c.—->

s used for keeping the dip clear of water. To the rise the main level going east encountered an abrupt change in the strike and forced the level heading down the hill, or in the direction of the dip of the seam. The level going west is almost to the boundary in good-quality coal. The inclines to the rise have reached the main fault, and preparations were being made to extract the pillars adjacent to the fault. Arrangements have been concluded between the management and the inspection staff to work the mine on the panel system, from which it is considered much benefit will accrue. Arrangements were also concluded to stonedust the mine as early as possible. During the year gas was found from time to time in many of the working-places. Timbering throughout was not up to the standard set by the other West Coast mines., but the management was gradually effecting an improvement. On the 3rd December a disastrous explosion occurred through which nine men lost their lives. Four bodies were recovered —namely, James Richards, deputy in charge ; Robert Hunter, winehman ; John Lindsay, miner; and Eric Ashton, trucker. Richards was dead when he was found, but the other three were alive. Hunter and Lindsay died shortly after being brought to the surface, and Ashton died in the hospital next day. Five bodies could not be recovered—namely, Thomas Black, James Marshall, Ernest Brammer, Alfred Noakes, and Edward Partington, miners. Owing to fires and a series of explosions the mine had to be flooded. To flood the mine effectually water was pumped from the Grey River. This took about ten days. The mine will remain flooded for a time to ensure that all danger of fires is past. Wallsend Mine.—During the year operations have been confined to unwatering the shafts and rise workings. The shafts were unwatered by means of tanks. When the shafts were emptied and time allowed for the gas to drain off from the old workings, preparations were made to install an electric pump to deal with the water as it made. Preparations were then made to repair the shaft and arrange for unwatering the dip workings. It was decided to seal off the rise workings and concentrate on developing the area to the dip. Plans are in progress for railway-sidings, screeningplant, and storage-bins. A sirocco fan has been installed, and the area is to be worked on the panel system. Go-operative Parties. Boustridge and Party's Mine, Brunnerton.—This mine has been abandoned on account of the hillside slipping away. Alien and Party's Mine, Brunnerton. —All the top pillars having been taken out, and two pillars on the higher side of the level left in in the event of the party going for a big pillar lower down, it was decided to cease operations pending satisfactory arrangements being made regarding the lease. Armstrong and Party, Dunollie. —Operations in this mine consist of pillar-extraction. The bottom layer of coal is about 5 ft. thick. The pillars are kept in a uniform line, and when a lift is taken up in a pillar in the bottom seam the props are drawn and the roof allowed to fall, thus enabling a fairly large percentage of the upper seam to be won. Moody Greek Mine, Dunollie.—Faulting on both strike and rise of this area has greatly reduced the area of workable coal in this section, the third to be developed in this lease. Five places are being worked, the thickness of coal varying from 3 ft. 6 in. to 8 ft. The inclination of the seam is about 1 in 14, and chutes are used to transport the coal from the upper workings. Hunter and Party's Mine, Dunollie. —This mine only contains a limited amount of coal to be won, on account of faults crossing the area. The workable area is really a pocket surrounded by faults. Prospecting operations are in progress beyond the faults. One borehole put down during the year on the western side proved no coal. It is proposed to put down another borehole on the southern side to test the area ahead of a dip heading that is being driven in 2 ft. 6 in. of clean coal. Brae Head Mine, Dunollie (Boote and Party).—Development in this mine is now confined to the dip workings; five working-places producing coal. In the main dip heading the seam is split by a stone band. The seam thins going east. The coal is of excellent quality. Hillside Mine, Dunollie (Guy and Party.)— This mine having become exhausted, operations ceased towards the end of the year- Preparations are going on for opening up an area on the western side of the Sevenmile Creek, adjacent to Simpson and Party's Moody Creek Mine. Mclvor and Party's Mine, Dunollie. —The main dip having reached a fault, work in this direction has been stopped. Two levels were driven about 3 chains, and were abandoned on account of the coal being of poor quality and unsaleable. A few pillars of good coal were then extracted, and arrangements made to work an area of coal at the back or western side of the lease. The quantity of water encountered, together with a soft heaving floor, caused the party considerable expense. Baddeley and Party's Mine, Dunollie.—This mine is part of the seam of coal worked by Mclvor and party. The headings have reached the boundary, and the party have started pillar-extraction, A brick-kiln has been installed to supply the local market with bricks. The fireclay underlying the seam is of excellent quality for brickmaking. Manderson and Party's Mine, Dunollie. —Operations at this mine consist in driving a main dip heading in the bottom seam of the old No, 1 mine of the Point Elizabeth Colliery. The seam along the fault is about 5 ft. 6 in. thick and of excellent quality. A borehole was put down to drain off a certain amount of water which gathered in the old workings of the main seam, about 14 ft. above the present workings. This enabled the party to recover a few chains of coal to the dip and about 5 or 6 chains in width. Smith and Party's Mine, Dunollie. —This party is working a small area of coal adjacent to the old rise workings of the No. 1 mine of the Point Elizabeth Colliery. A stone band has split the seam in two, the top section being about 3 ft. thick and the bottom section about 2 ft. thick. The places are being driven wide so as to allow of stowage where the stone band, about 2 ft. thick, is being brushed to make height. Duggan and Party's Mine, Rewanui.—This party is working a small area of coal on the south-eastern side of the worked area known as the 3a Section of the Liverpool Colliery. There are two thin seams, and the quality of the coal is variable. The height of the seams averages about 5 ft. 6 in. The roof is of fireclay, and necessitates close timbering. Spark and Party's Mine, Rewanui. —The workings in this mine are still proceeding in a northerly direction. The area is on the southern side of what is known as the No. 2 mine of the Liverpool Colliery. The seam is here split by stony bands, and the thickness of coal averages about 5 ft. 6 in. Five single places are being worked. The trucking in this mine is becoming expensive. McNeill's Mine, Rapahoe.—This is an area of coal on the Grey-Barrytown Road, in the vicinity of the ten-mile peg. During the year McNeill sold out, and the mine is now being worked by R. Marshall and W Page. Four men are employed. The seam is about 4 ft. thick with thin stony bands. Inangahua District. Reef ton Goal Company's Mine, Burke's Greek.—The work of driving the main dip lias been stopped to allow of a sump being constructed to drain the water away from the main haulage. The level on the left has been continued through the fault and good coal struck. A few places are being opened up. In the level to the right three places are being driven double-shift. The amount of water given off from the strata and the number of small faults met with is causing a lot of trouble to the management and expense to the company. The fire area is still active, but under control. Calliope Mine, Murray Greek. —A company was formed to work this area on a large scale. Plans were in progress for an aerial tramway to deal with the output. A survey was made, and then operations ceased. A portion of the area was let on tribute. The party are working along the outcrop. At present three small drives are producing coal of good quality. No definite system of working is being followed.

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