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worked is of limited extent, and a commencement has been made to draw the pillars. A self-acting tramway is used to convey the coal from this part of the. mine to the platform at the line, when the coal is tipped direct into the railway-wagons. Another opening has been made to the northward of the platform alongside the line, and a considerable area of coal taken out. It is now discovered that the seam to the southward of the platform has been thrown down by a fault, and either a shaft or a dip must be made to work this portion of the seam. It is now apparent that towards the outcrop the seam lies in detached basins of limited extent, and separate openings must be made to work those parts; however, the expense of opening each place will not be great, nor likely to add to the cost of getting the coal. The seam where it has been left on West Bryan tramway looks as well as in any part of the property, and can be readily worked. As far as can be seen there is sufficient coal in this company's mine to continue a large output for years to come. The output for eight months has been 11,801 tons. Three men above and twenty-one men below are employed. 4. Phoenix Mine. —This mine is situated on Carter Brothers' land, an area of 77 acres has been leased by Matthews and party, late contractors in the Kawakawa Mine. A tramway, 26 chains in length, and a hopper have been constructed to connect with the railway. This mine adjoins the West Bryan, and was opened by Mr. Smith about seven or eight years ago; but very little coal has been taken out. There is a seam of coal 7ft. in thickness ready to be operated on. No coal has yet been taken from the mine by the present lessees, but as soon as the Railway Department complete a new siding near the hopper a considerable output could be maintained. 5. Christie's Mine. —This is on private land; a drive has been put in about 50ft. in length and the coal is 3ft. in thickness. Only a small quantity has been taken out by the owner for private use. 6. Two other leases have been granted in this district: J. Rolleston 250 acres, and Donald McKenzie 200 acres ; but as far as I can learn little, if any, prospecting work has been carried on. Whangabei Disteict. 7. Kamo Mine. —Operations were suspended by the Kamo Coal Company in October, 1893, and the -mine shut down. Shortly afterwards the main shaft was filled up and the machinery removed. 8. Kamo New Mine. —In the beginning of March Renshaw and party opened a mine on Meldrum's land, to work portions of the coal that had been left near the outcrop. Several old pillars have been taken out, and there still remains a quantity of a good class of coal available. It is the intention of the party to open another drive at a lower level to work the old pillars. The output for ten months was 2,972 tons. One man above and five below were employed. Ngungubu Disteict. 9. Kirvpaka Mine.- —The mine has been steadily worked during the year; the main adit has been advanced, and is now in a distance of 11 chains, whilst a new adit to the northward of the first is in 9 chains. The seam was much disturbed, and in some places only 3ft. in thickness. The coal, however, appears to improve as the workings are extended, under the hill the cover getting harder. The coal is said to be one of the best in the district for steam purposes to be found. Output for the year was 13,655 tons. Eleven men above and twenty-two below are employed. 10. Panapo Goal Lease, of 208 acres, is situated on the north side of the Ngunguru Eiver, and nearly opposite the Kiripaka Coal Company's land. Mr Armitage has done a considerable amount of prospecting on the northern side of the Panapo Creek. A drive was put in 60ft., and a seam of coal 6in in thickness discovered. Four holes —93ft., 84ft., 43ft., and 20ft.—were also bored, but no coal found. Operations were then carried on to the southward of the creek; six holes from 10ft. to 27ft. were bored, and an outcrop of coal met with. A drive (12ft.) put in showed a thin seam of coal, which was not further explored, as it was near the boundary of the lease. Another drive was put in 35ft., and the seam met with about 3ft. in thickness. Three men were employed, and a sum of £250 expended in prospecting operations. The 3ft. seam of coal discovered near the boundary of Armitage's land was found in the adjacent land, which is Native land. A shaft, 13ft. in depth, was sunk by Davis and party, the first sft. being cover, and the next Bft. in good coal; yet no mining title has been obtained for this land. Waikato Disteict, 11. Waikato Mine. —This mine has again been steadily and carefully worked. The seam maintains a general thickness of 12ft.; the ventilation is good, and the requirements of the Act complied with. The output for the year was 11,278 tons. Eight men above and twenty-one men below are employed. 12. Taupiri Extended Mine. —Operations in this mine have been successfully carried on during the year. The workings have been extended towards the Waikato River, and the seam of coal maintains its thickness, the bords being from 12ft. to 20ft. in height. The shaft and winding machinery is in good order. Safety appliances are used on the cages, and detaching-hooks on the rope. The ventilation is good, and the requirements of the Act observed. The output for the year was 30,426 tons. Eleven men above and fifty men below were employed. 13. Taupiri Beserve Mine. —The workings in this mine are carefully carried on. It was found that the extent of available coal to the westward is much greater than at first appeared, the dip of the seam becoming less as the heading was extended. The distance from the level above has increased, and the bords are of greater length. The mine is well ventilated, and the requirements of the Act complied with. The output for the year was 13,877 tons. Eleven men above and thirtyone men below were employed.