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C—3b

14. Bombay Mine. —This mine was opened by Mr. Long on his own property. A drive 60ft. in length has been put in on a seam of brown coal, which is about sft. in thickness, of which 3ft. is worked. The output is 20 tons. Mr. Long and his sons occasionally work in the mine, the coal being for domestic use, and also supplying the engine at a creamery in the district. The locality is about eight miles from the railway, and at present there is not likely to be a great demand for the coal. MOKAU DISTEICT. Mokau Mine. —This mine was not inspected during the year, in consequence of an increase in other work. The output of coal was 254 tons for half-year ended the 30th June. No further return has yet been furnished. Accidents. No accident of a serious nature has been reported during the year. The following is a list of the accidents reported; the injured men were for a time unable to work : — James Holland, who was injured by a lump of coal falling on his foot in Taupiri Reserve Mine, 10th February, 1894. Alfred Cadman : Injured by lump of coal falling on his toe; Taupiri Extended Mine, 24th April, 1894. Robert Colson : Jar to hand while bunking-out; Taupiri Extended Mine, 28th May, 1894. Frederick Cox : Injury to his hand while at work; Taupiri Extended Mine, 25th June, 1894. Thomas McQuillan: Injured by pick while at work; Taupiri Extended Mine, 4th July, 1894. Walter Waugh: Injured by piece of coal striking his eye; Taupiri Extended Mine, 9th July, 1894. Edward Burke : Injured by wedge falling on his foot; Taupiri Extended Mine, 26th July, 1894. Thomas Russell: Jar to finger while at work; Taupiri Extended Mine, 10th August, 1894. Thomas Griffiths : Bruise to arm, concussion of elbow-joint, through coming in contact with a skip whilst escaping from a fall of coal; Waikato Mine, 18th September, 1894. William Gilders : Struck by piece of coal whilst at work; Taupiri Extended Mine, 24th October, 1894. Robert Robson, going down incline behind a skip, slipped on a stone and fell; Taupiri Extended Mine, 26th October, 1894. Charles Gorring Minnett: Rupture of hip whilst at work on bank; Taupiri Extended Mine, 12th November, 1894. Remaeks. The output for the districts north of Auckland shows an increase of 5,445 tons compared with that of last year, whilst in the districts south of Auckland the output shows a falling-off of 2,175 tons, leaving a total increase for the year of 3,270 tons. The increase in the north is due to the mines in the Hikurangi and Ngunguru districts. The increase from the Hikurangi district —18,103 tons —was due to the improved means of transit afforded on the opening of the railway-line to the mine. The increase of 10,958 tons from Ngunguru district is due to the improved demand for the coal, which is giving satisfaction as a steaming coal. The contributions to the Accident Fund are paid regularly by the different companies on all coal sold. The provisions of the Act are generally complied with in all the mines, and the ventilation is good. The whole of the mines in the Auckland district are now well opened, and in a position to maintain an output far greater than the present consumption of coal requires. I have, &c, George Wilson, The Under-Secretary of Mines, Wellington. Inspector of Mines.

No. 3. Mr. N. D. Cochbane, Inspector of Mines, to the Undbe-Sbobetaby of Mines, Wellington. Sib, — Inspector of Mines, Westport, 25th April, 1895. I have the honour, in compliance with section 67 of the " The Coal-mines Act, 1891," to report as follows for the information of the Hon. the Minister of Mines, and to enclose statistics of the West Coast Coal-mines for the year ending 81st December, 1894: — Wallsencl Colliery, Collingwood. —(l6/6/94) :—ln No. 1 seam at the top of the incline I measured the ventilating current and found 3,000 cubic feet of air circulating per minute; this is much over the required quantity. In No. 2 seam also the air was good. Four men were working at two faces in the latter seam, the upper part of which, however, has pinched out. In No. 1 seam one man was working. Two miners were also at work cross-cutting from No. 2to No. 3 seams; the latter had just been cut, and showed only 4in. of inferior coal, so the prospects of work being done in it are poor. Plan kept up to date ; but the survey is still made with a prismatic compass, so I requested that it should be done with a more reliable instrument, and such has since been procured. Rules, with names posted in case at mine mouth. The prospects of this mine, owing to the thinness of the coal, are not very bright. Pakaivau Goal-mine. —(l 4/6/94) : This consists of a short cross-measure drift to the coal-seam, and thence two short levels running east and west. The section at the face is as follows : Sandstone roof; coal and shale, lft. 4in.; coal, 7in.; inferior coal, 7in.; stone, 2in.; coal, 4in.;