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been cleared out, a box drain put in, and a roadway laid down. Six men are engaged in and about the pit at present. (25/9/1901) :J. MeKeioh in charge. All opencast working vow stopped. (11/10/1901)- Two men underground. This mine is suffering through mismanagement. (12/12/1901) : (E. Newell, permit.) Three men underground. As trade is increasing at this pit additional men are to be put on. The mine is now being conducted on better lines. McPherson'sPit, Goal Creek, Roxburgh (M. McPhereon, lessee).—(3l/5/1901) : Opencast. Four men employed. A good face is being worked, but there is a strong tendency to undermine. Stripnot carried back from the face. A low level is being driven m for drainage. (21/8/1901) : The old working-face has been discontinued in favour of taking up the bottom coal m the pit. Ine drainage level is being driven through a soft clay, and the undertaking is slow and troublesome. (25/9/1901) : Beached coal with drainage level; now laying pipe-line. (12/12/1901) : Ine drainage level when finished, will allow of over 20 ft. of bottom coal to be lifted water-free. _ Craig's Perseverance Mine, Roxburgh (James Craig, permit).—(3l/5/1901) : A new dip is being driven ; grade, lin 4. The mine-mouth is well timbered, and one man was engaged putting a good batter over the entrance. Pour men are employed. The pit is in good order. (21/8/1901) : Ine new dip is stopped pending the erection of a hydraulic motor and winch to replace horse haulage. In the meantime coal is obtained from the level. The coal is firm and hard, so that the places are carried high. Air good. The mine is well managed. (25/9/1901) : The dip is now below present working-leve], and Mr. Craig expects to break away with a lower level soon. (12/12/1901) : Inis mine is now in the hands of Craig Brothers. Work is being carried on in the second level from the dip. 17 ft. of coal has been left between the upper and lower levels. Air good. lhe thickness of the seam has not yet been determined, but it is believed to be fully 100 ft Gully Pit Roxburgh (Gourlay and Bennie).— (l2/6/1901) : The owners not having done anything to the pit, some of the settlers in the district are helping themselves and taking out a tew tons for winter supply. The old pit, being in a gully, is full of water. Only about 3 ft. of coal lies above water-level, with from 10 ft. to 12 ft. of stripping on top. Black Diamond, Roxburgh (P. Galvin) ,-(11/6/1901): Pit not now at work. Abandoned. Hessons, Shingle Greek (George Hesson). - (11/6/1901): Prospecting for coal in the Coal Creek coal-measures, above Bulrush Swamp. Three shafts have been sunk, but the coal-seam has not vet been struck. . ~ , -, Holt's Mine, Shepherd's Flat (William J. Holt).-(6/6/1901): A prospect ng-shaft has proved the coal to be 6 ft. thick, with 16 ft. of cover in the gully. The coal will only be required in the event of a dredge being placed on the Upper Praser Eiver. , ■>, • j- • V *. Alexandra Goal-A Alexandra (W, A. Thomson, lessee). -(8/6/1901) : Main dip.incline wet and dirty, drainage-water not conducted properly. Only two places now being worked; high side of roof-coal tender .where coal is coming away from a parting. Props used in the bords Air only fair Rules posted, and report-book to date. (11/12/1901) : Mine in good order. Yen ila ion fair. Three men. Haulage done by horse. Pumping-gear will be required at an early date if the dip Workings are to be prosecuted vigorously. The water-growth is beyond present appliances, and the bottom bords are now under water. The mine has been worked in a half-hearted manner during the past year. Mr. Thomson informs me that he is negotiating for the purchase oi a Colliery, Alexandra (E. Pinlay, lessee).-(8/6/1901) : Dip drive being pushed on Bords broken away on left-hand side of dip only. Pillars to back heading 30 tt. square ; bords 9ft wide The high sides of the bords are inclined to "cut," more especially in the vicinity of « thread-faults," where the roof-coal is somewhat tender. I notified Evans to drive narrow through the faulted coal, and to put in timber when necessary.' A supply of timber is kept at surface. Eeport-book to date, but rules not posted. (10/12/1901) : Mine in good order. Ventilation fair. The boiler lately on the Electric No. 1 dredge has been placed in position Six men employed. On account of the tender nature of the coal left on to form the roof, timber is required m the dip workings The bords are driven only 9 ft. in width, while the pillars are 30 it m thickness. M?Queenvlll & Coal-mine, Alexandra (James Howie, manager).-(8/6/1901): The dip-drive face is now 8 yards beyond the main shaft. The dip of the seam is altering to what is now a gentle rise. The working-places are standing in good order. Air good, with the exception of Duncan s place, the stentons not being bratticed, consequently air dull at face. What looks like an accumulation of clross occurs in several of the old bords, but Mr. Howie assured me hat the waste consisted mainly of the 18 in band of stony coal which is thrown back, and is not liable to spontaneous ignition. Eeport-book to date. Mine carefully managed. (10/12/1901) : Mine m good order. Ventilation good Mine haulage by horse at present, but it is the intention of the owners to erect a steamengine with winding-gear on the bank at mine-mouth in the near future. 8 DrZmJy's Pit, Alexandra (J. Drummey, lessee).-(8/6/1901) :No one about. I learnt that the only work done here for some time is baling out water. Xlpson and Theyers, Alexandra.-(8/6/1901) : Still no work bemg done at this pit. Pit-head Coal Company, Alexandra (William Carson, manager).-(7/6/1901) : All places are driven 9 f Tide by from 7 ft. to 8 ft. high, leaving from 13 ft. to 15 ft. of coal for roof. Eoadways all In good m'der, and the mine is clean, dross being all filled away Dip drive at face now rising SSy In several places water is streaming from open joints in the roof, and in one heading where the Molyneux Hydraulic Company's dredge crossed, work was Stopped on that account. The streams here are small, but as a precaution (after consultation with Mr. Hayes, Inspecting EneineeTl wrote the manager, under date the Ist October, to have the heading filled and stowed with toe most suitable material available as a protection to the roof (timber, owing to its liability to to bring considered unsuitable). Also, boreholes to be put up 7 ft. into the roof of all advancing places at intervals of not more than 20 ft. The roof throughout the mine is

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