21

C—3a

men employed. (26/7/1907): William Greenhill, manager. The mine is now in good workingorder. Tait's Coal-pit, Bushy Park Estate, Croydon (James It. Tait and Co., owners; George Tweedie, permit). —Opencast pit. Seam, 23ft. in thickness; stripping, 12 ft. The overburden is heavy, and opencast operations are to be discontinued and the coal won by mining. Buornwell Coal-pit, Bast Citation (G. P. Johnston, owner; James Stark, permit). — (2/4/1907); This mine is worked by a main level, and headings are driven off. The seam is thick and strong, and the mine is well conducted. Safety-lamp inspection made. Rules posted. Report-book and plan kept. Four men employed. Pacey's Freehold Coal-pit, East Chatton (T. Maslin, lessee). —(2/4/1907): The seam is thick and strong, and operations are conducted on safe lines. Timber well used. The coal is mined for the supply of dredges in the Waikaka Valley. Magazine provided. Rules posted. Reportbook kept. Four men employed. East Chatton Coal-pit, East Chatton (Arthur Perkins, lessee). —(2/4/1907) : This mine is worked by means of a level ami short headings to the outcrop. The seam is strong, and the mine is worked in a safe manner. Two men employed. Plan kept. Rules posted. Ford's Coal-pit, Chatton (P. Ford, sen., owner). —The pit was leased to Martin Gerkin, who has continued to work it throughout the year, in order to supply the Chatton Reserve dredge. Coal outcrops at several places on this farm. Thomdale Coal-pit (late Lloyd's), Waikaka Valley (Thomas Highsted, owner). —(26/7/1907): This pit is situated on freehold property which has been purchased by Thomas Highsted, who is taking out a few tons of coal during the winter months. Sprinyvale Coal-pit, Waikaka Valley (J. P. Mclntyre, owner, Gore; D. McColl, lessee). — (4/4/1907) : This opencast pit is generally worked on safe and systematic lines. The coal is mined for dredge requirements. The overburden is taken off with plough and scoop. Two men employed. Willowbank Coal-pit, Waikaka Valley (W. Paterson, owner; William Jones, permit).- — (4/4/1907): Mine-workings and roadways in good order. Ventilation good. Safety-lamp inspection made. Rules posted. Plan and report-book kept. Six men employed. Glenlee Coal-mine, Waikaka Valley (J .McGill, owner; D. T. McGill, permit). —(30/5/1907): A limited trade is supplied from this mine, which is generally in good working-order. Explosives carefully handled. Rules posted. One man employed. McDonald's Coal-pit, Waikaka Valley (Adolph A. Edge, owner; S. P. Coulter, permit).— (30/5/1907): This pit is being worked on the usual good lines. Mine-workings in good order. Ventilation good. Rules posted. Magazine provided. Four men employed. Radford's Coal-pit, Wendon Valley (G. Scott, farmer, owner). —This pit was worked for portion of the year by Radford and Moffit, and 371 tons of coal was mined. The mine is now being worked by S. Yeomans. Mystery Flat Coal-seam, Waikaia. —Although, as stated in last year's report, the existence of coal-seams is known in the valley, the deposits are not likely to be required for many years, as the existing coal-pits fulfil all requirements. Landslip Coal Company's Mine, Landslip, Waikaia (Landslip Coal Company, owners; W. E. C. Reid, secretary, Dunedin: Robert Brown, mine-manager).—(lß/5/1907): This mine continues to be worked on the usual lines. The seam continues in thickness and strength to the dip and in the workings south. Timber well used. Ventilation good. Powder carefully used. Plan kept. Rules posted. Report-book in order. Ten men employed. Kyle's Coal-mine (late Rear's), Landslip, Waikaia (James McLelland, mine-manager). — (18/5/1907) : Development work in connection with this area is becoming restricted on all sides, and it is not deemed advisable to draw any pillars in the meantime to insure the stability of the haulage road and the air-shaft. A new area is being applied for, which could be worked from the present mine. The coal is broken, and requires narrow driving, with use of sufficient timber. Ventilation good. Rules posted. Plan kept. Report-book up to date. Seven men employed. Monaghan's Coal-mine, Landslip. Waikaia. —(lß/5/1907): Mine idle on this date. This property has been sold to Messrs. Bond Bros. The occurrence of a band of stone renders the sale of this coal difficult. Rossvale Coal-mine, Landslip, Waikaia (Bond Bros, and Cain, lessees; A. Cain, permit). — (18/5/1907): The lessees have transferred their interest in this mine to Alexander Cain, who continues to work the mine for the supply of dredges. The mine is worked by means of headings driven off the drainage-level. This level has been opened up to 16 ft. in width, and I instructed the present holder to discontinue working wide. Timber well used. A second shaft for ventilation requires to be sunk, as the one in present use is unfavourably situated for present workings. Plan kept. Rules posted. Six men employed. Report-book kept. Two visits during the year. Goldie's Shale-pit, Muddy Terrace, Waikaia. —(l7/5/1907): This pit has been sold to Messrs. Junker and Knuckey, who are now engaged in reopening the mine-workings. Recent work in this pit consisted of opencast work, but this is now abandoned. Rules posted. Plan and reporthook required. Three men employed. The Government Analyst having analysed a sample of shale from this pit reports, " This is a high-class shale, its yield of crude oil (301 per cent) being nearly double that obtained from Orepuki shale. If found in quantity it should prove of great commercial value." Argyle Coal-pit, Upper Waikaia (J. and T. Baxter, lessees). —Since the opening and equipment of the collieries at Landslip with efficient appliances, this mine can only maintain a limited output. It is handicapped by bad roads and distance from the dredging-fields. Mataura Coal-pit, Mataura (Mataura Collieries Company, Gore, owners; .lames A. Yule, secretary).—(2/8/1907): Mr. Slecman continued to work this mine during the greater part of the