15

C—3 a

South Otago. Fernhitt Colliery, Abbotsford (James Gray, owner and manager). -(31/8/09) : Rules posted; plan kept : report-book to date. Only bead-coal places are being worked, and the limited area of the mine which is standing open is in fairly good working-order. Fri'ciiiini's ('nllicri/. Abbotsford (Freeman's Coal Company, owners; It. Green, general manager; A. S. Gillanders, mine-manager). (28 I" 09): No. I Mine: Coal-getting now discontinued, and the main level is used as second outlet and travelling-way for workmen. Furnace-ventilation is employed, intake air being led direel to working-faces in No. H dip, and I hence around the workings to Eurnaceshaft. Method of work consists of advancing northerly in solid for development, with extraction of pillar and head coal following. Coal being proud and roof bad, places are driven narrow at first working. At near No. 5 dip pillar workings the waste was beating, and the temperature above normal, which usually occurs in final extraction preparatory to stoppings going in. These were prepared and ready for insertion at short notice in brick 01 wood as considered advisable. Rules posted : plan kept ; report-books to date. Other requirements of the Act reasonably well observed. Proposed mechanical ventilation by fan is being considered. Green Island Mineral* Company, Green Island (J. Louden, managing director; T. Barclay, jun., mine-manager). —(26/10/09) : Several faults encountered have interfered with adequate development. Dip-extension discontinued meanwhile, and levels are driven north and south in coal of a proud nature : therefore, drives are taken narrow, to provide for maintenance of roof. An area is laid of! for present working having safety harrier between these and old workings, which were discontinued in the year 1893, and of which the plan deposited in this office at that time appears to have been fairly well kept. Rules posted ; report-book and plan to date. Jubilee Colliery, Saddle Hill (Jubilee Coal Company ; A. P. Bremner. general manager ; T. Barclay, mine-manager). —(27/10/09) : Prospecting places in dip still continued. Seam thin, and roof bad. The greater proportion of output is got from pillar and head coal extraction. A feature at the breast of work is absence of black damp and fire stink, due mainly to the method of work adopted of driving to boundaries and coming homeward on pillar and head coal. The 1(1 ft. seam of sand overlying the coal-seam in falling proved an effectual natural stopping on the fringe of waste. Ventilation generally adequate, and well conducted by brattice to working-faces. Rules posted; plan and report-books kept ; and requirements of the Act fairly well attended to. Burnwell Colliery, Saddle Hill (Adam Harris, owner and manager). —(26/10/09) : Pillars and head coal to dip are fairly well extracted. Floor having heaved is now met with roof, thus forming a safeguard for balance of coal-extraction and a minimising factor of spontaneous fires. The south westerly line of fault is being prospected for a payable seam of coal in that part of the field. Saddle Hill No. 1 Colliery, Saddle Hill (Christie Bros., owners ; \V. \V. Ogilvie. mine-manager). — (30/12/09) : Extraction of pillars and head coal continues in the usual safe manner. Considerable trouble has been experienced with the waste, owing to spontaneous heating. Single and double stoppings are in against the gob, and with a good current of air travelling workmen are subjected to a minimum of inconvenience. Brick stoppings are being built against the wooden ones where heating occurred, as a precaution against possible outbreak of spontaneous fires. Ventilating-furnace recently enlarged, with good results. Requirements of the Act generally well observed. Saddle Hill No. 2 OolMery, Saddle llill (Christie Bros., owners; Robert Hill, mine-manager).— (2/11/09): By the use of a fan the satisfactory ventilation of this mine presents no difficulties. With the fan running at two-fifths speed the workings and the mine generally are kept clear, and the mineair is highly satisfactory. Coal proud and pillars crushing in the southerly part of the mine, where approaching fault line, near the old workings. Rules posted ; plan and report-book kept. Approved magazine for storage of explosives. Lauriston GolMery, Brighton Road (James Walker, owner and manager, permit). — (29/10/09) : The mine and workings are in good order. Second outlet provided. Ventilation excellent. Brighton Colliery, Brighton Road (D. L. McColl, owner ; A. McColl, permit, manager).—(29/10/O , .)) : A new adit is to be put in to replace the old level, which is in a ragged state, owing to pressure on the timbers, which last only a brief length of time. Second outlet shaft 30 ft. in depth by 4ft. square. Mine-workings in good order. Waronui Colliery, Milton (Bruce Railway and Coal* Company, owners; ,J. R. Wilson, general manager ; James Carruthers, mine-manager). —(7/12/09) : New loading-bank and surface arrangements in connection with branch railway-line are almost completed. The, pillars in No. 1 section are exhausted, and fire-Stoppings are in on the fringe of waste. Pillar-extraction continues in the main or middle lift workings, where the atmosphere was above normal temperature, owing to the tendency to spontaneous ignition which develops in the waste or gob, and is held in check by special stoppings according to circumstances. The new stone drive, 12 chains, is being utilised for output from south side workings, where prospecting levels are being driven, and eventually the whole output will be diverted to this point. The mine was in fair working-order, but the ventilation could not be considered adequate, and fan-ventilation is being provided at earliest opportunity. Rules posted ; report-books and plan kept. Lakeside Coal-pit, LoveWs Flat (G. E. Royds, owner). —(24/6/09) : A drive on the hillside in surface seam of Taratu quality. Seam apparently interrupted by faults where being worked. A prospecting drive in the valley is stated to have proved a payable seam of coal at shallow depth. Coal produced for private and local requirements. Taratu Colliery,. Taratu (Taratu Coal and Railway Company, owners ; G. R. Cheeseman, general manager; Thomas Shore, mine-manager). —(23/12/09) : Ventilation good throughout the mine, and brattices kept well up to the working-faces. A number of miss-fire shots reported had been attributed to insufficient care when attaching fuses to charges in wet holes. Although situated in the Kaitangata