a—3a

24

sinking a winze, which is down 150 ft. on the underlie, and a branch winding-shaft, down 100 ft., from the lower or No. 1 level. The average thickness of stone will be about sft., but it runs only sdwt. or 6dwt. Plan, section, and report up to date, and mine in good order. Seventeen men in all employed, including three at battery. Keep It Dark Quartz-mine. —(24/2/91) : Twenty men in all are employed, eight of whom are stoping in the battery-level. From the No. 3 level, at 500 ft. deep, a blind shaft is sunk for 120 ft.; up this the quartz is hauled by winding rope running along cross-cut. There is also a pass with ladders in good condition. Another blind shaft is sunk a further 110 ft., which, at 70ft., follows the underlie ; the quartz is hauled up this by windlass. The total depth is 730 ft. Safety-catches and folding cover on cage. No crossbars at main shaft. No copy of Act. Plan and report behind. These will be seen to. (14/10/91): Eeport kept. Copy of Act at mine. Signals posted. Detaching-hook on hand, but not fitted up, as water-wheel has already enough to lift. Plan to be made next week. Six men are employed sinking a winze from No. 3to No. 4 level, and six men are stoping. I drew Mr. Fitzmaurice's attention to the vertical ladders to No. 5, and sloping ones are to be provided to the point where level is to be broken off; also some slight repairs to timbering are to be seen to. (11/3/92) : A man named Charles Anderson got his hand hurt in this mine on the Ist December last by the explosion of a detonator which he was examining to see that it was free from dirt. Eeport kept. Manager's name posted, and new Act at mine. Two or three rungs in ladders requiring renewal, but will be seen to. In the north end of No. 5 level a winze is started to be sunk, but the quartz has pinched out in the level-face adjoining. Nineteen men in all are employed. Hercules Quartz-mine. —(24/2/91): The last crushing at this mine was not payable, so only two men and the manager are employed, and are at present following course of reef as the stone has pinched out. The air is sufficient and timbering right, but no safety-catch, detaching-hook, nor cover on cage. (14/10/91) :In No. 7 level a block of quartz has been struck recently. Directed Mr. McEwin's attention to flaky condition of hanging-wall, also to dynamite on roadside. These will be attended to. It is intended to break through to the No. 2 South Keep It Dark Mine, and a second outlet will thus be provided. I called on the legal manager regarding this, as a part of the shaft is without ladders, and was informed it would be pushed on. (11/3/92) : Not working, but revisited, as I had received a complaint that this company were not availing themselves of the opportunity of connecting with the No. 2 South Keep It Dark workings. I also called again on Mr. Lee, the legal manager, and informed him if there were no objections to communication in regard to carrying on the workings, the Act would be strictly enforced if so good an opportunity of providing escape and ventilation were neglected. No. 2 South Keep-it-Dark Quartz-mine. —(24/2/91) : This mine is worked from a shaft in which the Pandora and South Wealth of Nations Companies have a share. Safety-cage being made. Eighteen men in all employed. The stone of late has yielded loz. 2dwt. per ton. The reef averages about 3ft. 6in. wide, although at the level face only 18in., but it is expected to widen out the same as above where men are stoping. Plan up to August, but not at mine. (14/10/91) : Chambers being prepared to sink to lower level. Mr. Treloar in charge, as Mr. Lawn had his leg hurt. Eight men stoping above No. 2 level in day-shift, and six in back-shift. Twenty-two men employed in all. Air and timbering good. (11/3/92) :In addition to stoping above No. 2 level, some stoping is going on from a wdnze which runs up to the surface. The No. 2 level is extended to within 28ft. of the Hercules boundary, and 170 ft. south of the boundary a winze is sunk 90ft., and a further 20ft. would take it to the level of the Hercules No. 7 level. Plan posted. Manager's name up. Copy of new Act at mine. Pandora Quartz-mine. —(11/3/92) : This is worked from the same shaft as the No. 2 South Keep It Dark, it having been jointly sunk by these companies. Two men are driving a level, which is only following the course of the reef to the south, as the quartz is irregular and bunchy; and two men are stoping a short way back above the level, where the stone is about 20in. in thickness. No copy of Act, and no plan. Detonators on roadside, but these will be seen to. Cumberland Quartz-mine. —(28/2/91) : Manager absent at examination for certificate. This mine started about eight months ago. The reef averages about 4ft. in thickness. The stone throughout is red in colour, of a sugary nature, and carries good gold. The reef near the surface has been worked out, and a tunnel 100 ft. long has struck it at a lower level. (16/10/91) : The reef is lying much flatter than formerly, and a second tunnel has been driven 133 ft. below No. 1 level, and has cut the line of reef, but a block of quartz has not yet been met with. No report, and dynamite loose. A paddock has been made for the quartz, and a line cleared for an aerial tram to where the battery is to be erected. (10/3/92) : No. 2 level has been driven 140 ft. on line of reef, but as yet no stone has been found. No. 1 level, at the west face, has no stone, and at the east end it is only 2ft. thick, but an intermediate level is working on a block of quartz 13ft. in thickness, which has much improved the prospects of this mine. A miner named Thomas Williams had his leg broken by a piece of the wall-rock falling out on the 25th of January ; he had previously been told to secure it by the manager, and it was when doing so the accident occurred. Plan up to date, and copy of new Act of urine. Seventeen men in all employed, exclusive of battery and aerial tram, which is now getting into working order. Golden Lead Quartz-mine. —(25/2/91) ; This is not a reef, but an altered sandstone, both the joints and laminations of which are filled with quartz leaders or veins from 4in. downwards in thickness. In the tunnel the timber is light, but heavy sets are to be put in. Only four men employed, but this number is to be increased. (16/10/91) : Now employing sixteen men stoping and following the line of one leader, which is believed to contain the most of the gold. No report, and plan not up to date, but Mr. Sutherland will attend to these. A low level is now being driven 50ft. below the old tunnel. (10/3/92): Stoping on leader, which is somewhat irregular. Low level stopped till a winze, which is sinking, shows if they are on the right line. Air right. Copy of Act in office, Manager's name posted. Eighteen men employed, exclusive of battery.