15

C—3a,

being systematically used, and, notwithstanding the band of stone in the roof, accidents from falls of roof are comparatively rare. The dip section is opening out in a satisfactory manner. The seam of coal more than maintains an average thickness of 6 ft., the coal being of good quality. Electric haulage and pumping plant are being installed for use in the dip workings and haulage on main level underground, the power being generated at the surface steam-boilers, and transmitted to winches underground by cables suspended from insulators inserted in posts on roadside. On this date the ventilation was rather dull in dip working-faces owing to the back airway being behind, otherwise ventilating current fresh and good throughout the mine. Districts being worked are the North Level section, Stone Jig section, and Dip section, all in No. 1 seam, and Long Jig section, No. 2 seam. Thomas Foster, junior, trucker, seventeen years of age, working with his father on the 10th October, 1904, slipped and fell, striking his knee against a rail on the roadway. The accident was looked upon as being of a trifling nature at first, but some days later symptoms of inflammation were detected. The lad was brought to Dunedin Hospital, and the knee operated upon without avail, as Foster gradually sank and died from blood-poisoning on the Ist November, 1904. Three visits of inspection have been made during the year. Shag Point Colliery, Shag Point (E. W. Brooke, permit).—(l 2/8/1904) : Shaft workings abandoned, and water in shaft has risen to sea-level. Workings on sea-beach continue to afford a small output for local requirements. A start will soon be made to open up a thin seam known to outcrop on the hillside. (23/12/1904) : Coal-mining operations are confined to the 2 ft. 8 in. seam; but, 12 ft. below, a seam 4 ft. 6 in. in thickness, broken by a 3 in. band of stone, is being prospected. An air-shaft has been provided. Six men are employed. South Otago. Fernhill Coal Company, Abbotsford (James Gray, manager).—(26/7/1904) : Mine in good order, and ventilation good. Prospecting drives continue to be driven in an endeavour to get behind the area lost by fire and water. Freeman's Coal Company, Abbotsford (R. Hill, mine-manager). —(26/7/1904) : Mine in very fair working-order. Ventilation good, and air well conducted around the working-faces. Preparations are being made to re-erect the hauling plant at Fernhill, the object being to utilise the Fernhill branch line of railway, and dispense with the tram-line hitherto used for conveyance of coal-output to the railway siding on main south line of railway. Jubilee Colliery, Saddle Hill (Peter Campbell, mine-manager). —(27/7/1904) : Work now being carried on in southern section of the mine. Ventilation adequate. Coal roof and sides strong and self-supporting, and, being water free, the conditions of mining at this colliery are very favourable. Saddle Hill No. 1 Colliery, Saddle Hill (Christie Bros., owners; W. W. Ogilvie, manager).— (27/7/1904) : New upcast air-shaft to the rise affords better ventilation of the workings than had previously been the case. The leve's, headings, and bords are carefully laid off and driven to lines, ensuring regularity of the workings and sizes of pillars. Saddle Hill No. 2 Colliery, Saddle Hill (W. H. L. Christie, manager).—(27/7/1904) : Air somewhat •dull at working-faces. Will be improved by the brick furnace which is being built in at bottom of upcast air-shaft. Working-places safe, coal strong, little or no timber being required. Burnweil Colliery, Saddle Hill (Adam Harris). —(28/7/1904) : A decided settlement is taking place, extending over the area of worked ground, floor rising and pillars sinking quietly, resulting in very little damage to the pillar and head coal by way of crush. The water is being allowed to rise in the dip workings. Glenochiel Colliery, Saddle Hill (D. Bryce, permit).—A new mine driven from surface, but, unfortunately, the fringe of solid coal between outcrop and worked ground is less than had been expected. Lauriston Colliery, Brighton Road (J. R. Walker, owner). —(3/7/1904) : Mine in safe working-order. Ventilation good. Three men employed. McColl's Coal-pit, Brighton (D. L. McColl, owner). —(22/2/1904) : Drawing pillars in old mine. (3/7/1904) : New low-level tunnel being driven. Should strike coal-seam at 100 ft. Walker's and McColl's coal-pits are situated on the property now known as " Duncan Settlement." Drummuir Coal-pit, Brighton (James Sneddon). —(3/7/1904) : A small amount of coal mined for private use only. Bruce Coal-mine, Milton (A. Young, owner). —(23/6/1904) :No one about on this date. The fire is evidently overcome, and there was no smoke visible. (3/11/1904) : The mine-mouth and the opencast coal-face now completely smothered with gravel from overlying measures. There were no signs of smoke. One man getting coal from another section of the property. Strip-and-at-it Coal-pit, Milton (N. Hardwick). —Mine closed. Hardwick deceased. Fortification Railway and Coal Company, Akatore, Milton (John Brown, permit). —(23/6/1904) : Workings confined to splitting and robbing pillars between new and old dips. The mine-workings open are clean and in very good order. Ventilation satisfactory. (3/11/1904) : This property has now passed into the hands of the mortgagee, Mr. John Begg, farmer, Hillend, Otago. Six men are employed in and about the colliery. The work is confined to the extraction of pillars. Timber is provided and well used. Ventilation good. Bruce Colliery, Akatore, Milton (Messrs. Begg Bros., Hillend, proprietors ; James Macallister, manager).—(3/11/1904) : Gate on mine-mouth locked. No one about on this date. Glenledi Coal-pit, Milton (N. MeGilp, owner). —(3/11/1904) : Pit being worked opencast. No one about on this date. Adam's Flat Coal-mine, Adam's Flat (J. Reid, owner). —Opencast pit with limited output to supply a local trade.