11

a—Ba

Burkes Creek Coal-mine (Messrs. Gibson and Harris, owners ; A. Hamilton, mine-manager).— (16/11/10): No. 1 south heading : This heading continues to be. driven by two shifts of workmen, and a holing should shortly be made with No. 2 main south heading. This heading should open a large area of coal and greatly improve the ventilation of the mine. The coal from the southern section of the lease, which was worked by the former owners by tunnelling, continues to be successfully extracted by opencast method. No. 1 North area : To win the coal from this section it was found imperative to construct a short incline tramway. 1 chains in length, with a mean gradient of 1 in 2-8. Upon completion of this work the heading was set out, and on reaching a driven distance of 100 ft. met a small fault, which, on continuation of the level, was found to be 34 ft. in width. On above date, coal of superior quality and hardness to anything previously worked on the property was showing in the face. The timbering and ventilation throughout the mine are satisfactory. The thorough development of the mine is receiving every attention, and the main south heading is being pushed forward with all reasonable speed. Since last year the tramway to connect with the Government railway at Reefton Station has been completed, and thereby the output from the mine has greatly increased. Six men employed underground. Rules posted, and reports to date. Lockington's Leasehold, Burkes Creek, Reefton (E. Lockington, owner, permit).—(l 6/11/10): This small mine has la-en thoroughly restored, all small coal and pyritical stone having been removed from the workings. The old system of loading coal by chutes has been replaced by self-acting inclines. By such haulage the owner will be able to supply a much larger and better class of coal. The ventilation of the mine has been greatly improved, and brattice cloth is now taken to within a few feet of each working-face. Two men employed below ground. Rules posted, and reports to date. Wailahu Coal-mine, Reefton (James Judd, owner, permit).—(l 6/11/10) : The greater part of the output from the mine has been won by the dropping of the top coal along No. 2 level, which has been thoroughly retimbered. In No. 1 level (top seam) no mining has been carried out for some considerable time. Owing to the aerial tram-line which spans the Waitahu River having been several times during the winter months carried away by floods, considerable difficulty has occasionally been experienced in procuring sufficient mining timber for the regular working of the mine. Three men employed. Rules posted, and reports to date. Reefton Coal-mine (J. Billett, owner, permit). —(19/11/10) : To again open this mine, which had been closed through unsatisfactory timbering in the inby workings, a narrow incline is being driven through the pillars, about 4 chains nearer the entrance to the tunnel than the former jigs. On a holing being effected an effort will be made to pick up the working-faces, which at present are stand.ng intact. Tin- ventilation of the mine has greatly improved since the completion of a second outlet. Two men employed below ground. Rules posted, and reports to date. Phoenix and Venus Coal-mine, Murray Creek (J. Knight and Co., owners ; W. Knight, permit).— (17/11/10) : In March last a crosscut was driven from No. 4 to No. 3 level to the top seam ; from this a rise was immediately put up to a height necessary to leave pillars large enough to maintain the stability of the main trucking-road. From thence levels were driven east and west, and, with the exception of a few tons of coal won by opencast method in the extreme south-eastern portion of the field, all the output has been won from these levels. The timbering and ventilation are satisfactory. On the above date very little smoke was noticeable from the burning area to the south of the lease, this being due to the incessant rains that had fallen during the winter months. However, on again visiting the mine on the 17th January, 1911, smoke was again issuing freely from several places. Watson and Moyle's Coal-mine, Murray Creek (W. Watson, permit).—(l 7/11/10) : On the continuation of the main south level the coal continued of a friable nature. Work has therefore been abandoned in that direction, and a dip set out to prove the coal going east, but, so far, with little sin cess. The natural ventilation of the mine is well maintained, and the timbering is satisfactory. To the extreme west of the lease the owners have for some time been opening a small pillar area, the coal from the solid or first working having been won in the early stages of the mine. Two men employed. Rules posted, and reports to date. Golden Treasure. Coal-mine, Murray Creek (James Billett, owner, permit). —(17/11/10) : Two men continue to be employed here winning coal by opencasting. A small area of coal recently discovered will add materially to the life of the mine. Lankey's Creek Coal-mine, (Progress Mines of New Zealand (Limited), owners ; D. Turnbull, permit). —(17/11/10) : No. 1 Mine : On the extension of the main level for a further distance of 150 ft. the coal became of a very poor quality and practically useless ; consequently all solid work in this section of the mine has been abandoned, and permission has been given the manager to extract these pillars, as by their extraction now when the timber is sound a larger percentage of the coal will be won than would otherwise be the case were they allowed to stand until the timber would decay and heavy falls take place throughout the mine. The eastern section gives every indication that a small block of coal may be looked for in this direction. The timbering of this mine is satisfactory, and the ventilation adequate. Six men employed. Rules posted, and reports to date. Merrijiys Coal-mine (McGee and Osborne, owners; J. Osborne, permit).—(lB/11/10) : On the further prospecting of this property the coal showed no improvement in thickness or quality. Therefore the owners, after having incurred considerable expense in opening the mine, abandoned the project in May last. Loughnan's Coal-mine (William Bierwirth, owner, permit).—(lB/11/10) : The pillars to the west of the main fault-line continue to be satisfactorily withdrawn. To win the coal lying to the east of this fault it has been found necessary to open up and retimber an old adit-level. However, to win the coal lying to the dip of the present workings a stone drive will have to be driven for some considerable distance, or otherwise pumps capable of dealing with a large amount of water will have to be installed. Three men employed. Rules posted, and reports to date.