5

C—3b

Muncie's section, including the dip-heading, which works three shifts. Three shifts also working in the drainage-tunnel from Cascade Creek. Air right, except at two or three places on the east side of Muncie's section. On my drawing Mr. Greefi's attention to these, he agreed to do further bratticing. (4/11/95) :In the Big Dip section six places were working in the fast and fourteen removing pillars. Air fair for pillar-work. Timbering plentiful, and, as a rule, well set. In Cascade section twenty-six men were working, including four men in the stone drift to the dip, (5/11/95) : In Muncie's section twenty-six men were working. In Logan's Eoad the air was poor, but steps are to be taken to provide a better current. Mr. Lindop offered to withdraw the men, but I did not think this necessary. The drainage-tunnel from Cascade Creek is now in about 23 chains, the last 30r4 of which is stone drift. The air, which is good, is provided by a 12in. fan, worked from an 18in. Pelton wheel. Ironbridge Colliery. —(l 6/1/95) : As there was a suspicion of firedamp in the lower seam, we tested the air carefully, but there was no indication on the safety-lamp. A small proportion of gas is often more insidiously dangerous than a large amount, which would compel precautions. The management are fully alive to the care that it is necessary to exercise with so inflammable a coal. (17/7/95) : Measured the current of air circulating in the workings; this was 34,000 cubic feet per minute. One shift is worked throughout the mine, which is in three sections, exclusive of the pillar work; in all sixty-eight miners are employed. Spragging well observed. Ventilation good in all places except McGrane's, but an air-crossing is to be put in at once, when this will be rectified. Plenty of timber. (4/10/95): In the pillar-workings in the upper seam, the first place inspected, McGrane's, had broken out to the cliff side. I drew Mr. Milligan's (the mine-manager) attention to the extra danger in such a place, so it was stopped that day. In the shaft section the air was not quite so good as others. One or two places to which I drew Mr. Milligan's notice will have timbering seen to. Ninety-one miners in all employed. Waitakere Coal-mine. —(22/1/95) : No one about, and evidently very little work being done. The coal is now being won at the northern side of the opencast workings. The face is not overhanging, but a narrow rib of poor coal that should not have been left, is standing alongside the tail-race which runs through the centre of the old workings. (24/9/95) : Mr. Humphries was not at the mine, but the face at the north end, to which I had directed his attention, was now quite safe. A scrub fire, kindled by some children near the Waitakere No. 2 Mine, had ignited the coal seam at the outcrop, which is some 12ft. thick, and I was told it had been burning for about three weeks. The coal is a good household fuel, and many thousands of tons would have been destroyed, so I applied for your authority, which was promptly given, to expend a small sum in bringing in a small water-race. This was done, and the fire extinguished. Had it been allowed to gain a stronghold, the expense to put it out would have been much greater. I have to thank Constable Bird for informing me of it. Whitecliffs Coal-mine. —No work has been done in this mine during the year. Flax-bush Coal-mine. —(22/2/95): This is a new mine being opened up by Mr. Bear for the supply of the Cock Sparrow Dredge and the Town of Lyell, from the latter of which it is distant some seven miles. No workable seam was known to exist so near the town on the south side of the Buller, and the result of Mr. Eear's prospecting ought to be an advantage to the place if the coal proves of fair quality. A tram-line connects with the road, and the coal is lowered to the former by a shoot some 40ft. long. Not much work has yet been done in the coal-seam, which is highly inclined and still rather soft, but when followed further it may become more solid. Air all right. Timbering well done. The thickness of the seam is 6ft., and there are two others 24in. and 20in. thick respectively. The dip is westerly, at 60°. (5/12/95) : Mr. Bear and two men working in the second seam, which runs from 18in. to 2ft. in thickness, as the 6ft. seam was not good enough. The distance in from the mine's mouth is about 400 ft. Air poor. Too much ground on timber, and roof heavy at places, but it is expected that connection with the surface will be made in a few days, when the air will be improved and filling-in obtained. I inspected this mine a fortnight later and found the air improved, but the filling would not run at the point where connection with the surface was made, so another drive will be put through. I have since received a plan, made by Mr. E. Butler, showing that the workings have been filled in. Alexander Coal-mine. —(19/2/95): Now worked by the Buller Dredging Company. Four men in all employed, two of whom are starting to sink from the surface to connect with the works for filling-in. Air right. One bad place in level, but will be seen to at once. I was informed that the company were not going to continue working the mine, but I afterwards found out that work had been continued for a considerable time without "permit" or certificated manager. This unbusinesslike way of doing things was no gain to any one, and, had an accident happened, might have cost the company dear. This mine is now abandoned, and the coal for the dredge is supplied from the adjoining Longford Mine. Longford Coal-mine. —(6/12/95) : This mine is worked from an adit, which runs north-west on the strike of the seam, which is a rather dull brown-coal, from 18in. to 2ft. in thickness. The dip is to north-east, at about lin 1. Filling-in has been done to about 20ft. from the face. Plenty of good strong props. No safety-lamp, but one will be obtained. Murray Greek Coal-mine. —This mine has been abandoned. No further attempt should be made to mine the small corners of the pillars left at the outcrops, as the ground is dangerous, and any coal left is of inferior quality as well as being of no extent or amount. Golden Treasure Coal-mine. —(26/7/95): Mr. Davidson was working by himself 150 ft. in from the mine-mouth. He has found that there is good coal above the coaly shale which formed the roof of his previous workings, and this new find he intends to work. Air good. Sprags used. (23/11/95) : The head coal has been dropped, and the poor coal left on the road to heighten it. Boof bad, and mine dangerous. Notified Mr. Davidson that I would stop him if the mine was not at once made safe. He agreed to attend to it, and, at a subsequent visit, the mine was in good order.