19

C—3a

The shaft restoration and repairs have been completed, with the result that full advantage is taken of the inside diameter of the tubing. The haulage compartment and the ladder-way have thus been increased in size. The erection of brick arches at the foot of the shaft will render it immune from destruction by fire. Nine men on shift. (9/8/1907): Owing to the bottom rising in the far-in rise workings, and threatening to close the roads, it is proposed to split several of the pillars in this section. Arrangements are made to carry the drainage from the riverward rise workings direct to the sump at shaft-bottom. This will afford the dip pump a reserve of capacity in the event of any increased drainage. Mine-workings in good order. Ventilation good. Cambrian's Coal-pit, Cambrian's (Catherine Dungey, lessee). —One man works in this opencast pit, which is worked to supply a limited local trade. Jones's Coal-pit, Cambrian's (Robert Jones, manager).—This pit lay idle for many years, and has recently been reopened. Welshman's Gully Coal-pit, Cambrian's (James McGuckin, lessee).—Owing to the steep angle of dip, and the heavy drainage, combined with the lack of suitable appliances, the lessee continues to sluice off the overburden and win the coal opencast. Two men employed. Blackstone Hill Coal-pit, Blackstone Hill (James Armitage, lessee). —(16/7/1907): Prospecting operations having failed to reveal a further supply of coal ou the lease, the mine has been closed down. Price's Coal-pit, Blackstone Hill (D. McKnight, lessee). —The output from this private pit is required for domestic and farming purposes. St. Bathan's Coal-pit, St. Bathan's (James Enright, lessee). —(16/7/1907): Opencast pit. Owing to the depth of the working face it is necessary to keep the overburden well stripped back. Two men employed. Rough Ridge Coal-pit, Idaburn (Mr. M. Beck, lessee; William Beck, manager).—Three men find employment in this opencast pit, from which 981 tons were produced during the year. Care requires to be exercised in the working of this pit, owing to the depth of the working face McLean's Coal-pit, Idaburn (Mrs. M. Beck, lessee). —This lease is not being worked, as the present working pits are more than able to supply the demand. Owing to the importation of superior fuel by rail, the local annual output is diminishing. Idaburn Coal-pit, Idaburn (J. White, lessee). —This pit maintained a steady output during the year. 1,007 tons was produced, and the average number of men employed was two. The system of work is opencast. Donaldson Bros. Mine, Mount lliglday. —(2l/3/1907): This pit has been opened on Matheson's Run, to provide fuel for power purposes in connection with the crushing plant at the New Zealand Gold and Tungsten Mine, Mount Highlay. The coal is won opencast. Clyde Collieries Company, Clyde (A. E. Ackroyd, secretary, Dunedin; George Smith, manager).—(l 2/4/1907) : An upthrow fault, strike north-east and south-west, having a displacement of 17 ft., has been struck on the southern boundary of the Dairy Creek portion of the lease. Coal considerably disturbed, and dip of seam altering, so that the main drive is being gradually swung around in a northerly direction. A suitable part of No. -3 seam was selected for withdrawal of an area of pillars. (13/6/1907) : Work progressing favourably. (8/8/1907) : Good results have been obtained from pillaring and robbing to date. I instructed the mine-manager to take necessary precautions against creep and spontaneous fires. (15/11/1907): Working faces and roadways in good order. Ventilation good. A portion of the old workings became heated, and was satisfactorily stopped off. Safety-lamp inspection made. The extreme dip workings wore stopped for some time pending arrangements being made for the installation of a steampump, and during that time a few pillars were extracted from the fault line. The total output for the year from the Vincent and Dairy Creek sections was 3,611 tons. Rules posted. Plan and report-books kept. Nine men employed. Eraser River Coal-mine, Shepherd's Flat, Clyde. —Arrangements are being made to reopen this mine to supply the Loch Lomond dredge, which is about to resume operations. Cardrona Colliery, Cardrona (R. McDougall, lessee). —This mountain-pit has been worked on the usual lines during the year. Owing to the increasing depth of the open cut from which the coal is being mined, greater difficulty is being experienced in dealing with the overburden from the sides. 1,566 tons of coal was raised during the year. Five men employed during the summer season. Gibbston Coal Company, Gibbston Saddle (Duncan and Scheib, lessees; John Duncan, manager).—lß/6/1907) : Owing to the removal of all dredges from this district, the output from this mine is now only required to supply a limited district trade for household and farming purposes. Mine-workings in good order. Rules posted. Plan and report-book kept. Four men employed. Cromwell and Bomnoekburn Collieries Company, Bannockburn (T. K. Harty, secretary, Dunedin; A. S. Gillanders, manager).—(29/4/1907): Kawarau Mine: Work in this mine at present consists in driving levels southwards, and making the necessary cut-throughs for ventilation. In the upper workings the floor is heaving badly, making maintenance of roadway difficult through these workings. The main dip and the lower working! are in good order. Further working of this seam to the dip will not be prosecuted from the frontage by means of dip workings. The dip has been driven 897 ft. through the seam from the surface. Owing to the amount of ground opened out, it is considered that, with the haulage and pumping required, further mining of the coal to the dip would be best accomplished from a new dip at the back of the present workings. This, however, is not a matter for the present or near future. The ventilation is good throughout the mine. Timber well used. Fresh copy of general rules and of special rules required. Plan and report-book kept. Seven men employed. (28/9/1907): Mine-workings in good order. Arrangements are being made to improve the ventilation, and provide a new second outlet. A