0.—2

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Ryder's Goal-mine, Nevis. —A low level has been driven, which facilitates haulage and drainage. Evidence of faulting may be seen in both directions. Nevis Crossing Coal-pit, Nevis. —Opencast pit. Two men steadily employed during summer months. The Golden Point, Limited (lately Gold and Scheelite Proprietary Company, Limited), Macrae's. —Worked for own requirements. The workings collapsed during the year. Dillon's, Blackstone Hill. —A private pit worked for local consumption. Southland. Pukerau Coal-mine, Pukerau. —A small output produced for local use. Heffernan's Goal-mine, East Gore. —The main entrance having collapsed during recent wet weather a new dip has been driven, and the mine is being reopened. Green's Colliery, Gore. —In usual working-condition, this mine having suffered less from storm and floods than other pits in the district. Fan-ventilation fair. Report-book and plan kept. Bushy Park Coal-pit, Croydon. —Opencast. Heads stripped well back and in good workingorder. Burnwell Coal-mine, Ghatton. —Driving to dip, and southerly. Seam thick (30ft.) and strong. The communication-way towards old Chatton Mine has now fallen in. Bamsay's Coal-mine, Chatton. —Driving to dip, and levels broken away southward. Seam thick and strong. Ventilation good. Report-book kept. Springfield Coal-mine, Waikaka Valley. —A shallow underground working, in fair order. Ventilation good. Willowbank Colliery, Waikaka Valley. —Recent flood-water made inroads through the fallen ground of older workings, causing the mine to practically collapse around the small pillars left. The fault converging from outcrop tends to narrow the dip-workings. Glenlee Goal-pit, Waikaka. —Opencast pit, stripping kept well ahead. Edge's Coal-mine, Waikaka. —Driving to the dip and opening levels in the usual way. Siphon drainage having become unworkable on account of the depth, a steam-pump is now used. Bossvale Coal-mine, Waikaia. —Bords were being driven toward the boundary of old Waikaia Mine workings. The seam is open-jointed, and the water-level on the floor was being taken as a guide and safeguard against a sudden inburst of water. The mine-manager promised to have a borehole kept ahead in advancing places. Waikaia Goal-mine, Waikaia. —The former haulage-way to the surface has collapsed beyond repair. A new dip drive is being put down through former workings. Noxious gas has not been observed. Argyle Coal-pit, Glenavy. —Opencast; worked for local supplies. Waimea Goal-mine, Kingston Crossing. —New mine on terrace being got ready for output. Lynch's Goal-mine, Kingston Crossing. —A steady output being maintained for local purposes. Princhester Creek Coal-pit, The Key. —An output of 130 tons was produced during the year, for local requirements. Mataura Collieries Company (Limited), Mataura. —After flood inconveniences the mine has been unwatered, and normal conditions now prevail. Some brattice was required for more complete ventilation, which the mine-manager promised should receive attention. Mataura Lignite-pit, Mataura. —Work was being conducted at two places, the " face " being about 200 yards in length. Stripping was kept well ahead, and explosives apparently carefully handled. As twelve men were employed at one time in and about the pit in contravention of the permit issued by me authorizing the employment of eight men, in accordance with the Coalmines Act, the holder of such permit, Mr. William Coster, was proceeded against and convicted, with costs amounting to £2 13s. Waimumu Coal-pit, Waimumu. —Opencast workings, safely conducted. Heatherlea Coal-prit, Waimumu. —Opencast working for local use. Ota Creek Coal-pit, Wyndham. —Shallow opencast workings, liable to much flooding by water. Clarke's Coal-pit, Wyndham. —Opencast workings. Centrifugal pump, steam-driven, now installed. » Bobin Hood Coal-pit, Pine Bush. —An opencast pit supplying district requirements. Nightcaps Colliery, Nightcaps. —No. 1 mine: Permanent ash fire-stoppings are built against the waste in the middle and upper seams. No. 2 mine : The output is chiefly derived from pillar and head coal. The lower seam dip drive has attained 400 ft. from surface, the dip being lin 4. A connection for ventilation with new shaft will shortly be made. The opencast section which has yielded so large a proportion of the output will shortly be abandoned, owing chiefly to the stripping becoming too heavy to be profitable. The loading-bank and surface erections which were burned have now been restored in steel and concrete. Close attention is paid to daily examinations and report-books. Plan duly kept. Explosives-magazine approved. An extraordinary fatality occurred on the 2nd April, 1913, when James Hewitt, miner, returned to his workingface having first previously ignited the fuse of a shot without having given the usual warning. Hewitt was killed instantly, and a deputy and another workman accompanying him had a narrow escape. Matthew McKenzie, miner, was fatally injured on the 9th September, 1913, by being thrown against a coal-truck by a fall of coal from the roof, he sustaining fracture of skull and jaw. New Brighton Coal-mine, Nightcaps. —Pillar and head coal, working back from the boundary. Ventilation good; report-book and plan kept. A fatal accident happened on the 26th February, 1913, whereby William Ferguson, miner, was killed by a fall of coal from the face, which had previously been examined by the mine-manager and others and considered safe,