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C—3b

work, and recommended him to work the pit systematically, either by stripping a section of given area or by underground mining. Of the latter he has no knowledge whatever. The seam has a varying thickness up to 30 ft. Blackstone Hlil (A. Dunsmuir). —(22/9/98) : This pit is standing full of water. No work has been done for several months, and no notice sent of cessation of work. Blackstone Hill (James Enwright).—(22/9/98) : A new opencast pit near to and on the opposite side of the road from Dunsmuir's. Lignite about 17 ft. thick at face. Stripping 5 ft. to 7 ft. thick • practically nothing stripped in advance. Recommended a reasonable area of cover being stripped off in front. No notice sent me re this pit being opened. McLean's Pit, Idaburn (L. McLean). —(22/9/98) : Very little work appears to have been done since my former visit. Mr. McLean works the pit (an opencast quarry) himself, and does a very limited trade. Beck's Pit, Idaburn (C. Beck). —(22/9/98): Like White's and McLean's pits, this is worked opencast, the seam having an aggregate thickness of 35 ft. Five men employed. At present very little ground is stripped in advance, but this part of the work was being taken in hand at my visit. White's Pit, Idaburn (John White). —(22/9/98) : This being a slack time of the year, the most of the work at present being done is in stripping off a good area of coal., so as to meet demands later on. Pit in good order. Two men at present employed. Docherty's Pit, Gimmerburn. —(22/9/98) : When at Idaburn I learned that Docherty's pit at Gimmerburn had not been working for some months. No notice has been sent in terms of section 47 of "The Coal-mines Act, 1891." Commercial Goal-mine, Kyeburn Diggings (C. Archer). —(23/9/98) : As previously reported, the coal here is practically vertical. The principal danger is in taking down head-coal next the debris from upper workings, and this point is well watched. A new tunnel has recently been driven to the seam from the river-bank opposite Mr. Archer's house, but not yet opened out to any extent. Ventilation, &c, satisfactory. McCreedy and Goombe's Pit, Kyeburn Diggings. —(23/9/98) : This pit is practically exhausted, and is now only worked occasionally for home use. Duvstan Goal-pit Company, Clyde (John Smart, secretary). —(14/1/98): This mine has been worked from an adit, and is said to have been connected with the workings from a disused shaft. At my visit I found the mine had been for some time idle, and attempted to examine it in company with one of the proprietors. After travelling about 200 yards along the tunnel the ventilation was so bad (owing to an accumulation of black-damp) that our lights would not burn, and we had to return. It was thought that a heavy fall had taken place and choked up the airway. Entrance properly secured by a gate, which is kept locked. Marie's Dairy Greek Pit, Clyde. —(l 4/1/98) : Little or no work has been done here for some years. Marie has lately taken a partner, and work is now being resumed. The workings (which are very limited in extent) are in fair order, but the pillars are far too small, and if a " creep " takes place it is morally certain to close the place entirely. Cromwell Coal-mine (Goodger and Stronach). —(13/1/98) : Since my last visit work has been intermittent. At this date the mine is full of water, the recent floods in the river having risen above the adit connected with the shaft. The pumping arrangements are most unsatisfactory, and there is little or no hope of work being carried to a successful issue until proper pumping appliances are provided. Cooper's Mine, Cromwell. —(lß/1/98) : This mine is situate on the opposite side of the Kawarau Eiver to Wilson's Mine, and about half a mile nearer Cromwell. It is entered by a level, and the seam is 3 ft. 6 in. thick, immediately overlaid by a bed of carbonaceous clay. The workings are very limited in extent, and generally in very fair order. Ventilation quite satisfactory. Pryde's Pit, Bannockburn. —(ls/1/98) : This pit is entered by an incline drive, cut at about half-dip, the full dip of the seam being lin 4. System of work, pillar and stall. A heavy fall has occurred on the main incline. This is of recent date, and has brought down the sand above the roof-coal, together with a little water. As the result of this, the lowest level is filling up with water. Mr. Pryde states that his pit was quite dry previously. The fall has not been cleaned up, but a roundabout road has been cut through the pillars for haulage purposes, and nothing is being done to take out the water. If this is allowed to continue, the pit (which is on Crown land) will sustain serious damage. The air generally is sweet, but there does not appear to be any proper system of directing it through the workings. No proper plan is kept, rules not posted up, nor any record of daily examination made. (12 to 15/5/98) : I again visited the mine and surveyed such workings as were accessible. No attempt has been made to clear the fall previously referred to, nor to take out the water, which is steadily accumulating in the lower levels. The lessee continues to neglect the provisions of the Act re keeping a daily report-book at the mine, and also as to posting of rules, notwithstanding my letter to him of the 28th January directing his attention to this matter. Under date of the 11th June I gave Mr. Pryde notice to have his pit put into proper order, by repairing the incline and taking out the water, failing which, steps would be taken to enforce the conditions of his lease. He replied on the 15th June that preparations were in hand for doing the necessary work with despatch. Parcell and Gibson's Mine, Bannockburn. —(ls/1/98): A tunnel dipping 1 in 3, and meeting the rise of the measures, intersects a seam 5 ft. 6 in. thick, which is being worked on the pillar-and-stall system. The coal is strong, but works freely. Ventilation excellent, and the pit in first-class order. Coal hauled by horse-power. Wilson's Mine, Bannockburn. —(ls/1/98) : The mine is entered by an adit tunnel, and the coal is 5 ft. thick, with a dip of lin 4. The left-hand level is heavily fallen, and some timbers in the tunnel need renewing. Ventilation rather sluggish. Three days previous to my visit T. Wilson, jun. (who worked the mine), was drowned in the Kawarau Eiver (see " Accidents "J.