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C—3b

have been traced up the hillside for 25 chains, but there it is quite 300 ft. higher. A lower seam 3ft. 6in. thick is next met with in coming up the creek. Further up, loose grits and yellow sandstone in the solid point to faulting up, but soon after the mudstone re-appears, so the movement must have been reversed, or else the first seam occurs in a higher horizon in the sequence than what is customary in this district. Still further up the creek a fine 6ft. coal-seam, with two others above it, is exposed. The coal appears to be of excellent quality. During the year plans have been prepared for the proposed bridge over the Grey Eiver, but work on it has not yet been commenced. Two or three men have also been engaged in further prospecting the various seams, with good results, Mr. Bishop informs me. The ownership of the Brunner Lease has passed into the hands of the Coal Creek Company, which has thus secured a going mine with an established connection. Accidents. 1. 13th March.—Coalbrookdale: A miner named James Johnston had his right elbow-joint dislocated, also his right leg bruised by a fall of coal through a sprag slipping. He died on the 17th instant. 2. 14th March.—-Cardiff: A youth named W. Lyons fell when coming down an incline and fractured his arm. 3. 17th May.—Cardiff: A miner named Eichard Dunn had fired a shot, and was taking down the loose pieces of coal when one of these struck him, fracturing two ribs. 4. 17th June.— Cardiff: A miner named James Bain was clearing some loose coal from the floor to put in a prop, when a fall of coal came away from the roof, killing him almost instantly. 5. 28th Sepember.—Mokihinui: A trucker named George Harris had his leg bruised by a runaway truck on the incline. The stopblock was in place, but the truck ran over it. 6. 7th November. —Ironbridge : A miner named John Young had his shoulder-blade and one rib broken, also his arm dislocated, by a piece of stone falling from the roof. He had sounded the roof about half an hour previously and it was then all right. There was plenty of timber about. Geneeal. Weight of Goal paid for. —Dissatisfaction having been expressed to me as to the weights given to the miners by the weighing-machine at Coalbrookdale on the 15th January, without giving any warning, I had the machine tested by adding the customary load in weights to an empty truck. The extra load was correctly indicated, so if there was any discrepancy it was not likely to be through the machine. Mention was made of coal being taken off the mine trucks between the mine and the screens, and I understand steps have been taken to prevent this. The trucks are weighed rapidly in passing over the machine, so errors may have occurred. A check weighinan has since been appointed. This ought to be satisfactory both to the men and the company. Mr. Lindop states that the company not only do not gain any weight between what is paid for and disposed of, but that a loss is made. Accident Funds and other work. —Contributions to the accident funds are being paid by all the larger companies, but pressure of work has of late prevented me from checking the books of the owners, and the balance-sheets of the associations. The latter, with the correspondence involved, take up a good deal of time. Some time has been gained by being relieved of setting the questions for the Colliery Manager's Examination and checking the answers, which I have done for the past five years. Three weeks in June were occupied in a geological survey and report on the Collingwood Coalfield, the main features of which have been already published. Since writing the foregoing the disaster at the Brunner Mine has occurred, the investigation as to the cause of which is proceeding. I have, &c, N. D. Cocheane, The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Inspector of Mines.

No. 3. Mr. John Gow, Inspector of Mines, to the Undee-Seceetaey of Mines, Wellington. Sic,— Dunedin, 16th March, 1896. I have the honour, in compliance with section 67 of "The Coal Mines Act, 1891," to report as follows for the information of the Hon. the Minister of Mines :— My remarks on the several mines in the southern district will be found to follow my list consecutively, commencing at — Canteebuey. 1. Springfield Mine. —(3o/7/95) : Since my last visit a new shaft has been sunk on south-east side of the Pottery Works, and distant only about 100 ft. from the same. The shaft was sunk to a depth of 100 ft., and the coal-seam opened in at about 70ft. The seam is generally about 3ft. thick, under which there is a thin band of stone, and then another foot of coal, in all 4ft. of very good coal. Nearly all the workings have a fairly good roof, and the working-places may be classed as dry. Every care appears to be taken to do the work in a safe manner. The mine is drained by a Tangye pump 4in. in diameter, and works only about five hours in the twenty-four. The discharge pipe is 2m. in diameter. There are at present seven working-places and four workmen. The coal dips slightly to the south and south-east, and is supposed to be the same seam as that worked at the original shaft. The two shafts, however, are probably 30 chains apart, and the workings probably 15 chains apart. The floor of the present workings is being taken out to a depth of about 3ft. for