11

C—3b

the surface a short distance from the pit. A strong wind came and carried the ashes in full glow into the pit, which immediately became one mass of flame. Water was as quickly as possible conveyed along an old race close by, and the fire was quickly put out. It was very fortunate the race was so handy and water available at the time. The seam is between 20ft. and 30ft. thick, and is in good working order. Ida Valley, Mrs. Andrew's Coal-mine (28th April, 1891). —This mine has a large open face with shallow stripping, and appears to be carefully worked ; only one man in the mine. Perseverance, Kyeburn (6th April). —The old workings have been abandoned for the time being in consequence of the difficulty of getting rid of the water in the dip-workings. A new adit is now being put into the hill from a gully on the dip side of the seam, which should command a large body of coal. I had to find fault with the way the timber was fixed in position, as the legs and caps were not checked, and there is likely to be very much side-pressure. The timber at the time I saw it was likely to collapse at any moment. I ordered inch battens of 3in. by 25in. to be at once nailed to caps between the legs. Some work that was in progress a short time ago, in order to get at the dip through Dudley's ground, was suddenly stopped. Alexandra Mine (14th April).—l inspected all the workings in Thompson's mine, when I found two Chinese only working. These men do the work very neatly, but they do not like it. The work is well laid out, and only 5-|ft. out of the 14ft. of coal is hewn. All the old workings are as solid as a rock. The mine is dry and the air fairly good. Macqueenville, Alexandra (14th April).—Lett has sunk a second shaft since my previous visit, but it is no improvement on the old one. The ladder stands vertical as it did in the old shaft. I could not find Mr. Lett about the place ; I think he was at Clyde on the day of my visit. I went down the shaft (80ft.), and examined all the workings, and found them in good order. The coal is 14ft. thick, of which there are about sft. only being taken out. There is no timber in the mine. Waikerikeri Goal-mine, Clyde (20th January, 1891). —I inspected the mine workings at the bottom of an old shaft 84ft. deep, where the good coal is nearly all worked out. A new shaft, 40ft. to the westward of the old one, has just been completed to a depth of 10ft. below the old one, and closely timbered with 3in. planking throughout. It is now intended to use the old shaft as an upcast shaft, by which a constant current of air will always be maintained by a little attention from the miners. There are generally three men employed in the mine. The mine-workings are also reached by an inclined tunnel, which was previously used as an airway and outlet in case of an accident. I found the air good at the time of my visit, but learned that it had been bad in some of the old workings some time previously. It is not intended to take out any more coal from the old workings, but to open out on new ground. Dairy Creek Coal-mine, Clyde (20th January, 1891). —This mine was reported to me to be on fire for the past two years. I found the tunnel mouth boarded up and close battened. While I was there the proprietor removed the boarding to allow me to inspect the workings if possible, but I found it uninviting, and thought it not over safe to venture far into the workings so soon after the boards in the tunnel mouth were removed. There did not appear to be much heat in the mine ; I am, therefore, inclined to believe the fire to be nearly exhausted. Excelsior Goal-mine (4th May, 1891). —This seam stands nearly vertical, and is nearly worked out from the surface to the level of the adit, which was driven at the level of the mining tailings in the gully close by. A new adit is now being put in on the line of the seam, but from another gully farther to the south-east, and at a lower level, which is calculated to enable the miners to get about 30ft. of coal below the old workings. The mine is being carefully worked, and the air is good. Bannockburn Goal-mine (3rd May, 1891). —T. Wilson's mine is situated on the south-east bank of the Kawarau ; has been opened nearly twelve months without sending in any returns to the Mines office. I asked Wilson why he had not complied with the Act, and he pleaded ignorance of any Act or mining regulations. I gave him a form to be filled in on December next and posted to me. Pryde's Mine, Cromwell (4th May, 1891). —The old workings previously inspected by me are closed up, and a new dip-drive is already completed into the coal. The mine is being opened to the right and. left of the dip in a systematic manner, and with a view of a long spell of work. There are three men employed. Gibston Coal-mine, Gibs ton (6th May, 1891). —This mine, originally the property of Steel, is now owned by Martin McAll, and known as Saddle-hill Mine. I examined all the workings, and found them in good order. The air was also good. The seam is 20ft thick, and dips to the west. There are two men employed in the mine, but not continuously. I think this mine must be about 3,000 ft. above the sea level, and probably 2,000 ft. above the hotel. All the coal has to be sledged down by a horse to a spot where the drays can load. This plan of transport must be necessarily slow and costly to the miner, and at once suggests a remedy. It is a splendid site for an aerial tram, by which the coal could be emptied into the carts or drays without any handling after leaving the working-face in the mine. The cost would not, I imagine, be very great, and if it reduced the cost of delivery in drays, and consequently increased the sales, as it should do, then it should soon pay for itself. What is required is a light steel rope, a strong brake, and only a few tubs, and poles at long intervals. It is a good coal, and should, if properly managed, put all other coals out of the Arrowtown and Queenstown market. Gibston-Cowan's Coal-mine (6th May, 1891). —This mine is about I,oooft. above the hotel, and is simply a stip from the seam in situ I,oooft. higher. Martin's mine : Cowan is now taking out his last block of coal, unless he can find more convenient to his adit. He expects to get out all the coal that is worth working by Ist August. Jackson's, Alexandra (14th April).—This mine had not long been opened at the time of my first visit- It appears it did. not work long, as I found it filled with water on my last visit.