C—4

8

45. Lochhart and Beck's Lignite-mine, Idaburn.—A new open-work mine, adjoining the Idaburn Lignite-mine, visited on the 24th November, 1887. 46. Idaburn Lignite-mine, Idaburn. —On the 14th November this mine was the scene of an unfortunate fatal accident, whereby the owner, Mr. J. Macdonald, lost his life. The accident was not reported, and I was at Ferntown, near Collingwood, when the news reached me by private telegram. An account of the accident will be given in its proper place. 47. Ida Valley Lignite-mine, Ida Valley. —An open-work lignite-mine, visited in November. 51. Kyeburn Goal-mine, Upper Kycburn Diggings. —When I visited this mine, on the 25th November, there was nobody about, so I could not go in. At Mr. MeCready's house I saw a weekly report, but there was no safety-lamp to be found, so I wrote requesting the owner to purchase one. 52. Perseverance Goal-mine, Kyeburn. —Visited on the 25th November, 1887. Mr. Archer had not attended to my notice re safety-lamp, exhibition of Act, &c. ; 1 therefore wrote to him again. 53. Commercial Goal-mine, Kyeburn (late Archer's). —Report two weeks back, and no attempt to keep the Act in any other way. I have written to the owner. 66. Allandale Coal-mine, Green Island. —This mine used to be on the list, but has been closed for some years. I received no notice of its recommencement, and on visiting the ground on the 30th September, 1887, found the drive fallen in and the place abandoned. 67. Fernhill Colliery, Green Island. —When this mine was visited, on the 30th September, 1887, the manager was away, so I went through the mine with one of the workmen, who said that the places were examined with a safety-lamp every morning. 68. Green Island Colliery, Green Island. —l am able on this occasion to give a better report on this mine. On the 3rd August powder was stored, only in 251b. kegs, in an old vertical boiler. A Mueseler lamp used in the morning, also a copy of the Act hung up at the mine, and a daily report kept. On the 26th September the whole of the workings on the west side of the railway-line had fallen in, and a new drive had just been commenced on the other side. On the 19th December the Act and special rules were not properly exhibited. 69." Saddle Hill Coal-mine (Christie's) No. I. —On the 12th December, 1887, I was at this pit, but the manager, Mr. D. L. Christie, was ill, and I did not see him. There was no safety-lamp, but a copy of the Act was exhibited, with the requisite names attached, and the pit was in good order. I wrote subsequently to Mr. Christie, calling his attention to certain points. 70. Saddle Hill Coal-mine (Christie's) No. 2. —On the 29th March, 1887, as mentioned in my last report, I received notice from Mr. D. L. Christie that a new mine had been commenced. This is a drive to the west of the old pit, and during the year very little has been done except what was necessary to prove the existence of the coal. 71. Saddle Hill Coal-mine (McDougall's).— -On the 12th December, 1887,1 found the law totally disregarded at this mine, so wrote to Mr. McDougall, giving him a week to put things to right, and on the 20th received a letter (dated 17th December, post-marked 20th) saying that a Mueseler lamp had been purchased, 72. Glenochiel Colliery, Saddle Hill. —This colliery was visited on the 14th December, 1887, when I found that the new drive had been connected with the shaft, thus doing away with the necessity for safety-cages, detaching-hooks, &c, the expense of which the owners are by no means in a position to bear. The workings were in good order, but still no attempt had been made to observe the law. I therefore gave the owners final notice that in default of improvement I should recommend a prosecution. As will be seen by the next report, this had to a certain extent the desired effect, 73. Walton Park Colliery, Green Island. —There has been little or no change in the condition of this colliei*s'. On the 26th July, 1887, the ventilation was very good, the pit-bank covered, and the ropes had been repeatedly tested, but the Act was not exhibited, and the Mueseler lamp in the company's possession had not been used. On the Bth September Mr. Loudon called to tell me that the workings were every morning examined with a safety-lamp before the entrance of the men. 74. Abbotsroyd Colliery, Green Island. —lnspected on the 19th December, 1887, when the ventilation was slack, owing to the furnace being low. The smoke from this furnace, on account of the peculiarities described in my last report, can escape into the workings, and I have therefore written to Mr. Freeman on the subject. A bonneted Mueseler lamp was used, and a daily report kept. Eules and Act exhibited, but the requisites names not all attached. The Act seemed pretty well kept, and the pit in good order. 75. Mosgiel Colliery, Mosgiel. —ln September the mean return was 4,450 cubic feet of air per minute, but by not being guided round the east side, where most of the men were, a good deal of the efficacy of the current was lost. The vontilating-furnaco required attention, as it was placed in the centre of the shaft, the coal being exposed in places, and the timber being in dangerous proximity to the fire. In fact, it was distinctly unsafe, besides being incompatible with General Rule 33. A bonneted Mueseler lamp was used, fitted with the shut-off arrangement, invented by my old friend Mr. A. 11. Stokes, F.G.S., now Her Majesty's Chief Inspector for the Midland District of Great Britain. " The roof is somewhat insufficiently timbered, being heavy in places," was written in my notes, and ten days after a boy was injured by a fall of coal. Daily and weekly reports were kept, but there was no signal down the engine-plane; this, however, was at work on the 14th December, and the furnace has been allowed to remain unlighted, on account of the danger referred to above. 76. Brighton Goal-mine, Brighton. —ln May, 1887, Mr. Walker sent notice that he had opened a mine in this locality, which I visited in July. The workings consisted of a short dip-drive in one Bft. seam of coal. One man was employed below ground, and one carting. I explained the Act to Mr. Walker, and wrote on the 29th July.