C— 3a.

Nelson's Coal-pit, Landslip, Waikaia (R. Rear and Archer, lessees). —(12/1/1905) : The new drive has struck the seam at 180 ft. from the surface. The seam is 11 ft. in thickness, but of a broken nature. The roof consists of 4 ft. 6 in. of coal. (9/5/1905) : Robert Rear is still trying to get this mine into working-order. His efforts are greatly impeded by the very broken nature of the seam. The natural drainage is heavy, and is largely increased from the abandoned portion of the mine. Timber is an expensive item, a constant supply being required. Ventilation is maintained through the old workings to the shaft. The coal-seam is 16 ft. in thickness ; places are driven 8 ft. high and 12 ft. wide. Four men are employed about the pit. This pit was opened for supply to dredges. Robert Rear's Coal Lease, Landslip, Waikaia. —(l9/10/1905) : Originally Nelson's area of 7| acres. This area has now been granted to Robert Rear, who has two men employed. On this date the mine was flooded. Plan required of underground workings. Landslip Coal Company (late Mclvor's), Waikaia (W. E. C. Reid, secretary, Dunedin ; James Duncan, mine-manager). —(12/1/1905) : This property is under course of transference from the present owner, R, Mclvor, to the Landslip Coal Company, and it will be worked to supply dredging requirements in the district. A contract has been let to J. H. Young and J. Hughes to mine the coal. Five men were employed in the mine on this date, principally taking up several feet of bottom coal left underfoot in Mclvor's working. A winding and pumping plant is being installed, this being necessary to open up the seam further to the dip. (9/5/1905) : George F. Turner, mine-manager. Since taking charge of the mine the contractors, Young and Hughes, have confined their attention to the rise section opened up by Mclvor, who drove the dip to where it now stands and broke away three levels. The contractors have pushed on in the solid. They have also lifted bottom coal left underfoot by Mclvor, taken down head-coal, and taken coal from large-sized pillars. The seam is 13 ft. in thickness, and of a strong, clean nature. The places are now 10 ft. high with 3 ft. to 5 ft. of coal in the roof. The places average 12 ft. in width. The mine has, however, reached that stage at which it would be unwise to extract more than one month's coal from the rise section, but there should be no difficulty in obtaining that amount with safety. It will be necessary now to extend the main incline and open up the dip section of the mine. Five men are employed. (19/10/1905) : The dip-drive has been extended to a distance of 4-|- chains and the coal-face is still strong and good. Places are broken off north and south. Ventilation is fair, and is maintained by the second outlet drive. A good supply of timber is kept at the mine-mouth, and well used. Rules posted; report-book to date; plan kept. Ten men employed. Ross's Coal-pit, Landslip, Waikaia (Robert Ross, lessee). —(12/1/1905) : Four men have been employed in opening up this mine by driving, and it is expected that a good seam of coal will be met with. (9/5/1905) : The seam of coal struck is fully 16 ft. in thickness and of splendid quality. A water-free level is being driven and the coal has been mined 25 yards to the rise. The places ate driven 11 ft. wide, and the pillars are left 30 ft. square. An air-shaft 40 ft. in depth insures good ventilation. The mine is in good order. Timber is well used. Gelignite is the explosive used, on account of the wet nature of the coal. This pit supplies dredges and district requirements. Four men are employed. (19/10/1905) : The mine has been sublet to W. McNeil and Coutts. Mine-workings in fair order. Several props required for support of roof in wide places. Experience has proved that the seams of this district require to be worked narrow, leaving strong pillars and roof coal. Copies of general and special rules required. Fence to be erected round top of upcast shaft. Plan of mine-workings to be obtained. No. 1 Coal-pit, Landslip, Waikaia (A. McKinnon (permit) and Wallace, lessees). —(12/1/1805) : A deep drainage tail-race has been brought up from the level of the Waikaia River, and a new level is being put in to grip the coal further to the dip. Four men are employed. (9/5/1805) : The new level was opened out in a solid block of coal, but it soon ran into Vial's old workings, which were worked many years ago and of the position of which the lessees were unaware. The low level has now collapsed and has been abandoned. There is still some coal worth working to the rise, but the section requires ventilation. A high-level drive is now being put in to effect this. (19/10/1805) : Nothing doing at this mine. The lessees have determined to abandon the lease owing to the increased cost of mining coal from the dip of the seam. Further supplies can only be obtained by procuring hauling and pumping plant. Monaghan's Coal-pit, Landslip, Waikaia (R. Monaghan, lessee).—(l 2/1/1905) : The drive struck the top coal-seam in the floor at 200 ft. from daylight. The top seam is 7 ft. 6 in. in thickness. Two men employed. (9/5/1905) : A drive 3 chains in length was put in to strike the seam, at a total cost of £100. In the adjoining mine (McKinnon's) there are two seams capable of being worked together. Unfortunately in Monaghan's mine the two seams are separated by 4 ft. 6 in. of cay so that only the top seam which is 7 ft. 6 in. in thickness is being worked. In the north section of the mine the seam is stony and practically worthless, while in the south section the seam is of good quality, but limited in extent by McKinnon's old workings which were broken into and found full of black damp. An airshaft 50 ft. in depth has been sunk which insures good ventilation. The level drive has reached its limit now as regards drainage, and the coal must be won from the dip. To do this, pumping plant will be required, but the lessee intends to try to work the dip and unwater it. Several props to the roof were required in places in the mine. The pit was opened for dredge-supply. Three men are employed. (19/10/1905) : Recent operations would appear to have taken the form of robbing pillars unreasonably, as on this visit the south section of the mine was in a state of collapse involving considerab'e less of coal. A start was being made under new management to open up the north area. I pointed out to the lessee that owing to the rotten nature of the strata associated with the coal-seam all work should be narrow and strong pillars and head coal should be left. Rules pested; report-book to date; plan of underground workings to be furnished. Two men employed. Muddy Terrace (Shale-pit), Waikaia (T. F. Goldie, owner).—(l 9/10/1805) : Opencast pit. The heavy overburden of clay is kept well stripped back. The principal supply is to dredges in the district.

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