C—3a.

Burn-well Coal-pit, Chatton (G. P. Johnston, owner ; James Stark, lessee, permit).— (2B/5/1905.) : The present lessee is pushing on the main level, the dimensions of which are : 10 ft. in height, 16 ft. in width. 8 ft. of coal is left on the roof. A small steam-pumping plant has been procured, and the work will be continued further to the dip of the seam than hitherto. Five men are employed. Pacey's Leasehold Cod-fit, East Chatton (R. Pacey, lessee).—(23/5/1905): The small engine and the pump have been removed from the leasehold to the freehold area. The leasehold area is flooded and coal is not now being taken out. This area is hampered by its distance from the public road. Coalcarters prefer to patronise the nearest coal-pit, owing to the bad roads in the neighbourhood of the East Chatton coal-pits. Paeey's Freehold Coal-fit, East Chatton (R. Pacey, owner ; J. R. Pacey, permit).—(23/5/1905) : The work of stripping off the overburden was delayed until rendered impossible by the lateness of the season. The coal-seam is 22 ft. in thickness, and very strong. Two drives have been put in, 16 ft. in width and 10 ft. in height. I advised the manager to draw the places in to 14 ft and also gave instructions that the mine-mouth should be secured with timber. Five men employed Pel-kin's Coal-pit, East Chatton (A. Perkins, lessee).—(23/5/1905) : Opencast pit. Coal mined principal]}'- for dredge-supply. Two men generally at work. Harvey's Coal-pit, ChaUon— (2/11/1905) : Nothing doing. Chatton Coal-pit, Chatton (W. Dickson and M. Gerkin, lessees).—(24/5/1905) : There are five seams of lignite in this property, but only one is worth working. This seam is vertical, and has been opened to a depth of 13 ft., at which depth the width of the seam is 30 ft. The seam is worked opencast, but unfortunately the sides are heavy, and slips come in from the sides. On this date the pit was smothered by a heavy slip, and I instructed the lessees to strip off a large area ahead, and to keep the sides well trimmed back. Two men were engaged digging coal from the top end of the lease, while the lower pit was being put in working-order. I also instructed the lessees to place this section in safe workingorder. Three men are employed. (2/11/1905): Pit now in fair working-Order. Cross's Coal-pit, Ota-ma (Cross Bros.).—This coal-pit is situated on freehold land, and coal is mined for private use only. Thorndale Cod-pit, Waihalca Valley (E. C. Orchard, owner ; Thomas Ritchie and Frank Raunsley, lessees).—(s/4/1905) : One man mining the coal. Drive, 12 ft. in height, 15 ft. in width, and 25 ft. in. length, has been put in water-level, leaving coal underfoot 5 ft. ; roof consists of 1 ft. of stone; 3 ft. of coal ab.we 10 ft. of clay and gravel stripping. I instructed Ritchie that timber was to be used in the drive for support of the roof. Opencast pit: Coal-face, 17 ft. in height; stripping, 10 ft. to 12 ft., gravel and clay. The coal-face required to be made safe by taking down an overhanging rib of coal, which was unsupported. I instructed the lessees to do this, and subsequently wrote them to the same effect on the 18th April. The powder is not stored at the pit. Suitable powder-canisters are required. Two men at work. (5/5/1905): The opencast pit is now being placed in good workingorder ; the stripping is being taken off and the overhanging coal taken down. The drives are being driven 16 ft. in width, and pillars left 15 ft. square. Suitable powder-canisters not yet provided. Springfield Coal-pit, Waikaka Valley (J. P. Mclntyre, owner ; Duncan McColl, lessee).—(ll /5 /1905) : Opencast pit; seam, 10 ft. in thickness ; stripping, 10 ft. The pit is in good working-order, and has been opened out on an extensive scale. Suitable powder-magazine provided. Four men employed. (23/5/1905) : Pit in good working-order ; overburden well trimmed back from the working coal-face ; a large area is being stripped. On the 19th instant Mark Everett had his thigh broken through a fall of gravel from the face. Everett expected the gravel to fall, but had stood too close in for his own safety. Reed's Cod-pit, Waikaka Valley (Robert Reed). —(14/4/1905) : In this opencast pit the stripping is becoming too heavy for profitable working, and a start will be made after the winter to mine the coal. The blasting-powder is carefully used. Pit worked principally for dredge-supply. Three men employed. (15/6/1905) : William Jones (permit) has leased this pit for a term of five years. The seam has hitherto been worked opencast, but the present lessee is preparing to mine out the coal. 2,409 tons of coal were raised and sold during the year. Four men employed. McGill's Glenlee Cod-pit, Wendon Vdley (D. T. McGill, permit).—(ll/5/1905) : This pit is in good working-order. The seam is 13 ft. 6 in. in thickness. Places are driven 14 ft. in width, and 3 ft. of coal is left in the roof; pillars, 12 ft. square. Dredge and district supplies are drawn from this pit. A water-free" level was driven, and the coal is being mined from the rise-section. Compressed powder is used for blasting. Ventilation good. Two men generally employed. McDonald's Goal-pit, Wendon Valley (A. A. Edge, lessee; S. Coulter, permit).—(ll/5/1905) : The seam is worked by levels broken off from the main dip. The seam is 15 ft. in thickness ; places driven 16 ft. in width and 10 ft. in height. Pillars are left 18 ft. square. The compressed powder for blasting is well stored and carefully handled. Ventilation maintained by second outlet. The coal is mined for dredge and district requirements. Rules posted. Four men employed. Edge's No. 14 Cod-pit, Wendon Vdley (A. A. Edge, lessee). —The rise-section of this miue was exhausted in 1904, and no effort has been made to win the coal further to the dip of the seam. J. Bushbridge's Goal-pit, Wendon Valley. —From this opencast pit supplies are mined in summer for winter use. Perkin's Cod-pit, Wendon Valley (George Perkins).—Coal mined for private use only. Henderson's Coal-pit, Wendon Valley. —Coal mined for private use only. Radford's Goal-pit, Wendon (E. and P. Radford).—(9/5/1905) : This pit was worked in the early part of the year only, and 210 tons of coal raised. Waikaia Collieries Company, Waikaia (James Holland, lessee). —This mine became flooded in June, 1904, and has not been unwatered since.

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