C—3a

20

few pillars are being extracted in the extreme dip section, and the work is being well carried out. Materials for the erection of same to block off this section are kept in readiness. On the south side the working faces are all in the solid coal. (28/11/1907): South-going places from dip drive are advancing in best coal since Pryde's Kawarau Pit. Going westerly, coal thinning to 10 ft., and pillars are now being drawn. Air good. Mine and plant in good order. Safety-lamp examinations duly made, but no trace of fire-damp has been discovered. Excelsior Mine (29/4/1907): Operations in this mine are confined solely to taking out pillars. Timber well used. Ventilation fair throughout the mine. The bottom level requires to be timbered in several lengths. Report-book up to date. Six men employed. Wilson's Mine (29/4/1907): Two men are employed in this mine extracting pillars for the supply of coal to the Lady Ranfurly dredge. Ventilation good. Timber well used. Cairnmuir Coal Company, Bannockburn (John Hodson, mine-manager).—(3o/4/1907 and 28/9/1907): The old dip was repaired, and the winding and pumping plant was shifted from the shaft to the dip-head. This arrangement is more satisfactory. In consequence of the extension of the dip, and the opening out of fresh levels, the pumping and hauling requirements now exceed the capacity of the plant in use. A dredge boiler, having a pressure of 1401b. to the square inch, has been purchased from the owner of the Upper Clutha dredge at Luggate, and will be transferred to the mine. Rise Section : Two men engaged taking out pillars. Owing to the steepness of the seam the extraction is not complete, small stumps being left to keep back waste. Timber used where necessary. Dip Section: Work consists in driving No. 2 level through the fault, and in further opening out levels from the dip extension.* The coal in this section maintains a good quality and thickness. Good ventilation is maintained throughout the dip and two shafts. Ladders required in upcast shaft. Copies of the general and special rules posted at the mine-mouth. Plan and reportbook up to date. Seven men employed. (28/11/1907): Workings in good order. Air good. Reports kept, and safety-lamp examinations regularly made. Ryder's Coal-pit, Nevis (Charles Scott, lessee, permit).—The overburden is sluiced off and the coal mined opencast. 601 tons was raised, principally for dredge requirements. Pit in good order. One man employed. Ritchie's Coal-pit, Lower Nevis (Robert Ritchie, lessee). —Opencast pit. The output for the year was 1,161 tons, all for dredge requirements. The pit is in good working-order. Two men employed. McCabe and Party's Application, Upper Nevis. —(ll/2/1907): A considerable amount of prospecting by shafts and trenching was done in the valley of Whitton's Creek, adjoining James Ritchie's area. Traces of coal were found, but no workable coal was met with. It is evident that the proximity of the Upper Nevis fault line has disturbed the coal deposit considerably. Southland. Pukerau Coal-pit, Pukerau (P. O'Hagan, permit).—No. 1 lease (10 acres): The lessee has continued to work this mine in the usual manner. The output amounted to 765 tons, for which three men were employed. The seam is thick and strong, and the mine generally is in good order. The output is handicapped by bad access and the proximity of the mine to the railway. Rules posted. Report-book and plan kept. No. 2 lease (5 acres): This area is not being worked at present. Nelson's Coal-pit, Pukerau (J. H. Nelson, lessee). —The output from this mine is limited, and the mine is handicapped by want of suitable appliances. The seam is strong, and the mineworkings are generally in good order. One man employed. Riverview Coal-pit, Gore (L. D. Nicol, owner). —This pit is situated on freehold land, and 20 toUs was mined for private use and limited local requirements. Whiterigg Colliery, East Gore (W. H. Paterson, owner; Robert Burgess, permit).— (24/4/1907): S. B. Paterson, the former owner, sold out to the present owners (W. H. Paterson and E. Jones) during the first half-year. The proprietors then purchased Heffernan's pit, adjoining, and combined the two trades. 2,831 tons was produced during the year. Explosives carefully stored and handled. Four men were employed. Rules posted. Report-book and plan kept. Heffernan's Coal-pit, East Gore (Paterson and Jones, owners). —During the first half-year 537 tons was won from this mine, after which the property was purchased by Paterson and Jones, and the pit was closed down. Rosedale Coal-pit, Waikaka Valley (A. Reinke, owner; A. Mutch, lessee).—(26/7/1907): Opencast pit. 336 tons was mined during the early part of the year, after which the lessee ceased operations, on account of the closing down of Graham and party's dredge. Green's Coal-mine, Gore (Thomas Green, owner; J. Mason, mine-manager).—(29/5/1907): Improvements continue to be effected at this mine, and the working-faces and roadways are in good working-order. Ventilation good. Timber well used where necessary. Explosives carefully stored and handled. The mine-workings are examined with the safety-lamp prior to the men commencing work. Six men -employed. Rules posted. Plan and report-book kept. (31/7/1907): Mine in good working-order. 7,147 tons was mined during the year. Smyth's Coal-mine, Gore (Withers, Dickinson, and Co., owners). —(29/5/1907) : The above company purchased this pit from J. Smyth. I instructed the new owners to enlarge the size of the pillars in future workings. A new air-shaft is also required in the western section. Minemouth requires to be timbered. Rules posted. Report-book kept. Magazine required. Four