17

C—3a

some. Workings all standing in good order. Air good, and report-book to date. (17/9/1900): Workings to the dip are well laid out, and are standing well in good strong coal. Air good throughout the mine. A new dip-tunnel is being driven from near the roadside, and a haulingengine is to be erected on the loading-bank. The coal will be brought up this drive, and the shafts at present in use for winding will form excellent upcasts and second outlets. Theyers's, Alexandra South (W. Theyers).—(l7/9/1900): Nothing doing. No demand for the coal. Undaunted Coal-mine, Gemmel's Gully, Alexandra (E. Ballantyne, manager).—(l 3/1/1900): This pit, which is 75 ft. deep, has been recently sunk, but notice of such was not forwarded to me. Coal is being taken out on a small scale. The whip-frame is of faulty structure, and the timbers are too light for the purpose. The hempen rope in use is worn in places halfway through, and the top of the shaft is unfenced. I wrote Mr. Ballantyne under date the. 29th January, 1900, drawing his attention to the improper state of his appliances. I also drew his attention to a dangerous fallen-in shaft 2 chains up the gully from his working-shaft, and required him to fill it up, there being plenty of loose material available. (17/9/1900) : The level face is 1 chain from shaft-bottom, and being narrow it is standing well. Perseverance, Alexandra South (E. H. Findlay).—(l7/9/1900) : A new mine-tunnel has been driven, and the shaft is now used as an upcast. A winch hauling-engine is erected on the load-ing-bank near the roadside. The mine-workings are well opened up and in good order. Air good. Alexandra Coal-mining Company, Alexandra (William Carson, manager).—(l 2/1/1900) : This recently formed company has acquired Gard's lease. A new shaft was started in July, 1899. An iron cylinder 30 ft. long by 8 ft. diameter, was put down through 50 ft. of alluvial drift, and sunk 2 ft. into the coal-seam, which is here 28 ft. thick. A ring of concrete 2 ft. deep was put in all round the bottom of the cylinder to keep water back. The shaft is divided into two compartments, one being used for winding and the other as a ladder-way and return airway. The ladders are imperfect, and I drew the manager's attention to them on the spot, and by letter dated the 26th January, 1900. The rope used for winding is too light, and Mr. Carson promised to procure a heavier one. The shaft-bottom is only 2i chains from Gard's nearest workings, which are presumably standing full of water. A plan prepared by me, and approved by Mr. Hayes, Inspecting Engineer, has been forwarded to Mr. Carson, showing the workings of Gard's old pit and their relation to the new shaft. A safety barrier of solid coal 1 chain in width at the narrowest point is provided. This should prove to be sufficient, as Gard's workings were not extensive. (15/3/1900) : Ladders not up to the mark yet. This shaft is too small, and the directors propose to sink a larger one to the dip in the near future. Eules not posted, and no report-book kept. (18/9/1900) : Plant, machinery, and workingplaces in good order. Water streaming from roof in several places where the coal is open-jointed. I strongly advised the manager to keep the places narrow. Eules posted, and plan to date. Thomas Wheeler, banksman, met with an accident on the 4th August. The engine-man was winding water to the upper landing. While the cage was up Wheeler stretched himself on the ground, and was speaking down the shaft when the cage descended and jammed his head against the side of the shaft. Injuries : Nose broken and face cut. Gard's and Beck, near Gemmel's Gully, Alexandra. —(13/1/1900): Nothing doing. Shaft covered over. Cambrians, Cambrians (C. Dungey). —(13/10/1900): Stripping 10ft. to 12ft. of auriferous gravel. Coal-seam, C ft. to 12 ft. thick. The face at one point overhanging very badly. Welshman's Gully, Cambrians (J. and E. McGuckin, lately Hughes).—(l3/10/1900) : Opencast; 12 ft. to 20ft. of stripping (clay). Coal, 30ft. ; very little coal stripped in advance, and the men working under a high face, nearly vertical, where the top was loose in two places. I cautioned Mr. McGuckin, and advised him to keep more batter on the face. Padgett's, Blackstone Hill (B. Padgett).—(ls/10/1900) : Coal has run out. Nothing doing now. The owner is going to prospect. St. Bathan's Coal-mine, St. Bathan's (J. Enwright).—(l6/1/1900) : 6 ft. to 8 ft. of clay and gravel overlying the coal-seam. No stripping done in advance, and face overhanging in places. I again advised Mr. Enwright to carry a bench of stripping along in advance of the coal being got, so as to minimise risk of accident. Bough Bidge, Idaburn (C. Beck).—(ls/10/1900): Coal, 55 ft. thick at the deepest part, with 6 ft. to 10 ft. of gravel stripping, which is generally kept well back from the face. A quantity of loose weathered coal was overhanging above where the men were working on the bottom. The manager promised to have it taken down. McLean's, Idaburn (L. McLean). —(15/10/1900) : Not much doing. Owner busy carting stripping out of the pit. Mr. McLean was levering a piece of coal down with a crowbar on the 31st January when the point slipped, and the butt-end struck his ribs, fracturing one of them. Idaburn, Idaburn (J. White).—(ls/10/1900): Coal not stripped. Mr. White is behind this season, owing to the unusually large quantity of water made by the pit during spring. Border Coal-pit, Idaburn (G. Turnbull). —(15/10/ltOO) : Opencast. The water-growth is somewhat heavier than the wheel-pump is able to cope with this wet season. Not much doing. Gimmerburn, Gimmerburn (0. Dougherty). —(15/10/1900): Not much doing here now. Stripping heavy, and coal dipping below water-level. Only about 5 ft. of coal water-free. Commercial, Kyeburn (C. Archer).—(l 6/10/1900) : The north level at 160 ft. from the shaft struck a fault which cut the coal out. The south level at 360 ft. from the shaft struck another fault, which also cut out the coal. A bed of running sand was tapped, but owing to there being very little water in the sand it was easily stopped. The coal (which is vertical) is worked in 17 ft. lifts, similar to the stopes in a quartz-mine. The air at the face is very dull. 3—C. 3a.