary, so as to give ventilation and alter its system by dividing the mine into two, and cut off entirely the old and disused workings from the present, each being separately ventilated. The coal won recently has improved in quality and does not appear to be so much affected by the weather. From appearances this improvement should continue, both in a southerly and westerly direction, The coal on the north side has not yet been proved, except by boreholes, which shew, the manager informs me, the seam thickens to 38 feet, and to a distance of about 35 chains. On the Ist June fire was discovered in an old waste, near the crop, on N.E. side of the mine, which, fortunately, was got under after several hours hard work. It occurred spontaneously, through a small fall from the roof which contains pyrites. The water appears to have got at this during the wet weather and caused the combustion—the cover overhead here is only a few yards in thickness. The mine is in a safe condition throughout, and entirely free from gas. 3. Kamo Colliery, near Whangarei. —An accident in this mine occurred, in October last, to the Manager (Mr. Kerr) through gas firing in one of the headings that were being driven from the new shaft, towards the old workings, to secure ventilation. It appears indications of gas were reported to Mr. Kerr as no trace of gas had ever previously been observed in the mine; the company had no safety lamps. Mr. Kerr hunted among the old home miners, and at last found one—a wretched, small, old thing, without even a pricker to regulate the flame, he, however, thought it would be better than none, but it did not prove so. Before allowing the men to go down the shaft in the morning he went down himself. On going through an opening—a short distance from where the gas was stated to be—it suddenly caught, and instantly (as Mr. Kerr described it) the whole of the heading appeared to become one sheet of flame. He thinks he came through about 70 feet of it. His own pluck, and coolness, saved him, though he was very much burned, especially about the face and hands. As soon as possible, after receiving the information, I went to Kamo. As there was about 300 feet yet to drive before communication could be made with the old workings, I saw (with the danger of gas) it would never do to allow that additional distance being driven without a larger supply of air. I therefore instructed large fans to be erected, and air driven into the face. This was done as quickly as possible with good results. On the 20th December, Mr. Kerr wrote me, saying, " I feel sure you will be glad to hear that the fans have acted well, and enabled me to connect with the old workings to-day. This has made a marked difference and improvement in the ventilation, and, as you said it would, the current is now travelling quite the reverse way. I will not require the fans any longer." The total length of the heading driven from shaft to old workings is 699 feet. On my last visit (6th instant) I found the mine under the charge of a new manager, Mr. T. L. Bates. There is still gas shewing at the same place, but the air current is strong enough to dissipate it. A self-acting incline has been arranged to facilitate the conveyance of coal to workings. The workings were all in good order and the ventilation good. The present workings are only on the top seam : the shaft is now being sunk to the lower seam, which is over 40 feet deeper, 34 feet of this has now been sunk. One of ftegg's patent screens is being fitted to the poppet legs, and the formation of branch line to same from railway is completed. 4. Whau Whau Mine, near Whangarei. —There is a slight increase in the output for 1884, being 8000 tons, against 6743 tons in 1883. On my last visit (Bth instant) I found work had ceased since the beginning of the year, so far as winning coal. This was on account of the old tramway—3 miles long—becoming rotten, and, as a branch was being constructed from the railway, it was useless repairing it. 5. Kawakawa Colliery. —Work is progressing satisfactorily at this mine. The principal present output is from new ground lying southerly of old workings. This has been connected with No. 2 level; the