C—3a

22

driven 7 ft. in width, and is now 16 chains to the face. Bords are now being broken away 6 ft. in width, and gradually widened out to not more than 9 ft., in the hope of maintaining the places without much timber. Ventilation good; air stoppings in good order. (2/7/1902), (J. Frame, manager) : The mine is in fair order and ventilation good, but the water being allowed to rise in the dip must ultimately have a bad effect, as the bottom is naturally inclined to swell. (9/10/1902) : There are indications of a weight coming on the pillars in the worked bords, and the poplar timber used makes very inferior mining timber. The return airway is in a bad state of repair, but the ventilation is fair at this date. A small duplex " Tangye " pump is being placed in the dip for unwatering the mine. (11/10/1902): The return airway is being put in a state of repair, and the renewal of timber where necessary in the working-places is receiving attention. (11/11/1902) : Owing to smooth partings in the roof and a little weight on pillars the sides are difficult to maintain. An adequate supply of timber had not been procured in time, and the roof, where the bottom is soft, had fallen somewhat. The return airway, owing to falls, is not in a proper state for a travelling-way. Mr. Finlay unfortunately continues in a bad state of health, but I impressed upon his manager the necessity for immediate steps being taken to remedy the condition of the mine. McQueenville Coal-mine, Alexandra (R. Lett, owner; J. Howie, manager). —(11/2/1902): Examined the working-places, also the old workings, and found the mine in a very satisfactory condition. (9/10/1902): Mine in good order generally, but ventilation rather dull. The manager is absent on leave, having met with an accident to his chest by falling forward on the corner of a box in the mine. Mr. Carson, of the Alexandra Coal Company's mine, is acting as supervisor during Mr. Howie's absence. Drummey's Pit, Alexandra (J. Drummey). —(11/11/1902) :No one about. The pit-bank looks as though no work had been done for some considerable time. Alexandra Coal-mine, Alexandra (W. A. Thomson, owner; M. O'Connell, permit).—(ll/2/1902) : Horse haulage is proving inadequate, and the water is steadily gaining and rising up the dip. (19/2/1902): This mine has latterly not been conducted satisfactorily, water being allowed to rise, and is now three bords up in the dip. The owner announces his intention to put down a steampump and hauling-engine to replace horse haulage hitherto in vogue. Owing to the manner in which the frontage of this area has been worked entrance to the field behind is becoming restricted, and'l have notified Mr. Thomson that improvement in his methods of working is urgently required. (4/7/1902) : Mine standing full of water; nothing doing. (9/10/1902), (James Pollock, manager): A 16-horse-power "Marshall" boiler has been erected at the mine-mouth, and a pump and hauling plant are being procured. (11/11/1902) : A duplex " Snow " pump, capacity 8,000 gallons per hour, had just been started. A 12-horse-power combined haulage-engine and drum, with reversible and clutch gear, is being procured. Alexandra Coal Company, Alexandra (William Carson, manager).—(B/2/1902 and 10/2/1902) : Boreholes regularly put up 7 ft. in the roof at intervals of 20 ft. Mundy's heading (where the dredge crossed) is now filled for a length of 32 ft. with bags of gravel, faced with a building of timber in the front. Air good ; mine in good order. (30/4/1902) : The seam is 28 ft. in thickness, of which about 8 ft. is being worked, ample pillars being left. The parting between the bottom coal and the brown coal is regular and well defined throughout the pit, and regulates the height to which bords are being driven. All places are being driven to lines, and, the sides and roof being strong, the workings look very well, a fall from roof or sides being unknown in the pit. The seam lies almost flat, but a trough running north-west and south-east traverses the workings, forming a convenient lodgment for water. (3/7/1902) : Mine in good order; ventilation fair. (11/10/1902): A record of the quantity of water pumped having been kept, it is found that the average quantity continues —viz., about 50,000 gallons per diem, there being no perceptible increase. A new windingrope has been put on, and a 20-horse-power "Marshall" boiler is being installed to replace the vertical boiler at present in use. Rules posted, but torn, and require to be renewed. (12/11/1902) : Bore-holes in the roof are consistently attended to, one of the men being appointed for that purpose. After careful examination I could find no trace of water at any of the holes, and from all appearances the seam appears to be most regular in its deposition. The seam is lying practically horizontal, and is immediately overlaid by free gravel, which is undoubtedly waterlogged to the level of the Clutha River, which is cutting into the bank on this area as rapidly as dredging operations are being prosecuted. The Molyneux Hydraulic Gold-dredging Company holds the surface of this area as a special claim. Undaunted Pit, Alexandra (D. H. Mathias, permit). —(11/2/1902) : The dip is being extended and bords broken away. The dross is being allowed to accumulate. Ventilation fair. (9/7/1902): Workings in good order. (9/10/1902): The dross shows no sign of heating. As a precaution the heavier accumulations have been cut into and turned over. Dip 150 ft. to face. Bords broken away at 10 yards centres. Four men employed. Rivers's Pit, Alexandra. —(ll/11/1902): Mr. Rivers having applied for cancellation of his lease, acting under instructions I re-entered upon the area this date. The shaft is filled in to the surface. Mr. Rivers informed me that the only work done was a drive 2 chains east under the Manuherikia River, and a level driven 100 ft. south from the shaft. On the men going to work one morning the shaft was found full of water to river-level. Mr. Rivers spent a good deal of money trying to bale the water out, but, being unsuccessful, finally gave it up and abandoned the pit. Cambrian's Coal-pit, Cambrian's (C. Dungey, lessee). —(9/1/1902) : The man at work in the pit was undermining the face. Not much doing here. (9/12/1902) : A new pit being opened on the face of the hill overlooking the township I requested Mr. Dungey to remove gelignite and detonators from the abandoned pit.