23

C—3a

Landslip Coal Company's Mine (disposed of to John Hughes, permit), Waikaia. —(8/9/1908) : The fault having been struck necessitated falling back upon pillars to maintain output A crush subsequently came upon the lower part of the workings, and several places became lost. Two pairs of men were engaged robbing pillars and head coal from near the bottom of dip, where a nuisance was being caused by exhaust steam from, pump turned into the water lodgment, thereby creating condensation, which filled the working-places with an uncomfortable haze. This was to be rectified by shifting the pump further up the dip, and conveying exhaust steam to surface by return airway. Seam 17 ft., all being worked. Rules posted ; report-book kept; plan to date. Riverbank Colliery, Landslip, Waikaia (W. Kyle, permit, lessee). —(24/7/1908) : Seam 10 ft., all being worked. Pillaring outward from the boundary on Rear's old workings. Pump driven by oilengine underground. Travelling-way to second-outlet shaft in need of repairs. Reports of examination with safety-lamp to be entered in daily report-book. Air fair. The operations of the Te Aroha gold-dredge have played havoc with the roadway on the river-bank, which is also the roadway for ingress and egress for the coal-mine. Waikaia Goal-mine, Landslip, Waikaia (Alexander Cain, permit, lessee). —(24/7/1908) : This new mine is equipped with steam hauling-gear and steam-pump. The new dip is down 120 ft. Seam, 10 ft. Dip, 1 in 4. I cautioned the lessee that there was a tendency to drive places too wide and high for future economical recovery of pillars and head coal. (8/9/1908) : Acting upon information received, I instituted proceedings against Mr. Cain for employing labour on Sunday, the 19th July, without being the holder of a permit from the Inspector as required by section 39 of " The Coal-mines Act, 1908," when Cain pleaded guilty, and was fined £1, and costs 9s. Rossvale Goal-mine, Landslip, Waikaia (Bond Bros., owners ; J. McLelland, mine-manager).— (24/7/1908) : Bond Bros, having reacquired possession of the mine from Mr. A. Cain, work is continued as usual. Seam, 10 ft. Roof strong, and all places standing well, with minimum of timber used. Air good, and well conducted to faces by brattice. Second-outlet and air shafts (two) in good order ; windlass and rope provided. Copy of General Rules (new issue) required to be posted. Main level driven unreasonably wide (18 ft.) for advantageous future recovery of pillar-coal. Locked magazine approved. Muddy Terrace (late Goldie's) Coal and Shale Pit, Muddy Terrace, Waikaia (Knuckey and Junker, lessees; F. A. Junker, permit).—(B/9/1908): Rules posted. Seam 14 ft., including 10 ft. of shale of good quality. Seam improves in quality towards dip workings, which are, however, at present filled with water. Engine and pumping plant expected shortly. Places safely worked ; drives not too wide, and good pillars left in. Air good. Argyle Coal-pit, Upper Waikaia (C. H. Hutton). —This pit continues to be worked on a small scale. Mataura Coal-mine, Mataura (Mataura Collieries (Limited), owners ; J. A. Yule, secretary, Gore). — (23/7/1908) : Coal-seam 7 ft. Stripping, 8 ft. to 10 ft., is kept well ahead of the working-face. A contract has been let for production of coal, with which good headway is being made. It is intended to get the coal in future by underground mining. Suitable magazines for storage of explosives approved. Mataura Lignite-pit, Mataura (Beattie, Coster, and Co., owners ; W. Coster, manager). — (23/7/1908) : Opencast pit, systematically worked by keeping stripping well ahead of working-face. Seam, 10 ft. to 20 ft. Stripping, 10 ft. of gravel, which is removed by horse-power with plough and scoop. Magazine for storage of explosives approved. Boghead Coal-pit, Mataura (C. P. Sleeman and Co., owners ; C. P. Sleeman, jun., manager).— (23/7/1908) : This pit, after standing idle for some time, was unwatered during the early part of the year under new proprietary. Seam, 12 ft. to 20 ft., of which 12 ft. being worked. Stripping, 10 ft. Powder-magazine approved. Waimumu Colliery Company, Waimumu (Waimumu Colliery Company, owners ; J, Wallace, permit). —(23/7/1908) : Two men engaged in the upper seam drawing pillars from boundary outward. The seam is worked to water-free level only. A lower seam of 6 ft. is underfoot. Rules posted. Re-port-book kept. Powder-magazine approved. Ota Creek Coal-pit, Ota Creek (James E. Genge/owner).—Opencast pit, from which an output of 500 tons was obtained during the year. Clarke's Coal-pit, Wyndham (Samuel Clarke, owner). —(24/10/1908) : Opencast seam, 10 ft., all worked. Stripping kept well in advance of working-face. Only a small quantity of blasting-powder kept on hand, and it is obtained for use as required from the local public magazine. Ferry Road Coal-pit, Wyndham (B. Sutherland). —(24/10/1908) : Opencast pit; apparently abandoned, as pit standing full of water, although some of the machinery is still on the ground. Robin Hood Coal-pit, Pine Bush (William Couser, manager ; Jessie Couser, owner). —Opencast pit. During the year 179 tons of coal was produced. Graham's Goal-pit, Fairfax (P. S. Graham, owner). —(16/11/1908) : Seam, 6 ft. Work consists of coming back on the low side of level pillar. Place safely timbered to face. Ventilation could be improved by restoration of return airway. Owner explained that the air was always good, or he would provide a fresh airway. Ardlowie Coal-pit, Fairfax (Edward Poole, owner). — (16/11/1908) r Opencast pit. A small quantity of coal being taken out for local requirements. Fairfax Coal-pit, Fairfax (Donald Mcintosh, owner). —(16/11/1908) : A small opencast pit on the Ringway Estate, which was known as McMinamin's. Very little work done here lately. Smith's Coal-mine (Spreybank No. 2) Fairfax (William Smith). —(16/11/1908) :1 Seam' 3 ft., with band of stone making ; too thin to pay for working. Abandoned. Blackmount Coal-pit, Louden Hill, Bellmount (P. Studholme, owner). —(19/11/1908) : Seam 5 ft., in coal of Nightcaps seam, quality, dipping lin 4 westerly. Cross-measures drive from daylight, and level southerly driven about half a chain. Timbering correctly done to face.