a—3a

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Riverview Coal-pit, Gore (L. D. Nicol, owner). —Coal continues to be raised for local use at this semi-private pit. Whiterigg Colliery, East Gore (Paterson and Jones, owners). —(1/5/08) : Abandoned. Mouth blown in, and. only now remains to have the overhanging face brought down with a bar, which Jones promised to do. This pit and Heffernan's (including Resin Dip Colliery), being now under one ownership, may be all brought together in the statistics, under the name of Heffernan's Colliery. Resin Dip Colliery, East Gore (Paterson and Jones, owners ; E. Jones, permit). —(1/5/08) : Driving on an outcrop on coal superior to lignite. The first dip proved to contain too much water to be coped with by small pumping plant. Magazine approved. Heffernan's Coal-mine, East Gore (W. C. Burgess, permit).—(l/5/08) : In good working-order. Powder-magazine approved. Lignite Reserve, East Gore. —(l9/12/08) : A fire which had originated on the outcrop of partially worked ground had presumably become ignited by gorse-burning. I have been in communication with the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Invercargill, with a view to the tenant of grazing being required to keep the fire under. There has been no mining conducted on the area for some years. Rosedale Coal-pit, Waiteaka Valley (August Reinke, owner). —(21/2/1908) : Owing to the cessation of dredging operations in the immediate neighbourhood, no coal has been mined for sale since May, 1907. The owner draws a small supply from the pit for private use. Green's Coal-mine, Gore (Thomas Green, owner ; J. Mason, mine-manager). —(10/9/1908) : Mine in good working-order ; roof strong and safe. Seam 17 ft., of which 10 ft. to 12 ft. worked. Rules posted, report-books kept, and plan to date. Ventilation good. Suitable magazine for storage of explosives approved. Smyth's Coal-mine, Gore (Broome Bros, and Brown, owners ; James Broome, jun., permit).— (10/9/1908) : Air somewhat dull with powder-smoke, which new air-shaft being sunk should obviate. Seam 16 ft. ;10 ft. being worked. Rules posted ; report-book and plan to date. New powdermagazine being erected. Tait's Coal-mine, Bushey Park Estate, Croydon (James R. Tait and Co., owners ; George Tweedie, permit).—(23/7/1908) : Seam 30 ft., of which about 10 ft. is being worked out to the outcrop, which is coming in all around, the deposit apparently being purely coal. I drew attention to necessity for more timber being used at one place, where the miner was working under the lip of roof at pillarworking. Roof strong. Air good. Boornwell Goal-mine, East Chatton (G. P. Johnston, owner ; Cameron and Johnston, lessees). — (9/9/1908) : Robbing of pillars and head coal in section opened now nearing completion. The new mine is now in to the coal. I found the powder-magazine in disrepair ; Mr. D. Cameron subsequently wrote me that my requirements had been fulfilled. Pacey's Freehold Coal-pit, East Chatton (T. H. Maslin, lessee ; James Strachan, permit). —(9/9/1908) : Mine-workings and roadways in good order. Levels driven with stentons for ventilation in proper manner. Powder-magazine in good order ; proper canisters provided. Chafton Coal-pit (late East Chatton Coal-pit), East Chatton (P. and G. Ramsay, lessees ; P. Ramsay, permit).—(9/9/1908) : New level driven on outcrop. Seam, 30 ft. Places driven wide and high, but apparently safe on account of the strong nature of seam. Powder-magazine required to be sod(overed to insure greater safety. Rules posted. Chatton Coal-pit, Chatton (A. Beath, lessee). —(21/2/1908) : Owing to difficulty of working this vertical seam it became abandoned. The coal-seam was apparently found to be too narrow to pay for working. The walls are fallen in, and the pit is in a state of collapse. Ford's Coal-pit, Chatton (P. Ford, sen., owner). —(21/2/1908) : Nothing doing on this occasion. Pit standing full of water. Knapdale Coal-pit, Knapdale. — (21/2/1908) : Apparently very little doing here now. Water risen, and standing in the main drive. Thorndale Coal-pit, Waikaka Valley (Thomas Highsted, owner). —(21/2/1908) : Some stripping has been done in preparation for mining. Operations having been conducted as far as possible to the dip for free drainage, pumping machinery is now required in order to further develop the mine. Springfield Coal-pit, Waikaka Valley (J. P. Mclntyre, owner, Gore ; D. McColl, lessee, permit).— (10/9/1908) : Opencast pit. Seam 15 ft., of which upper 8 ft. is worked. Stripping kept fairly well ahead of working-face. Blasting-powder stored in suitable magazine, and carefully handled. Willowbank Coal-pit, Waikaka Valley (Edward Charles, manager). —(10/9/1908): Seam 15 ft., of which 10 ft. to 12 ft. worked. Workings safely conducted. A tendency exists, however, towards leaving pillars of smaller size than might be considered advisable for the future stability of the mine. Rules posted, and report-books to date. Suitable powder-magazine approved. Glenlee Coal-pit, Waikaka Valley (J. McGill, owner ; D. T. McGill, permit).—(9/9/1908) : In opencast, stripping kept well ahead. Underground workings in good order. Seam 20 ft., 10 ft. being worked underground. McDonald's Coal-pit, Waikaka Valley (A. A. Edge, owner ; W. Mclvor, permit, and G. Mitchell, lessees). —(9/9/1908) : Levels driven east and west of main dip. Places taken wide and high are fallen in, while pillars are left too small for proper support. Powder-magazine has been allowed to become somewhat dilapidated. The lessee subsequently wrote me that this had been rectified. Rules posted. Report-book and plan kept. Anderson's Coal-pit (late Radford's) Wendon (Samuel Yeomans, lessee). —(21/3/1908) : The seam is perpendicular, 18 ft. in width, of which 10 ft. is won in " lifts." A cross-measures drive connects the workings with the loading-bank. Ventilation is maintained by an opening through into the opencast. Rules posted. - During the summer threshing requirements and winter stock for farmers are taken from the pit, which is closed during the winter months.