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C—3a

Jubilee Colliery, Fairfield (Louden and Howarth). —(23/6/99) : The workings are now in fairly hard coal, and the partings referred to in my last report now appear run out. The seam has a gross thickness of 17 ft., about 8 ft. being worked at present. The area opened out is not yet large. Fourteen men are employed. Ventilation is very good. Eeport satisfactory, and plan kept. Kaitangata Colliery (W. M. Shore, manager).— (9/1/99 and 10/1/99): In my last report I mentioned the advisability of providing more powerful ventilation for this colliery. As this and the Castle Hill collieries have recently been taken over by the New Zealand Collieries, Railway, and Oil Syndicate (Limited), it has been considered advisable to connect these two mines, and on these dates I visited the property to consult with Mr. Shore, and to render him what assistance I could in furthering the matter. I also visited the mine on the 25th January, and inspected the leading workings to the rise. Everything was very satisfactory. (11/8/99) : The pillar-workings on the south side are now finished. To the extreme rise (east) No. 5 fault has been recently cut. This has a downthrow to the east. The largest amount of work now going on is in the main seam in the districts between Nos. 3 and 4 faults and Nos. 4 and 5 faults. In the 18 ft. seam a new dip has been started from the long tunnel, and now connects the workings from the shaft section in the same seam, thus establishing a very good ventilation for this district. A new dip is also about to be started in the same seam near the far end of the long tunnel, where the seam is met with east of No. 3 fault. I found all the leading headings well bratticed up and quite clear of gas. The workings in the shaft section are also well ventilated. A start has been made to connect the workings with those of Castle Hill Colliery. Central Otago. Jones's Coal-pit, Coal Creek, lioxburgh. —(18/1/99) : This mine is now worked by Mr. R. Coskery, who has commenced stripping ground in advance of the working-face. This is what I have repeatedly urged, and there is more ground now stripped than I have ever seen before at this pit. Mrs. McPherson's Pit, Coal Creek, Boxburgh. —(lB/1/99): The workings here are opencast as usual, and the ground is kept stripped well back from the working-face. To drain the lower portion of the seam a 3 in. siphon has been adopted, and works well. This has displaced a very crude arrangement of pumping by steam-power, which was not satisfactory. Craig's Perseverance Pit, Goal Greek, Boxburgh. —(lB/1/99) : The underground workings are on fire, and have been sealed off. The coal now being got is worked opencast, and an ample amount of ground stripped off in advance. Black Diamond Goal-pit, Shingle Greek. —(18/1/99) ; At this visit the mine was not at work, and there was no one about. A sump appears to have been made since my previous visit, and the mine is kept drained by a pump worked by an overshot water-wheel. Tunnel is well timbered and in good order. Lett's McQueenville Goal-mine, Alexandra South. —(B/5/99): All the working-places were inspected, and the mine found generally in good order and well ventilated. In the north-east level some old workings of McQueen and Co., of which I have no record, have been met with. Mr. Lett has recently sunk a third shaft in the property, about 100 yards to the dip of his new shaft and present working-level. Reports and plans up to date. Pratt's Goal-mine, Clyde. —(l 6/1/99) : Mr. Pratt has taken over the lease held by T. C. Marie, and is sinking a new shaft. No work is being at present done in the old dip. On my return to Dunedin I wrote Mr. Pratt as to posting rules, keeping daily report, and complying with the Act generally. I again visited the mine on the Ist March, and made a survey of what work had been done at the shaft. The ladder-way in this shaft has been fixed vertically. Notice was given to alter this so as to comply with the Act. The old dip-tunnel workings have totally collapsed. This is not to be wondered at considering the way in which the mine has been worked in the past. Vincent Goal-pit, Clyde. —(l 6/1/99): This is a new mine under the charge of Mr. William Kitto, to whom a permit has been issued. It is situated between Holt's old pit and that held by C. T. Marie. The seam has a dip of lin2 to the north, but its thickness is not yet fully proved. An upcast shaft, 5 ft. by 3 ft., timbered throughout, has been sunk, but at this date was not connected with the workings. (1/3/99) : Surveyed the mine on this date. The workings are now connected with the air-shaft. Ventilation is very good, and Mr. Kitto seems to take all reasonable care for the safe-working of the mine. Cromwell Goal-pit, Cromwell. —(3/3/99): After standing idle for a considerable length of time this pit has been recently leased by Mr. James Pollock, who has put down a duplex steam-pump. This has enabled him to get to work, but the pump (which is a very small one) is of insufficient capacity, and I fear he may yet be overcome by water unless a larger pump is provided. The seam crops out into the bed of the Kawarau Eiver, the shaft being at no great distance from the riverbank. I made a survey of the mine, and to protect the workings from being inundated by the river water, decided it was necessary to leave a barrier of coal 1-J chains in width to the dip side of the river-bank. The mine is on Crown lands. When Mr. Pollock had dewatered the mine he found some old roadways fallen in, and has been at considerable expense in fixing matters up. Ventilation very fair. On visiting the locality in November I found the pit idle: pump too small for its work: nothing done to replace it with a larger one. Kawarau Goal-pit, Bannockburn (J. Pryde).—(6/3/99): This pit is standing at present, and is full of water. In my last report particulars were given as to how the water had been allowed to accumulate, and, although a steam-boiler and hauling-engine have been erected since my previous visit, no determined effort appears to have been made to unwater the mine. Not being able to make anything of Mr. Pryde, the solicitor for the mortgagees was subsequently interviewed, the result being that the mortgagees practically took the working of the mine into their own hands,