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to coal-mining. I think he hews coal when he has nothing else to do. The coal is on his farm. The stripping is from Bft. to 10ft. I could not see how much coal in depth. There was no one about the farm or house at the time of my visit. Mainholm, Waipahi (7th April). —This mine is being worked by a long open face in a very systematic manner. The stripping is 9ft. deep and is all being harrowed and tipped into the workedout ground. The stripping is carefully done by contract by three men, and the lignite is hewn by two men. A vertical steam boiler, with engine attached, pumps the water from the workings. Ganges Goal-mine, Windhani (6th August, 1891). —I did not find any one at this mine, and was told it was abandoned. I have lately learned that it is so, and will now strike it off my list. Pine Bush, Trotter's Coal-mine (12th August, 1891). —This mine is situate close to the main road from Windham to Portrose, and has t been opened and working during the past ten years. I learn from Mr. Trotter, however, that the output has been small till the last year, when the sales were greater. The farmers are beginning to use more of it with the wood, which appears to be the principal fuel hereabout. The stripping is light generally, but will be much heavier in time. This mine was not on my list. I have sent him the usual notice. Munro's Lignite-mine, Windham (6th August, 1891). —This mine is situate on the low river flat of the Mataura. The stripping is from 4ft. to 7ft. of soil and fine gravel, and from 3ft. to sft. of coal. The pit is kept dry by a drain into the lower ground close by. Kerr's Coal-mine, Menzie's Ferry (6th August, 1891). —This mine and another known as Monro's were being worked by one Schields at the time of my visit. They are open pits on the low flat of the Mataura River, and subject to floods. The seam is low-lying and the stripping heavy. There does not appear to be much doing. A water-wheel pumps the water generally, but a horse has to assist the wheel at time of flood, when the drainage is much heavier than at ordinary times. The workmen said the mine did not pay, and they thought it would not be worked much longer. Mr. Schields has written lately stating that the mines were abandoned. McKinnon's, Gore (sth April).—This is a shallow mine with very little stripping. There does not appear to be a large trade doing, as I see very little change in the workings since my previous visit. Hoffman's Mine (6th April).—Open workings in several places, all filled with water. Did not see any one about the place, and concluded that mining was abandoned. Green's Coal-mine, Gore (4th April).—The stripping is getting so deep that the men have resolved to discontinue that kind of work to get out the coal, and have started a main heading to mine underground. The heading is now in about 20ft., and is following the dip to the west. As there is a long open face of coal in view, there is plenty of room to open several faces of any height required, since the seam is 19ft thick. Several feet of coal can be left overhead for a roof, which would make the mine-workings perfectly safe, and leave the surface unbroken for almost any time. Croydon, Smyth's Mine (4th April).—Heavy stripping is still being done, and as the work proceeds it is getting deeper. The open face is getting blocked up so much by land-slips that there is hardly room to get a dray in to the coal. The face of clay is bad standing-ground, and caves in in large blocks when there is a little extra rain. Mr. Smyth has now serious notions of discontinuing the stripping and mining it out, as Mr. Green in the adjoining mine is doing. Fryer's, Gore (6th April).—This is a new pit being opened, with very light stripping. I did not see any one about. Chaldean Goal-mine, B. J . Comer (14th August, 1891). —This is an open pit at the head of a swampy flat. The stripping is not more than from 2ft. to 4ft., and the seam of coal is about from 4ft. to sft. I did not find any one there, and there did not appear to be much traffic to the pit. This mine was not on- my list. I have sent the owner a form to fill, as usual. Heffernan's, Gore (sth April). —Open face and light stripping, but evidently there is very little output of coal. The face looks much the same as it did twelve months ago. Sargenson's, Waikaka (6th April).—The old pit is about worked out, and Mr. Sargenson is now opening another pit close to the old one. The seam stands at a considerable angle, and will be difficult to work to any depth. The water is already a trouble. Ghatton, near Gore, Paskill's Lignite-mine (sth August, 1892). —This seam appears to stand vertical, and the work done so far is limited to removing the top of the seam for a certain distance down from the surface and following it up the side of a hill. I fear the stripping will soon be too costly to admit of the mine paying at the present price for that class of coal. Ghatton, Pemble's Mine (sth April).—During the past twelve months Mr. Pemble has taken 6ft. deep of coal off the floor of his large open paddock, and has now arranged to purchase an engine to do the pumping and winding out of the paddock. The stripping is shallow and safe. Pukerau, E. G. Orchard's Mine (3rd October). —Open face, in the bed of a gully three miles from Pukerau. The stripping is just now from 2ft. to 4ft. only, and 12ft. of coal, standing nearly vertical. The top or outcrop of the seam only is being got. The dip is to the west; on the east side of the gully is a hill in which the seam may possibly be found lying flat. I have suggested it would be well to do some prospecting in that direction, as it would not be costly. Pukerau, J. H. Dudley's Goal-mine (2nd October). —This mine is an open face, with from 4ft. to 10ft. of stripping, including shale, and 16ft. of coal. The mine was opened in December last, and partly filled up again for a time. There has not been much of an opening made yet. Enterprise, Pukerau (2nd October). —A new opening on the east side of the lease is being made to get at the dip of the coal-seam, and a heading has been started in Dudley's lease, where 9ft. of coal will be taken out, leaving about 7ft. overhead. The coal is very solid. Two men are employed. (Since this was written some disputes with Dudley have arisen, and the works are now altered.) Pukerau, Ghatton, C. O'Hagan (2nd October). —This is the most extensively worked mine in the district. The bords are well laid out and most carefully worked. The roof is carefully tested at short intervals by boring holes, in order to be sure of a sufficient thickness of coal to keep