23

o.—3a

Welshman's Gully Pit, Cambrian's (J. McGuckin, lessee). —(9/1/1902) : Water formerly used for stripping is diverted and now being used for alluvial-gold mining. Only bottom coal being lifted at present. (9/12/1902) : An attempt had been made to win this coal by underground mining, but is now abandoned, and opencast working reverted to. Stripping overlying the coal (some 20ft. in depth) is not being kept back from the working-face in a proper manner. I drew Mr. McGuckin's attention to this, and subsequently wrote him on the subject. Blackstone Hill Pit, Blackstone Hill (Robert Thurlow). —(11/1/1902) : Two men are engaged draining and reopening the pit. (10/12/1902) : Face 5 ft. of stripping overlying 15 ft. of coal. Coal is being left underfoot, the small pump in use being unable to cope with the water under that level. Thurlow was slightly burnt in the pit on the 13th May. After lighting a fuse he threw the match away, and it fell on the bag containing the blasting-powder. G. Price's Coal-pit, Blackstone Hill (G. Price, lessee). —(20/2/1902): Only coal for private use now being taken out. Hatvkdun Station (Private Pit), St. Bathan's. —(9/1/1902): No coal has been taken from this pit for several years. St. Bathan's Pit, St. Bathan's (J. Enwright). —(11/1/1902) : Stripping kept well back from the working-face. Pit in good order. (10/12/1902) : The recent wet weather is blamed by the owner as being the cause of the pit not being in such good order as on the occasion of my previous visit. Rough Ridge Coal-mine, Idaburn (M. Beck, manager).—(ll/1/1902) : Overburden not well stripped back, and coal-face being undermined. Mr. Beck promised to attend to the stripping at once. (20/2/1902) : I found two men working under an overhanging face 35 ft. in depth. I warned the men of their danger, and advised them to remove to another part of the pit pending the face being made safe, and subsequently notified the owner of the dangerous method of working. (23/4/1902) : Revisited the mine on this date, when I found that stripping had been taken well back, and the pit made safe and in very fair order. (10/12/1902) : The mine is being worked on somewhat better lines than formerly. The stripping is now carried well ahead of the working-face. Three men employed. McLean's Coal-pit, Idaburn (L. McLean, lessee). —(11/1/1902) : Nothing doing. The pit has evidently not been worked for some time. (10/12/1902) : This pit still idle. Idaburn, Idaburn (J. White, lessee).—(ll/1/1902) : Overburden not being kept back from the coal-face, which was being undermined. The owner promised to attend to the stripping at once. (20/2/1902) : White and another man were working under an overhanging face fully 20 ft., which was cracked and nearly down. I got the men to come up and take the loose down. (23/4/1902) : Revisiting the pit on this date, I found some attempt had been made to strip in advance, but still insufficient attention paid to this important matter. The pulsometer pump in use is too small for the growth of water this wet season, and operations are considerably hampered thereby. A larger pump will be a necessity before dip coal may be won. (10/12/1902) : Pit now in good workingorder. Border, Rough Ridge (G. Turnbull, lessee). —(11/1/1902) : On this date the pit flooded. (23/4/1902) : Work much hampered owing to wetness of season. Pit being in creek-bed, protective works have been carried away by successive freshes, and pit flooded. The two " Douglas " hand-pumps worked by water-wheel not being able to cope with the water, a certain thickness of coal is being left on the bottom. Stripping well attended to. (4/12/1902) : Pit in good order. Gimmerbum, Gimmerburn (C. Docherty).—(l2/1/1902): Coai being worked to water-level only, the stripping being heavy. Coal now being taken out for private use only. Reilly's Area, Kokonga. —(l3/1/1902) : Three prospecting-drives had been put into the terrace from the river-side, but are now abandoned, and nothing doing. Commercial Coal-pit, Upper Kyebum (C. Archer, permit). —(12/12/1902) : Since last visit the dip has been, extended to 110 ft. A low level is now being driven 9 ft. high by 12 ft. in width, with an average roof of 9 ft. of coal overhead. Following the usual custom, the overlying gravel is run into the level to enable the head-coal being won. Mine in good order. Ventilation fair. Dairy Greek Goal-pit, Clyde (R. Robertson, permit).—(B/7/1902) : Mine in very good order. Coal strong, and very little timber required. Ventilation good. (13/10/1902) : A new haulingrope has been put on. North-side workings stopped on a fault. Mine well conducted. Clyde Collieries, Clyde (G. F. Turner, manager).—(B/7/1902) : The mine is in good order. Ventilation good. Reports to date. (13/10/1902): The seam is intersected by small faults and clay bands, which give considerable trouble. A " break" struck in the seam gave off sand with water until checked. The dip-face is at 340 ft. from the mine-mouth. Workings in good order. Air good. Gibbston Goal Company's Pit, Gibbston (J. Hodson, manager).—(26/5/1902): The mine is in very fair order. Air-courses clear; ventilation good. Quite 50 per cent, of the seam is soft and inferior, but appears to improve in quality to the dip. The tram-line, one mile and a half in length, from the engine-house to the depot, at the foot of the mountain, is working satisfactorily. Owing to the configuration of the surface and to avoid cuttings, which would become blocked with snow in winter, there are twenty-six separate grades and one curve on the line. A jig 350 yards in length connects the mine-mouth with the head of the tramway. (28/10/1902) : The upper portion of the seam known as the "3ft. band" is now being worked, the lower level is being reopened, and there is a large body of coal available to the rise. Doolan's Creek Goal Company, Gibbston (M. Begg).—(2B/10/1902) : A new road some two miles in length has been constructed from the saddle to the mine. A level 6 ft. by 4 ft. has been driven some 60 ft. on the strike of the seam. The coal is of good quality, and it is unfortunate that the mine is situated in such an inaccessible place. The proprietors are hopeful that the quality of the coal will more than make up for the enhanced cost of placing it on the market under the circumstances.