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on going into the place I found an inadequate quantity of coal lying owing to the place not having been properly prepared by the miner working there. On making inquiries I learned that the miners fire their own shots in this colliery. This being a contravention of special rule 25, I requested Mr. Shore to make the necessary alteration. In addition to naked lights, safety-lamps are used throughout the mine, as a little gas is occasionally reported. The mine officials appear to exercise the utmost vigilance. I found no trace of any firedamp in the workings on the day of my visit. Deputy's daily reports and readings of barometer and thermometer carefully recorded every shift. On my return to Dunedin I wrote Mr. Shore, under date the 6th November, pointing out that he was not complying with section 33, subsection (1), in regard to the air in south workings ; also special rule 25, which provides that deputy shall fire all shots in every mine in which firedamp has been found, &c. Mr. Shore replied (Bth November) that the air was split at the intake a few days after my visit, and a constant supply taken direct into the south side instead of, as previously, having traversed the whole of the north and east districts before reaching the south ; also that special rule 25 had been complied with. (10/11/99) : Inspected surface appliances for second outlet at shaft up the gully from mine-mouth, and found a good hand-winch in position ready for use, with a flexible-wire rope on the drum, and housed for protection from weather; beam across shaft and pulley attached, all in good working order. Castle Hill Colliery (owners, New Zealand Collieries, Railway, and Oil Syndicate; manager, Mr. W. M. Shore). —(3/11/99) : Three continuous shifts of men day and night driving a pair of levels to communicate with the Kaitangata Mine. This colliery is in excellent order, having been recently put in a state of thorough repair. Timber renewed and roadways enlarged where necessary. Air very good. Safety-lamps hanging on wall near face for use if required. I could find no trace of gas in working-places. Reports well kept. (10/11/99): Winding plant in good order standing ready for use on surface at the top of upcast air-shaft. Smith's Mine, Wangaroa, near Kaitangata (J. Smith, lessee). —(2/11/99): No one about. Locked gate on entrance, and got into mine by return airway. Mine in good order, and air very good. Not much work being done apparently. Record Reign Coal-mine, Kaitangata (Robert Penman). —(2/11/99) : No one about. Mine apparently abandoned. Obnteal Otago. Gibbston Coal-mine, Gibbston (Martin Macale). —(16/11/99): Opencast. Stripping, which is very heavy, is being removed with water. Coal patchy, and quality irregular; pinching out in places, and replaced by soft patches of sooty and very inferior coal. No definite face of work. Owner working hard, but without much system. Cardrona Goal-mine, Cardrona (Robert McDougall).—(24/11/99): Vertical seam lying in a V-shaped trough. Line of strike about N. 10 W. Stripping done by water, which has brought down a large land-slip on each side of the claim. As the coal is worked back to the saddle these slips will prove to be almost unmanageable, and from present indications will eventually slide in from three sides, and completely cover up the coal-exposure. This may take place next spring or the one following. Low-level tunnels will probably soon have to be driven, and the coal properly mined; and, as this mine is the only source of supply for a large district, I advised Mr. McDougall to set about this at once, so that he could insure a regular supply and output. Mr. McDougall promised to start a new low-level tunnel on Monday next, the 27th. The management of this mine has not been such as to work the claim to the best advantage. The output from the four men working could easily be doubled if a few alterations of a practical nature were made. Kawarau Coal-mine, Bannockburn (lately Pryde's Pit), (J. C. Campbell, manager).—(2o/11/99): The whole of the old workings on the south side of the dip had to be sealed off on account of fire and crush which took place after the water that Mr. Pryde had allowed to accumulate was drained off. Bord-ends had to be built off with stoppings packed with 5 ft. of sand to keep back fire-stink. New dip-drive is being extended west, and is now 4 chains below Pryde's lowest places. Bords on each side of dip in good hard coal. Dross is accumulating in some of the places. The custom which prevails at this and other collieries in the district of using dross for stoppings, sometimes loose and sometimes filled into bags, is liable to cause spontaneous combustion, especially when falls from the roof take place on the heaps of dross, or should the dross get wet fire is likely to follow. Air steady. Report to date. Excelsior Coal-mine, Bannockburn (Parcell and Gibson; J. Gibson, permit).—(lß/11/99): Workings standing very well, and care taken in driving them somewhat regular. Air very slack; no current. Area of upcast air-shaft at bottom contracted to 5 square feet. Drew Mr. Gibson's attention to this, and requested him to enlarge shaft-bottom, which, Mr. Gibson has since written me, has been done. An eight-horse-power vertical engine has recently been substituted for horsehaulage and drawing water. Rules posted. Report-book well kept. Bannockburn Coal-mine, Bannockburn (Thomas Wilson). —(18/11/99): Mine very recently reopened after being idle for nearly two years. Timbering at adit-entrance rotten and very ragged in appearance, and has not been renewed as occasion required. Props along the main level rotten, and useless for the purpose of taking any weight should it come on them. Heavy falls have taken. place in the left-hand level, which district has completely collapsed Air not good, and travelling very slowly. I found that the bottom of the upcast air-shaft was not sunk through the coal, and that a small hole only large enough to admit a man's arm had been pricked through to the bord below. I drew Mr. Wilson's attention to this, and requested him to enlarge the shaft-bottom to the full size of the shaft. I wrote Mr. Wilson on the 2nd December requesting him to renew the whole of the timber sets and props along the adit and the level, and to add extra timber where required.

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