21

C.—3a

each. I also drew the manager's attention to the necessity of having closer attention paid to the timbering of several bords in the dips. (7/8/1902) : Air at intake, 30,480 cubic feet per minute. Traversed the main haulage roadways, working-places, dips, levels, and return airways to furnace, and found all in good order. Also examined the old workings so far as I could get into them, and found all clear. Coal proud in new seam (supposed to be Kaitangata main seam) and in the No. 2 dip. The men are wearing gauze shields for protection to their eyes. (20/11/1902) : Air at intake, 31,890 cubic feet per minute. The main extension is standing in an 8 ft. seam of coal, and is being allowed to " bleed," as gas giving off freely. Gas is also making in the advancing places in No. 3 dip, north side. Air conducted to faces by brattice and stentons put up at regular intervals as rapidly as possible. Due precautions taken; only safety lamps used, and lamp-station notices posted. (10/12/1902): Work in Nos. 1 and 2 dips now discontinued. Coal-getting confined to No. 3 dip, north-level section, in the 11 ft. seam, and the shaft-workings main seam. Gas making, more or less, in all the advancing places in the solid. Lamp-station notices posted, and air conducted to faces by brattice. Roof cutting badly in north level and No. 3 dip bords, and timber kept close up to faces. A slight ignition of gas occurred in Geary's bord on the sth December. . The deputy, M. Greene, having discovered a trace of gas at the face in the morning, posted a notice outbye. About an hour later D. Wilson, roadman, passed the notice with a naked light on his cap, when a very slight ignition occurred. I saw the notice, which was dirty and discoloured. After due consideration the mine-manager instituted proceedings against the deputy, and also M. Carson, underviewer, for not having a proper caution-board posted, as required by Special Rule 14 in the appendix to the Act. Defendants pleaded " Not guilty," but the Bench inflicted a nominal penalty of 2s. 6d., with £1 12s. 6d. costs, against each. On the 9th December Robert Russell had been buried for a few minutes under a fallen set of timber and overlying crushed coal, which came away while he was setting a false prop to the set. Russell escaped with a few bruises. The manager reported that a safety lamp had been returned to the lamp-cabin having three holes deliberately driven through shield and gauzes, as though with a pick. The person having used the lamp during the shift had not been identified. Longridge Mine, Kaitangata (Nesbit Mackie, permit).—(2l/11/1902) : A new mine opened in the bush on a ridge about two miles below Kaitangata Township. McAllister Bros, had formerly worked the seam on the opposite side of the ridge. Seam 4 ft. in thickness. Coal from the mine carried by tramway to main road. Wangaroa Mine, Kaitangata (James Smith, owner). —(28/8/1902): No one about to-day, but from appearances the mine is being regularly worked, and is in good order. The toll-bar erected last year remains in position. Mainholm Mine, Waipahi (Fred Lischner, owner). —(4/5/1902) : This mine continues to be worked in a systematic and consequently remunerative manner. A splendid face of coal 22 ft. in depth is being worked. A considerable area is kept stripped in advance of the working-face. Central Otago. Coal Creek Collieries Company, Coal Creek, Roxburgh (R. Newell, permit).—(6/2/1902) : The seam is strong and thick, and the places are driven high and wide, fair-sized pillars being left. Ventilation good. (11/3/1902) : Mine in fair order. (31/5/1902): Mine in good order, but I found that the manager was overstepping the mark by employing more men than his permit allowed. (30/6/1902), (J. Barber, manager) : Toward the opencast workings the faces meet the clay roll. Air good in all the faces. The freehold is being prospected slowly. (4/10/1902), (W. Barclay, manager) : All the working-faces in the mine are driven to the floor of the seam and up to a " roll " towards the open face ; several of the larger pillars are being split. Seam being some 80 ft. in thickness, there is a great quantity of coal overhead which is intended to be worked opencast eventually. (14/11/1902) : The prospecting-drive on the company's freehold has reached the coal-seam. Mine-workings in good order. McPherson's Pit, Goal Creek, Roxburgh (M. McPherson, lessee). —(6/2/1902): Opencast pit; in good order. (4/10/1902) :18 ft. of coal is being taken up in the bottoms in the second bench and 8 ft. to 10 ft. in the upper bench. The drainage-tunnel is acting satisfactorily, and keeps the lower workings dry. There is a considerable percentage of soft coal in the seam, which is carted out of the pit and burnt on the waste-heap. Craig's Perseverance Mine, Coal Creek, Roxburgh (James Craig, permit).—(6/2/1902) : Mine in good order, and ventilation good. (30/6/1902): Coal still being mined from the second level. The mine is kept free from dross, and is in good working-order. (4/10/1902), (A. Craig, permit) : The places are driven 9 ft. wide, the pillars being left 7 yards square. The hydraulic hauling and pumping plant continues to give satisfaction. Gidly Pit, Roxburgh (Gourley and Rennie). —(4/10/1902) :No one about; pit full of water. Perseverance Colliery, Alexandra (R. Finlay, owner; Ed. Evans, permit).—(ll/2/1902): Owing to illness the proprietor has not been able to devote his attention to this mine, which is consequently suffering from mismanagement ; and, as the workings are becoming more extensive, the necessity for the services of a skilled man become more apparent every visit. Roof tender and hard to keep, and the bottom is also swelling somewhat. Timbering not being sufficiently attended to. (19/2/1902) :As in the adjoining mine (Lett's), it is found that the dip is flattening and inclined to rise from the trough. The soft seam at 6ft. from the bottom makes a bad roof, and, timber being costly, the alternative is to drive bords narrow, not more than 8 ft. to 9 ft. in width, when with care the roof arches naturally. I had to draw the manager's attention to dross being left too thick in places—a source of danger from spontaneous ignition in the event of falls from the roof occurring. (3/4/1902), (James Pollock, manager): Attention is being paid to the maintenance of the dip, which is being