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SECTION IV.—GENERAL REMARKS. Ventilation. Great improvements have of recent years been effected in the mechanical ventilation of coal-mines in this country, for whereas in 1891 only three ventilating-fans were employed, during the past year nineteen were in operation, those fans most favoured being of the Waddle, Schiele, Cappell, Hayes, and Sirocco types. The last named has recently been installed at the Taupiri, Point Elizabeth, and Seddonville Mines, and it is proposed to employ it at the new Westport-Stockton Mine. The Sirocco fan appears to have solved the question of centrifugal ventilation, for its construction is simplicity itself, and its efficiency unequalled. The fan consists of a drum varying from 35 in. to 100 in. in diameter, around the circumference of which are placed steel laths so arranged as to resemble a Venetian blind open at its utmost, with the laths slightly convex to the forward direction, spaced 2 in., and 3 in. deep; the usual evasee chimney and shutter are attached to the case in which the machine is enclosed. This fan is extensively used in Great Britain, and it is claimed that one of the type 100 in. in diameter, running at 220 revolutions per minute, at 3 in. water-gauge, will deliver the enormous output of 532,000 cubic feet of air per minute. Electricity in Mines. The use of electricity, which has become so widespread in and about the mines of other countries, both for lighting and as a mode of transmitting power, has made hitherto but slow progress in the coalmines of this country, owing probably to the fact that at many of the laTge mines the haulage is conducted on the self-acting principle by endless rope, and the drainage by level free adits, consequently pumping and winding from shafts is avoided. Electric lighting, however, is employed in the main roads underground and upon the surface works of several mines. At other mines less favourably situated, and where this economical power could be profitably employed, steam-power had been installed prior to the advent and more general application of electricity in mines. At the Allendale Colliery electric power for haulage, pumping, and lighting has been effectively employed for two years; at the Blackball Mine an underground pumping plant is worked electrically with satisfactory results; but at the Denniston Colliery compressed air was found to operate the coal-cutting machinery in a more satisfactory manner than electricity. At the Westport-Stockton Mine, now being opened up and equipped, it is proposed to employ electric power for coal-cutting, ventilation, lighting, and haulage, the latter by means of electric locomotives, by which it is proposed to use coal-tubs of 30 cwt. capacity, on a 2ft. gauge, throughout the workings of the mine, which may not be found to be a success, owing to the weight and size of the tubs on steep grades. Mining Operations. During the past year extensive preparations for an increased output were carried out on all the mining fields, and an annually increasing output of coal is assured. In the Northern District, at the Northern and Kiripaka Collieries, and at Hikurangi, extensive new coal-areas have been entered by underground workings ; at Kawakawa Colliery boring operations on a new lease have proved a 6 ft. seam at a depth of 80 ft. At Taupiri Colliery the main (Ralph's) heading on the eastern side of the railway approaching Lake Wahi has opened a large field for operations. In the West Coast District, at the Seddonville State Mine, a promising area of hard bituminous coal has been entered on the southwestern extension of the cave area ; the workings at the Millerton Colliery have during the year reached Mangatini Creek, on the eastern side of which the larger portion of the coal-field is situated, and upon which mining operations will shortly be directed. The satisfactory extension of mining operations at Denniston continues in the directions of Mount William and Deep Creek, which it is proposed to bridge to facilitate haulage; likewise for a similar purpose to construct a girder bridge across the Waimangaroa River. The dip sections of the Point Elizabeth State Mine have proved an extensive area of excellent coal, and considerable reserves are now standing in pillars. In the Southern District, at Kaitangata, a new ventilating-shaft has been sunk on coal to a depth of 552 ft., at a distance of 58 chains to the east of the mine-entrance, with the workings of which it is connected. To the east of this shaft an extensive and valuable area of coal is supposed to exist. New Collieries. Active operations are being carried out to develop the new collieries, the property of the West-port-Stockton Coal Company (Limited), situated near Millerton, and the Paparoa Coal-mining Company (Limited), situated near Blackball. At the Westport-Stockton property, inclined and other haulage roads and tramways are being constructed. The mouth of the mine is situated at a distance of three miles and three-quarters from and an altitude of 1,600 ft. .above the Government railway at Ngakawau which is a further distance of about twenty miles by rail from the Harbour of Westport. It is proposed to negotiate the distance between the mine-mouth and the top of the incline by means of an electric tramway, two miles and a quarter long. This tramway will have an average inclination of 1 in 21-2 in favour of the full train, and will be worked by electric locomotives upon a 2 ft. gauge. From the top of the incline there is being constructed an endless-rope inclined haul-age-plane, in two sections, in length one mile, and half a mile, and having respectively an average gradient of lin 4 and lin 6-7, but in no place exceeding lin 3. It is proposed to use hydraulic brakes similar to those employed at the Denniston and Millerton Collieries, but worked by four water-cylinders instead of two, to avoid any sudden strain upon the haulage-rope and machinery. At the new Paparoa Mine, also situated at a considerable altitude above the Government railway at Blackball, now in course of construction, the works in progress embody the construction of one mile