C—3a

19

Charles Angel's Pit, Nevis.— (6/10/1903): Opencast. Small quantity of coal for private use taken out. . Nevis Coal-pit, Nevis (C. Scott, lessee—permit).— (11/12/1903: Seam vertical. Opencast working now replaced by driving. Mine in very good order. Ryder's Coal-pit, Nevis (C. Scott, lessee; Robert Ritchie, manager).—(l 3/12/1903): Opencast pit Kept clean and in good order. A face of good hard coal at present being operated on. Clough and Allen's, Nevis (Mrs. A. Holmes).—(l 3/12/1903: Nothing done recently in this pit. Mr. C. Scott has purchased Mrs. Holmes's interest—an advantageous arrangement for the district. Gunion's Pit, Nevis (R. Gunion).—(l3/12/1903): Inoperative. Ritchie's Pit, Nevis (Robert Ritchie).— (13/12/1903): Coal taken out in small quantity for private use only. Southland. Pukerau Coal-pit, Pukerau (C. O'Hagan, permit).—(l/ 12/1903): Coal roof and sides very hard and strong. Mine in good order. Report-book to date. Nelson's Coal-pit, Pukerau.(J. H. Nelson).—(l/ 12/1903) : During recent heavy rainfall mine became flooded through the underground drainage-tunnel becoming blocked. Efforts are being made to locate the stoppage. Mason's Coal-pit Pukerau.— (l /'l2/1903): Coal taken out for private use only. Milne's Goal-pit, Pukerau.— (l /12/1903): Coal taken out for private use only. Whilerigg Colliery, East Gore (John Hartley, permit; W. H. Paterson, owner).—(23/4/1903): Lignite-seam 18 ft. in thickness and strong in nature. Very little timber is used or required in the mine. I drew the manager's attention to the necessity for the provision of a suitable powdermagazine and for proper supervision over it. (5/11/1903): A new steam-boiler and Tangye pump having been installed, output is now being won from the dip. A suitable locked powdermaga/iue has been provided. Seam, 18 ft. : 12 ft won, 6 ft. being left on for roof. Heffernan's Coal-pit, East Gore- (J. Hoffman).—(23/4/1903): Working to the rise from waterlevel. Seam lift, in thickness and strong, Bft. being won, 3ft. left on roof. (5/11/1903): Mine in good order. Sarginson's Coal-pit, East Gore (A. Reinke).— (23/4/1903): Lignite now being taken out for private use only. (5/11/1903): Pit idle. P. Ilealey's Pit, East Gore (P. Healey).—(s/11/1903): This pit was worked for private use, but is now idle. A. McDonald's Coal-pit, East Gore (George Perry, lessee).—(s/11/1903): Formerly a private pit. Lignite being taken out of a gully. Seam above water-level. Robert Smith's Coal-pit, East Gore.—Coal continues to be taken out for private use only. H. Smith's Pit, East Gore. —Opencast. Private pit. Green's Pit, Gore (James Duncan, manager; J. and J. Smith, lessees).—(2/12/1903): Mineworkings and roadways in good order. Ventilation fair. A new above ground tram-line being constructed to convey output some 60 chains nearer to the town. Powder-magazine above ground requiretl. Knapdale Coal-mine, Knapdale (R. Irvine).—Seam has been opened up again, and coal is now being sold. Hoffman's Pit, Chatton (T. Hoffman, lessee). — (1/7/1903): Lignite-pit worked formerly as an opencast by A. Perkins. Main drive 100 ft. in, 20 ft. in width by 12 ft. in height, several bords being broken away to the rise. W T ater-drainage troublesome. Instructed Hoffman to have two sets of timber put in at mine-mouth. (3/11/1903): Mine-mouth timbered as required. Perkin's Coal-pit, Chatton (A. Perkins, lessee).—(l/ 7/1903) : Working on boundary to the dip of Pacey's Pit. Stripping 6 ft. to 8 ft. Lignite face 20 ft. (3/11/1903): Pit in good order. Pacey's Coal-pit, Chatton (R. Pacey).—(l/7/1903): Owing to stripping becoming too heavy a drive 25 ft. in width by 10 ft. in height is being put in. Instructed man in charge to bring down some loose coal on the roof; also to take down overhanging clay at mine-mouth. (3/11/1903): Steam-boiler and centrifugal pump having been procured, stripping and opencast working at lower end of pit have been resumed. Instructed Pacey to provide proper powder-magazine and canisters. Harvey's Coal-pit, Chatton.— (3/11/1903): Nothing doing. Otama Coal-pit, Otama. —(12/11/1903): The property on which this pit is situated has been acquired by Cross Bros., owners of the adjacent property. No coal now being taken out of this pit. Cross's Coal-pit, Otama.— (l2/11/1903): Stripping heavy and dangerous. Further supplies will require to be mined. Hunter's Coal-pit,Otama. —(l2/11/1903): Nothing done here since last visit. Thorndale Colliery, Waikaka Valley (E. C. Orchard).—(23/4/1903): A deep drainage-ditch has been brought in, which avoids necessity for pumping water. Stripping not kept ahead in accordance with safety. (5/11/1903): Stripping ahead still insufficiently attended to, suitable workmen not being available. Johnston's Springfield Coal-pit, Waikaka Valley.— (5/11/1903): Ten feet of stripping; 7 ft. of lignite. Pit in good order. Reed's Coal-pit, Waikaka Valley (W. Mitchell).—(s/11/1903): Opencast stripping, 10 ft.; lignite, 15 ft. Stripping not so well attended to as desirable. Scarcity of labour is alleged to be the cause. Proper powder-magazines and canisters required. Ritchie's Coal-pit, Waikaka Valley. —(s/11/1903): Pit closed. Abandoned, stripping having proved too heavy and seam too thin to pay for driving. Drainage also excessive.