C—3a

16

Paskett's Mine, Adam's Flat (J. Paskell, owner). —Nothing doing in this pit. Lovell's Flat Colliery, Lovell's Flat (J. Carruthers, mine-manager; R. Glendinning, owner). — (8/5/1904) : The general work in the mine is the extraction of pillars from the upper four bords of the dip and the barrier between Gibson's old workings and the new workings. There are only two places in solid coal in the two lowest bords, and these have not far to go. Timber is well and plentifully used. Ventilation fair throughout the dip workings. The back airway was closed temporarily on account of a small fire in a narrow heading, and a new return is to be pushed on. In the meantime air-return is effected by one compartment of the main haulage-shaft. (22/6/1904) : Pit idle to-day, but shiftmen engaged driving new return airway through pillar at near bottom of second outlet and upcast air-shaft. The new airway is necessitated by fire and falls in the old return. The whole of this district being warm fire-stoppings are in bord ends to the headings. The manager had conferred with the men re sanitary arrangements underground, and a certain course had been agreed upon. Two men, however, had resented being spoken to a second time as to their dirty habits. The bevel-geared wheels of elevator in screening-shed require fencing. Judging by indications underground, the coal-basin may not be expected to exceed 16 acres, thickness of seam being from 14 ft., tapering to 4 ft., at which latter unpayably workable, blackstone in roof displacing coal. Depth of seam, 470 ft. from surface. (2/11/1904) : Work in the mine now confined to the extraction of pillars. Timber is well used, and there is also an ample supply provided. The ventilation is fair throughout the mine. On the 13th October a defect in the surface boiler necessitated a stoppage of the pump. The water rose and caused a partial collapse of the dip, which has since been retimbered. The south heading has been reconnected with the upcast shaft, thus restoring air-circulation. The property has been thoroughly prospected by boring, unfortunately without satisfactory results. Tuakitoto Colliery, Lovell's Flat (A. Dunlop, owner). —A large surface slip having filled the minemouth this mine has been closed during the year. Benhar Coal-mine, Stirling (James McLeod, permit).—(l 3/3/1904) : The mine is in good order, and ventilation good. Some timber requires to be renewed in the main dip. Six men are employed. (2/11/1904) : Mine in good order. Ventilation good. Timber renewed in main dip. 2,100 tons of fireclay taken from this mine during the year. Mount Wallace Coal-mine, Stirling (James Walls, lessee, permit).—(l 3/3/1904) : The trade from this pit is limited. There is no pumping plant, and the dip-face was flooded on this date. Coal was being taken from some of the larger pillars. Two men at work. Taratu Colliery, Kaitangata (J. H. Young, mine-manager).—(3l/1/1904) : New mine-entrance and new second outlet and return airway at opposite Welsh's face. Work mainly consists of dropping 4 ft. of head coal in the bords already won, care being taken to trim any loose coal off the roof. The seam in one place where roof fallen is 20 ft. in thickness. The new prospecting-shaft is sunk to a depth of 143 ft., mainly through sandstone grits and quartz conglomerates. (28/10/1904) : The headings to west are cutting out on a fault having a downthrow eastward ; hade, 45 degrees, and line of fault north-west and south-east. The south main level has been driven through to Welsh's face. Several falls have occurred to the surface in places where pillars and roof coal had been robbed. Air good. Kaitangata Colliery, Kaitangata (R. S. Jordan, mine-manager).—(l 4/12/1904) : Developmentwork in the stone drive extension east practically suspended throughout the year. South going level, main seam, is in to No. 6 fault. The rise workings Nos. 1, 2, and 3 ; headings in new seam have been pillared and robbed to the fullest extent, consistent with safety. Dip sections being worked : Dips Nos. 8, 9, 10, 11, and 14 have been practically exhausted of coal to the level ribs in which ash fire stoppings had been placed, such being necessary in each instance. Dips presently working are Nos. 7, 12, and 15. No. 12 dip is driven 650 ft. to the fault. Bords northward driven narrow and now coming home with pillars. No. 15 dip southward of main-haulage road in Scott's level. Substantial brick stoppings have been erected in the front of the main seam coal pillars at the foot of the main incline, effectually sealing off this portion of the old workings and confining several spontaneous fires which had given considerable trouble from time to time. A brick arch has also been built in the main roadway in the 18 ft. seam in-bye No. 3 dip, which it is hoped will have the effect of subduing the fires in coal pillars at that point. Ventilation is maintained at from 36,000 to 37,000 cubic feet per minute at the intake. The several splits of air (five in all, to as many districts) are regulated so that each district has its separate split of fresh air passing direct into main return airway to upcast shaft. The return airways had been carefully maintained, frequent attention being rendered necessary on account of not only roof-pressure but side-pressure, a proportion of which may be attributed to settlement of the strata in the pillared sections of work. The fullest attention has been paid to the appointment of an efficient staff of officers in the mine. Proper examinations duly made, and the results entered in the several report-books in accordance with the Act. Safety-lamps only are allowed in the mine in-bye the cabin, the lamp-station notice being posted at the cabin, which is situated at the foot of the main haulage-incline. The increased number of minor accidents at this mine during the year have been attributed to the exclusive use of safety-lamps in the mine, their illuminating-power being less than that of the ordinary open oil-lamps formerly in use in such parts of the mine as were considered safe. The colliery-manager, Mr. Jordan, is averse to the use of " mixed lights "in the mine. Plans to date, and rules posted. Small quantities of gas have been reported on several occasions in the solidgoing places —Scott's level to No. 15 dip, and in the south levels, main-seam workings—but not in sufficient quantity to interfere with the work. A complaint had been made to the manager and to myself that the atmosphere in No. 14 dip on the 19th October contained an undue proportion of carbonicoxide, which was injuriously affecting the miners working there. Investigation revealed an incipient fire in the pillared ground at the bottom of the dip from which the gases being distilled were adulterating the air. An ash fire-stopping was then put in the dip and the ventilation short-circuited, when the air