o.—3b

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Cumberland Coal-mine. —(7/3/95): No one about, but two strong cribs have been put in where I had found the workings too wide. Air very good,, as there are several holings out to the surface. The roof is not a good one. Mr. Pilling appears to be working back, leaving goaf behind him. Coghlan's Coal-mine. —(l 4/2/94): Next to nothing has been done since last inspection; the coal required in Boatman's district being now supplied by Archer's Mine. Archer's Goal-mine. —(l 4/2/94) : The men were away carting coal. Work was evidently being done in two short levels off the dip-drive. (8/12/94): Only Mr. Archer himself working in bottom level. Air good ; mine in fair order. Dawson's Coal-mine, Waitahu Eiver. —(8/12/94) : A little mining has been done near the river, but no one was about. I understand it was intended to open up a mine to supply the Eussell battery, but coal having been found in a more convenient position, work in this mine has been discontinued till it is seen how the nearer coal turns out. Blackball Colliery. —(11/7/94) : All the workings are now on the west side of the main headings. Those to the east were discontinued as the former turned out better coal. I drew attention to some of the timber in the west level not being well set, and this is to be seen to. The air has been allowed to fall slightly under the required quantity towards the faces, although the intake shows a large supply, much of which is lost at the bratticing. This will shortly be put right, as the main heading is up about 20 chains, and is expected to hole-out to-day in a further distance of two chains. Firedamp has never been seen, and there are no dry or dusty places in the mine, although it is not so damp and wet as formerly. Plan duly posted, and report kept. Three shifts are working, employing seventy-two men in all. (23/8/94) : Mine in fair order. Mr. Scott, the new manager, although holding the English certificate, not having placed himself on the colonial register, an information was laid against him, in compliance with your instructions, and a fine of ss. was imposed by the Magistrate at Greymouth. (12/12/94): Mine not working to-day, owing to want of orders, trade having been very dull for some time. The bottom 4ft. of coal is now being left, as it was found to be too soft. A fair current of air circulating, but more being required when the weather is unfavourable for natural ventilation; a furnace with a short chimney is in course of erection at the outcrop on Coal Creek. This cannot be looked to for a large supply of air, for, there being no shaft, its motive-power will largely depend on the height of the chimney or stack. About ninety-five men find employment when the mine is working. Mr. Lindop reported two accidents during the part of the year he was manager ; these are referred to further on. Brunner Colliery. —(9/1/94) : All the workings in this mine are now from the dip-drive. Fourteen places are working in the solid, only one of which is on the Coal-pit Heath side of the incline. Spragging does not appear to be so strictly observed as formerly. I drew Mr. Bishop's attention to this, and he will have it seen to. Eoof more irregular, and rolls more frequent than usual; some loose places I spoke about are to be attended to at once. Six places at pillar-work, employing twelve men, making with the faces a total of thirty-nine miners per shift. Three shifts are working, but one of these is to be stopped shortly. On completion of the new tramway, now being constructed to open up the coal to the rise of the old Brunner workings, those miners will be put on there. A good current of air circulating; this I measured at over 11,000 ft., but the lower workings do not get their full share of it. I had formerly spoken about some of the exhaust-steam, in certain directions of the wind, being drawn in at the mine mouth ; to prevent this a screen has now been erected. Eeports kept, and plan posted. (5/5/94): In the dip-workings there is still a little water laying at the face of the incline, the section of which shows 2ft. 9in. of coal, underlaid by unsaleable hard coal, then coaly micaceous stone. Five places working on the Coal-pit Heath side of the dip-drive, and seven on the further side from the lowest level, twelve places from the middle level, and four places at pillar-work following the other workings, so that this section of the mine is being rapidly exhausted. (13/7/94): The lower level is now in a distance of about 28 chains, much of which has been driven to prospect this part of the field. For half a chain back from the face it is under water; but, where seen, the coal measured lft. Bin. in thickness, with lft. 2in. more of hard unsaleable coal, known as " black bottom," then the stone floor. This mine was also inspected in October. (13/12/94) : The only work doing is the extension of the dip-drive by the contractors, the other workings being idle for want of trade. The contract is for 500 ft., to prospect this portion of the field, and at the above date 130 ft. had been driven. The coal measured lft. 6in. thick at the face. Brunner Bise Workings. —(4/5/94) : This is the so-called 20-acre block, but the line of thinning of the coal met with in the lower workings not having been proved in this part of the field the area may be very much larger, and I have very little doubt but it is. No doubt there is always the liability to dislocation by faults, but, owing to the general regular elevation of the floor of the coalfield to the rise, the breaks are likely to be of less amount. The new incline to open up this area is now completed; it starts from the top of the short incline formerly used to lower fireclay, and runs underground a distance of 16 chains, thence in the open for 14 chains. The average grade is about 1 in SJ, and the haulage is on the ordinary self-acting principle, with a 6ft. drum and strapbreak. From the drum to the mine mouth there is a distance of 8 chains of level tramway, along which the haulage is done by horses. The mine was not working for the day on account of bad air, as the connection with the shaft had not been made. (5/5/94) :As the air was still very dull I requested Mr. Bishop to knock off all the miners in this section who were not driving to make connection ; this was done before I left the ground. There are in all nine working-faces in this mine. (13/7/94) : Fifteen places working. Air now good in all places except the heading, where it is a little dull. Well timbered, and spragging observed. This mine was also inspected in November, and, although some stone veins are showing, more especially in the rise places, it can be considered as turning out well. Eules posted ; reports duly kept; no accident sufficiently serious to be reported by Mr. Bishop occurred during the year.