C—3a

24

Cardrona Mine, Cardrona (R. McDougall, owner; D. Scurr, manager). —(21/10/1902): Stripping being sluiced away ahead of the working-face. It is intended to open out at a lower level at an early date. Cromwell and Bannockbum Collieries Company, Bannockburn (Thomas Barclay, manager).— (2/5/1902) : Kawarau Colliery, Bannockburn : The new dip mine driven from outcrop is 70 yards to face ; coal faulted and inferior. From surface indications the ground is somewhat troubled on this part of the area. (5/11/1902), (A. S. Gillanders, manager) :An old mine-entrance on Shepherd's Creek has been reopened, and a dip is being driven. At 20 yards a fault was struck carrying running sand. The dip is now being turned in the coal to avoid the fault. A steam boiler and hauling plant have been erected on the pit-bank, as, the coal being of good quality, development is being steadily pursued. Excelsior Mine, Bannockburn (T. Barclay, manager), (3/5/1902) : Pillars are drawn to the rise. The level and airway pillars are being saved to provide for air-return from new dip. The engine and boiler from Pryde's old mine have been brought down and re-erected here for haulage and pumping purposes. The duplex " Tangye " pump, 7 in. by 5 in. by 12 in. (5,000 gallons per hour), easily keeps water under. (5/11/1902), (A. Gillanders, manager) : Four levels are broken away off the dip extension, 10-yard pillars being left. Roof good, except on the south side of the dip, where it is inclined to fret a little. Ventilation good; report-book to date. Bannockburn Coal-mine (T. Barclay, manager), (3/5/1902) : Upcast air-shaft unfenced and upper timbers require renewal. Coal good at face of low level, seam opening up well. Air good. (5/11/1902), (A. S. Gillanders, manager) : A new drive has been put in to win the rise pillars and save length of haulage. Air somewhat warm, but work being carried on safely. No work had been done in the lower workings for some months past. (5/12/1902) : Hugh Donnelly and Frederick Jones, miners, were lighting the smithy fires to sharpen picks when an explosion of dynamite-caps occurred, inflicting wounds on chest and abdomen. Mr. Gillanders, minemanager, being of the opinion that the caps were wilfully, if not maliciously, placed in the fire, brought the matter under the notice of the police. Inquiries were made, but without succeeding in obtaining sufficient proof to suspect any one of the deed. George Jeffrey's Area, Bannockburn. —(2/5/1902) : Four trial shafts have been sunk without result. The outcrop of the seam does not extend eastward so far as was anticipated. (5/11/1902) : Nothing doing at present. The prospecting-shafts have been filled in. Cairnmuir Pit, Bannockburn (Crow and Anderson). —(5/11/1902) : I have been unable to see any work that may have been done at this pit during the year. Charles Angel, Bannockburn. —(5/11/1902) : Opencast. Coal for private use only being taken out. Nevis Coal-pit, Nevis (C. Scott). —(31/10/1902): An effort is now being made to win the coal left on the bottom. A water-supply available for stripping is used as required. Ryder's Pit, Nevis (C. Scott). —(4/11/1902): Seam now being worked opencast, owners having purchased an acre from Mrs. Holmes, the adjoining tenant. Clough and Allen's, Nevis (Mrs. A. Holmes). —(4/11/1902) : No work has been done in this pit during the year. Gunion's, Nevis (R. Gunion). —(31/10/1902): No work has been done on this area so far by Mr. Gunion. Ritchie's, Nevis (J. Ritchie). —(4/11/1902): Only a small quantity of coal has been taken out for private use. The pit will probably be opened next season for the supply of coal to a dredge at the Nevis Crossing. Southland. Pukerau Coal-mine, Pukerau (C. O'Hagan, permit).—(3/5/1902) : Mine m very fair order. Ventilation good. A windmill pump for unwatering the mine is working satisfactorily. Nelson's Pit, Pukerau (J. H. Nelson). —(3/5/1902) : A heading has been driven from the opencast face ; being in a gully, a considerable amount of dead-work has been undertaken in clearing away slips and reopening the drainage-tunnel. Mason's, Pukerau (A. Mason). —(3/5/1902): Coal taken out for private use only; 7 ft. coal, 5 ft. stripping. Milne's Pit, Pukerau (A. Milne). —(3/5/1902): Coal taken out for private use only ; 7 ft. coal, 6 ft. stripping. Whiterigg Mine, East Gore (J. Hope, permit).—(l/ 5/1902): Mine in good working-order, but the mine-entrance requires to be trimmed and retimbered. (13/8/1902), (William Patterson, owner) : The mine-mouth had been retimbered and made secure. I found more blasting-powder in the mine than was required for the day's supply, and advised the manager to reduce the quantity. A 6-horse-power oil-engine has been placed in the mine to provide motive power for the pump, but the owner's intention is to put in a steam pumping plant, when the coal will be mined to the dip. Heffernan's Pit, East Gore (J. Boyd).—(1/5/1902) : The main drive has been taken in 90 ft. at water-level. The mine-entrance is in an unsafe condition. I advised the manager to exercise more care in the handling of powder, which was being kept in an open cask at the mine-mouth. (30/8/1902) : The mine-entrance has been made safe, and the mine is in fair working-order. Air good. P. Healy (Private Pit), East Gore. —(l/ 5/1902): Only a few tons per annum are taken out for own use. H. Smith's Pit, East Gore. —(3/5/1902) : Coal taken out for private use only ; 7 ft. coal, 8 ft. stripping. A. McDonald's Pit, East Gore. —(1/5/1902) : Coal taken out for private use only; 7 ft. coal, 4 ft, stripping.