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8

Malvern District, South Malvern. 20. Springfield Collier)/, Springfield. —The mine has been generally in good order. Mr. A. Lindop has been for some time acting as general manager, during Captain Parker's absence from the Colony. On the 31st March, 1885, I found all in very good order. The workings are now confined to the dip, and as no second outlet has yet been provided, only ten men can be employed in the mine at one time. 21. Boivick's Wallsend Colliery, Springfield. —Examined 3rd November, 1884. Only 2 men were employed. The Act was not fully observed at this mine, which is now closed. 23. Homebush Colliery, South Malvern. —The output of this Colliery has fallen off very considerably—nearly 40 per cent. The continuation of the seam on the level has not been proved, work having been confined to the rise. Mr. Brown, the manager, keeps the mine in very good order, and observes the regulations re reports, &c. 24. Hartley Colliery, South Malvern. —Has not been continually worked. On the 24th March last, the mine was being worked by a new drive a little to the north of Saunders' old workings. Two seams are being worked—one a brown coal, 11 feet thick, and the other, an altered coal, 3 feet 6 inches thick with a 4-inch band of dirt. At the foot of the incline, a down-throw fault had been met with. The Act is observed, except in the matter of special rules, of which a draft copy was sent to the former manager ; these appear to have been lost, and none have been sent up. The workings are well aired, and very limited in extent. Whitecliffs Coal Mine. 25. Since the last Report, special rules for this mine have been gazetted. On the 28th March last, when I visited the mine, no one was about, so I went through alone ; —the air and timber seemed good ; special rules were up, but no general. On subsequent inquiry, Mr. Wilson, the owner, informed me that only 2 men were employed; and that Mr. W. Smart was manager, which statement, however, was not borne out by Mr. Smart himself; so, it seems, there is no manager. I have again written to the owner, but received no answer. A very unsatisfactory feature of the present law is, that it is not obligatory on any mine owner to definately appoint a manager. Smith's Coal Mine. 26. South Malvern. —A new mine on the same line of outcrop as the last. Only one man works in the drive, who, as he has no capital locked up, may do well. 27. Snowdon Colliery, Makaia Gorge. —This is a private mine in the gorge of the Rakaia river, and, although not previously included in the list, has been worked for some years. The features of the district have been frequently described in the geological reports. There are four outcrops, and probably two seams ; the seam at present worked is a superior brown coal. The appliances are very primitive, and if a larger output were desired it would be advisable to erect a water-balance to bring the coal from the mouth of the adit to the top of the terrace—about 50 feet vertical. 28. Acheron Coal Mine, Acheron River. —On account of the valuable quality of this coal, which is anthracite, this deposit has attracted a good deal of attention. The seam is 5 feet 3 inches in thickness, and dips at 18 degrees ; below this seam, and separated at the rise side by only 9 inches, is another seam 2 feet 8 inches in thickness. If these could be worked together, they would be easily and cheaply got The coal is altered by a dolerite floe, which is plainly visible above the creek, and the only question is, as to what extent of country has been subjected to this action. If large, the coal field would be exceedingly valuable ; if small, its value would be correspondingly decreased. Boring on the flat would give some valuable information. Otago District. 31. Wharekuri Coal Mine, Wharekuri. —On the 9th September, 1884, the mine was in a better condition than ordinary, but still the air was close. The report was kept and the rules up. Mr. Cairns is starting a new mine about 2 miles to the east, on the same line of country, but no good coal had been met with at the time of my last visit. 32. Xurow Coal Mine, Kurow. —On the 9th September, 1884, the owner, manager, and workman at this mine was away; the workings did not look very well kept. 33. Prince Alfred (No. 1) Coal Mine, Papakaio. —On the Bth July, 1884, the working places were badly aired, though a good current was flowing in the mine. On the 4th March, 1885, the old mine had been abandoned, and a new working commenced, in which the air was good. Report kept. Sjsecial rules only up. Mr. WiUetts has taken over this mine as well as the No. 2. 34. Prince Alfred (JSTo. 2) Coal Mine, Papakaio. —This old mine still keeps turning out coal, but the seam varies much in quality, and, consequently, the workings are very irregular. The Act is kept except as regards a plan, which I do not require. 35. St. Andrews Coal Mine, Papakaio. —On July Bth, 1884, the manager was away, so I did not see the report. Plan was surveyed but not plotted. Since that time I have seen both. The mine was in very good order. 36. Ngapara Colliery, Ngapara. —This has been inspected twice since last Report. Everything is always in good order, and the Act kept. 37. Shag Point Colliery, Paltnerston. —This mine was standing entirely for nearly seven months. In September, Mr. Williams opened out an old drive of Rowley's and put out a few tons of coal. Nothing of importance was proved by the diamond drill. In January last, Mr Rich wrote explaining a project he had for opening the mine from the old main shaft—this was, to draw the water out in tanks until the dams were reached, and then proceed to line the shaft with concrete tubbing, to well below the old lowestworkings, then to sink further and drive out on the level, seawards, to catch the seam. On the 10th March, I visited the mine to discuss a system of work proposed by Mr. Rich, who is now sole proprietor. When the dams were reached they were found to be holding moderately well, but the pipes in the east dam had broken off, and thus a free passage on that side existed. The water was coming in veiy slowly and could easily be kept down by the tanks. The proposed system was to keep the water down below