a—3b

14

Southland.

79. Waikoikoi, Pukerau. —(11/10/93): Mr. Cullan was not at home when visiting the old mine, which did not appear to have much done in it since my former visit ten months ago. A second place on the face of a terrace, much nearer the house, has been stripped, exposing some coal, but it did not look very good from a little distance off, so it was not examined. 80. Valley Road Mine, Pukerau. — (11/10/93) : Orchard had to abandon his old pit in consequence of the very heavy stripping, which was bad standing ground. He quite lately, and by accident, discovered a good 25ft. seam of coal quite close to the surface—stripping from 4ft. to 7ft. —and handy to the Main Valley Eoad. This pit was being opened at the time of my visit, and at the same time the stripping was being carted into a small gully in order to make a passable road to the pit. This promises to be a splendid pit, and convenient for the fanners about the Koikoi. The Valley Eoad, however, is a disgrace to the county. 81. Pukerau, O'Hagan's Mine. —-(10/10/93) : This mine is, as usual, in good order throughout. From Bft. to lift, of coal is being taken out, which leaves from 4ft. to 6ft. of coal overhead for a roof. The pillars arc large and solid. There are larger and longer logs found in this mine than in any other in Southland. Nearly full-length trees can be shown crossing several of the workingplaces many yards apart. Very large lumps of resin are also found. Big and unwieldy stumps are often met with, and their removal entails much labour. There are at present three men employed in this mine. 83. Dudley's Mine, Pukerau. —(lo/10/93) : The stripping is gradually getting deeper as the work advances into the terrace, especially so on the left-hand side of the gully, which is being followed up on account of its being the shallowest stripping. Mr. Dudley will soon be obliged, to start mining the coal out, which he will find to be more economical than deep stripping when there is so little room to get rid of the stuff. 85. White Craig, Gore. —(l 2/10/93): Opencast, with about sft. of stripping, which, at the time of my visit, was being removed by three horses, a road-scoop, and plough. The thickness of coal appears to improve going north, but it is unfortunate for McKinnon that he is now near his north boundary fence. He injured one of his knees some eight or nine months ago, and neglected to send me notice, as required by the regulations made under "The Coal-mines Act, 1891," thereby forfeiting 10s. per week which he would have been entitled to draw from the Sick and Accident Fund all that time. 86. Heffeman's Pit, Gore. —(l 2/10/93) : This pit presents much the same appearance as it did about this time last year. The stripping and coal-hewing is at the north end of the opencast, where the quality of coal has improved.. The stripping is very shallow. 87. Sarginson's Pit, Gore. —(14/10/93) : This pit had been reported to me as abandoned. I, however, when in that locality visited the spot, and found the pit filled with water, and did not see any one about the place. 88. Fryer's Excelsior Pit, Gore. —(14/10/93): Fryer abandoned the pit where he was working at the extreme northern of the coal reserve, East Gore, twelve months ago, and is now reopening an old pit a little south of his previous workings, where the stripping is from Bft. to 10ft., exposing from Oft. to 9ft. of coal. The stripping has sufficient sand in it to make it good shovelling-ground. A short, open drain keeps the pit open. 89. Dryden's Pit, Gore. —(14/10/93): I received notice of the abandonment of this pit six months ago; but I visited it to see if work had been resumed, but found it full of water. 90. Heffeman's Pit, Gore.—(l 4/10/93): A new pit is being opened eastward of the old one about 130 yards, where the stripping is from 2ft. to 4ft. only, exposing 17ft. of coal. The seam dips to the east rather quickly to be worked to advantage for any great distance, but-it is supposed the coal will rise again in a short distance. Most of the seams in the immediate neighbourhood are nearly flat, and the stripping generally shallow. 91. Begifsky's Mine, Gore. —(14/10/93) : No more coal than is required for his own use is taken out of this mine. There are from 3ft. to sft. of stripping and 3ft. of good coal. When the coal is removed the stripping is again returned to the pit, and the original surface spread on top as before, and cultivation goes on more vigorously by the turnover. The seam is not followed to the dip, because of the extra stripping in a very short distance. 92. Kirk and Sheddow's Pit, Gore. —(14/10/93): This pit looks much in the same state as when visited by me twelve months ago. The bottom of the pit was filled in to some extent and covered with water. There appears to be from 6ft. to Bft. of coal and 4ft. of stripping. Coal for home use only is taken out. 93. Cluckoski's Pit, Gore. —(l 4/10/93): This is an opening in a ploughed field, where a 3ft. seam is found from 3ft. to 4ft. from the surface. The stripping is carefully heaped up handy to return again into the worked out ground, and levelled for the plough. The output is for home use only. 94. Littzi Pit, Gore. —(l 4/10/93): This is situated in the low-lying flat in the coal reserve, East Gore. -The stripping is only from 2ft. to sft. The opening made is about 55ft. by 25ft., from which there is a drain cut down the flat about 4 chains. The depth of coal was not ascertained because of the debris and water in the pit; but there does not appear to be more than what is necessary for home consumption taken out of late. 95. Green's Mine, West Gore. —(12/10/93): The advantages of underground mining in this shallow ground are now fully realised and appreciated by the workmen and landlord. The workmen are now enabled to work whether it be rain or sunshine, and the surface of the land is allowed to remain as it was, always producing good pasture. The dip-drive is being continued in the coal, and from it other working-places are being opened at the sides as the work advances. A good thickness of coal is left overhead, which makes a splendid roof, and if sufficient care be taken to test its thickness at short distances apart the surface should remain intact for any length of time. Since my former visit, now twelve months ago, a small vertical engine has been placed at the tunnel mouth to do the pumping only. The quantity of drainage, however, is very small.