a—3a

20

Gunion's Coal-pit, Nevis (R. Gunion). —(2/12/1904) : There was nothing doing at this pit at this date. Ritchie's Coal-pit, Nevis (Robert Ritchie). —(3/12/1904) : The lessee has secured contracts for dredge supplies, and has now two men engaged on the lease. The seam is vertical, and, pending water being brought in for sluicing off the overburden, a drive is being put in. Graham's Coal-pit, Upper Nevis (A. and S. Graham, lessees). —(2/12/1904) : This pit was opened for coal-supply to the Upper Nevis dredge, but this dredge having ceased operations the pit has consequently been closed. Southland. Pukerau Coal-pit, Pukerau (C. O'Hagan, permit). —(2/5/1904) : Mine in good order. Reportbook to date. Three men employed. Nelson's Coal-pit, Pukerau (J. H. Nelson). —(2/5/1904) : The pit is unwatered by means of a covered box-drain. Through a collapse in the drain the mine was flooded on the date of my visit. The pit requires a pumping plant. Mason's Coal-pit, Pukerau (A. Mason). —Coal taken out for private use only. Milne's Coal-pit, Pukerau (A. Milne). —Coal taken out for private use only. River View Coal-pit, Gore (L. D. Nicol, owner). —Coal mined for private use only; on freehold land. Whiterigg Colliery, East Gore (W. H. Paterson, owner ; John Hartley, permit).—(29/6/1904) : A lignite-seam 18 ft. in thickness ; 12 ft. is mined, and 6 ft. left for support of roof. Mine-workings in good order. Good ventilation maintained by means of air-shaft. Compressed powder used, and stored in a suitable locked magazine on the surface. Five men employed. Heffernan's Coal-pit, East Gore (W. Jones, permit).—(2o/5/1904) : This pit has been taken over from the late lessee, Thomas Hoffman. A water-level has been driven, and the coal is mined from the Rise section. I draw attention to the necessity for an air-shaft being provided. The coal is strong, and the mine is in good order. Four men employed. (6/9/1904) : Mine in good order. Air-shaft now provided. Rosedale Coal-pit, East Gore (A. Reinke). —(20/5/1904) : Pit idle on this date. Lignite mined opencast. Michael Leitze's Coal-pit, East Gore (20/5/1904). —Lignite mined for private use only. A. McDonald's Coal-pit, East Gore (W. Gilmour, lessee). —(29/6/1904): This seam is worked opencast, but the output is limited owing to the difficulties experienced by the steepness of the dip of the seam and the lack of water drainage. (6/9/1904) :An effort to drive out this coal was not successful, as the seam was too thin and the walls could not be kept up. One man now engaged stripping off the overburden. Robert Smith's Coal-pit, East Gore. —Coal taken out for private use only on freehold land. H. Smith's Coal-pit, East Gore. —Coal taken out for private use only on freehold 'and. Green's Coal-pit, Gore (J. and J. Smyth, lessees; J. Mason, manager). —(21/6/1904): The mine is in good order and ventilation fair. An air-shaft has been provided. As instructed, the powdermagazine has been removed outside the mine. Suitable powder-canisters are now provided. The new surface tramway from the mine to the depot is now in use. Five men are employed. Hamilton's Coal-mine, Croydon (John Hamilton, lessee). —(8/3/1904) : This mine was opened for dredge supply, but the coal proved inferior and unsaleable. The mine is now closed. Knapdale Coal-mine, Knapclale (W. Irvine). —Pit closed throughout the year. Boornwell Coal-pit, Chatton (G. P. Johnston, owner; Thomas Hoffman, lessee). —(7/9/1904) : The seam is very strong and the places are driven wide. A water-level has been driven and the coal mined from the Rise section. To win further supplies of coal from the dip would involve heavy outlay in haulage and pumping plant. An air-shaft will be required in the near future. Five men are employed. Perkins's Coal-pit, East Chatton (A. Perkins, lessee). —(7/9/1904) : Several unsuccessful attempts were made to drive out the coal, and the lessee will again resort to the opencast system. Two men employed. (20/12/1904) : Two men are engaged stripping and taking out coal. The lessee, has now bought an adjoining section from R. Pacey, and the trouble which hitherto existed regarding drainage and disposal of refuse would appear to have now dissappeared. Pacey's Leasehold Coal-pit, East Chatton (R. Pacey, lessee). —(7/9/1904) : Lease sublet to James Shepherd and A. Rennie, who are taking out a small block of coal from the boundary. The main pit is flooded. (20/12/1904): The sublease has been cancelled. Very little work has been done on this lease since my previous visit. Pacey's Freehold Coal-pit, East Chatton (R. Pacey, owner; T. Caldow, manager).—(7/9/1904): This pit has been opened out on private land. Stripping, 8 ft.; coal-seam, 30 ft. A winding plant has been placed on the roadside, and the coal is hauled a distance of 12 chains from the pit to the top of the rise. A suitable locked powder-magazine required. Five men employed. (20/12/1904) : This pit is in good working-order. An attempt was made to drive out the coal, but was abandoned through inexperience. Four men employed. Harvey's Coal-pit, Chatton (20/12/1904) : Nothing doing. Chatton Coal-pit, Chatton. —(20/12/1904) : Application has been made by William Dickson and Martin Gerkin for a lignite license over 40 acres, Crown lands, Chatton district. Otama Coal-pit, Otama (Cross Bros.). —Pit idle throughout the year. Cross's Coal-pit, Otama (Cross Bros.). —Opencast pit. Coal mined for private use only; on freehold land. Hunter's Coal-pit, Otama. —Pit idle throughout the year. Face smothered by slips.