15

C—3a

Mr. E. R. Green, Inspector of Mines, Dunedin, to the Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. Sin,— Dunedin, 31st March, 1907. In compliance with the requirements of section 75 of " The Coal-mines Act, 1905," I have the honour to submit herewith the following report on the coal-mines in the Southern District for the year ending 31st December, 1907 : : — Canterbury. Broken River Coalfield. —(19/4/1907): The area held under lease by Messrs. Cloudesley and others is not yet being worked. It is claimed that the coal cannot be worked to advantage until the Midland Railway bridge across Sloven's Creek is completed. The seams outcrop in several places, and at one point consists of 13 ft. brown coal overlying 1 ft. in thickness of an anthracite or altered brown coal. Sloven's Creek Coalfield, Midland Railway. —(l 9/4/1907): The coal in this field is locked up at present, awaiting the completion of the railway bridge across Sloven's Creek. Springfield Colliery, Springfield (James Taylor, permit).—(4/1/1907): Taylor was working alone, getting fireclay and a small quantity of coal. Springfield Fireclay Works, Springfield (Christchurch Gas, Coal, and Coke Company, owners, Cliristchurch ; Luke Greening, mine-manager, permit).—(lß/4/1907): The above company purchased this mine from W. J. Cloudesley. Fireclay of good quality exists, and this will be the main object of future mining. A small coal-seam also exists. The clays are mined and sent to the works at Christchurch. The mine is not yet properly opened out, but a second shaft has been sunk for ventilation and egress. Mafti drive well timbered. Suitable timber, chiefly black birch, for use in the mine is procured from Cowhai Bush. A small pump, capable of delivering 3,000 gallons per hour, keeps the mine dry. Rules posted. Report-book to be kept. Homebush Colliery. Clentunnel (.1. C. Campbell, mine-manager; Dean's trustees, owners). — (13/4/1907): Mine idle on this date. The line of light railway is being laid down. The locomotive and material, are now on their way from England. (17/9/1907): Mine workings and roadways in good order. Timber well used and plentiful supply available. In the rise, or pillar section, the lower stoops an- now being brought out. Inward work in the engine seam has been stopped at the Sandstone Gully, and preparations are being made to return with the pillars. The dip section has been opened out by ievels and headings. Pillars are now being extracted. Generally the ventilation is efficient ; volume of air at top of furnace drift, 7,920 cubic feet. Safety-lamp inspection made. Rules posted. Report-book and plans of sections kept. The mine output is now conveyed to the railway siding by means of a light locomotive. The distance is a mile ami a quarter, and the locomotive is capable of handling 200 tons daily. The gauge of the line is 2 ft. 6 in. (21/11/1907): Successful drawing of rise pillars continues, work being now out by the old Drum heading. No. 2, or Dip district. —False roof troublesome, but timber in ample quantity well set and attended to. Return air to ventilating furnace, 10,500 cubic feet per minute. St. He/en's Colliery. ll' liileeliffs (H. Levick, permit).—(2l/11/1907): Dip drive 100 yards to face in the 6 ft. seam, and levels driven north to fault and south to outcrop. Cross-measures drive is in to the 4 ft. seam, in which levels are being driven north and south. All work is narrow to the boundaries, with a view to future pillar extraction. Te Moana Coal-mine, Geraldine (Crowe Bros., lessees). —A coal lease having been issued, a small quantity of coal was won towards the end of the year. Mount Sotners Coal Company. Mount Sowers (Andrew Thompson, mine-manager; George Nell, secretary).--(18/12/1907): The mine-workings and roadways are in good order. Work is being continued to the dip, in which the coal is turning out well. The slack coal is delivered to the local lime-kilns. Loose blasting-powder is being used, and several cannisters were required. Ventilation good. Timber well used. Rides posted. Report-book and plan kept. Six men employed. Woolshed Creek Colliery, Mount Somen (Thomas Harris, permit, mine-manager; W. T. Doak, secretary).—(lß/12/1907): The mine was idle on this date, pending completion of future working policy and appointment of new mine-manager. Four men had hitherto been at work on tribute. Operations appear to be well conducted. Extraction of pillars may not recover a large percentage of coal, owing to absence of solid measures and the proximity of gravel to the coalseam. Timber well used. Rules posted. Report-book and plan kept. Orr's Coal-lease, Mount Somers (A. A. Orr, lessee, Ashburton). —(18/12/1907): Development has been kept back until completion of new branch tram-line up Chapman's Creek. The line, which will serve Orr's, the Mount Somers, and the Woolshed Creek (late McClimont's) areas, is now being pushed on. North Otago. Shag Point Colliery, Shag Point (William Hunt, permit). —360 tons of coal from small seams left behind by the former company of leaseholders. Allandale Colliery. Shag Point (C. H. Westfield, mine-manager ; W. Everest, secretary, Shag Point). —(80/4/1907): Mine in good order. Ventilation good, and timbering efficient. Work to north-easterly consists of coming homeward on pillars in Klondyke region. New 100-horse power generator driving motors for main dip and level haulage, lighting purposes, and also dip pumping. (10/9/1907): In the north Or Siberian level four men are engaged drawing pillars. The seam is low, and the floor swelling rapidly, prevents creep taking place over the pillared ground. In the No. 1 north level section, off the north level dip, where the seams are split, the bottom seam is now being worked. The working-places in the dip section are in good order.