C.—2.

Paparoa Colliery (Paparoa Goal Co., Ltd.), Roa. —West Level Section: Most of the output for the year was won from this section. The main levels were driven to the fault and pillar-extraction was commenced. A dip-drive from the main west level was put in to a distance of 3J chains in coal of very good quality. It is intended to develop a panel on the low side of the main west level. Aerial Section : Owing to the slackness of trade it was found necessary to close down this section most of the year. The whole of the output was obtained by pillar-extraction. United Brunner Mines, Ltd., Brunner. —A small amount of coal was produced from a pillar lying one chain to the east of the Taylorville traffic road. No work has been done on the upper portion of the lease since the instruction was issued requiring the installing of a fan. Go-operative Mines in Grey District. Spark and Party's Mine, Rewanui. —During the year development was stopped owing to dirt bands, from 8 in. to 15 in. in thickness, being encountered in the seam. Pillar-extraction was started, and the coal in this seam is rapidly becoming exhausted. A bore was put down from the present mine and a lower coal-seam proved. A stone-drive was started from the present mine for the purpose of working this seam. Duggan and Party's Mine, Rewanui. —The pillars in the top section were exhausted and the small area of coal to the dip was developed. The coal in this section is only 2 ft. 6 in. in thickness. Prospecting : A bore was put down on the new lease about a mile from Dunollie and a 3 ft. 6 in. seam proved. Old Runanga Mine (O'Brien and Party), Reioanui. —Two seams are worked. No. 1 Mine : In the bottom seam development was continued in a northerly direction in good-quality coal 5 ft. thick. No. 2 Mine : The top seam was developed in a northerly direction in good-quality coal 4 ft. 6 in. thick. During the year a new fan was installed, producing 20,000 cubic feet of air per minute. Goldlight Colliery (Williams and Party), Rewanui. —The work of pillar-extraction in the old mine was continued during the year. A stone-drive was advanced for 4 chains in broken ground in a north-easterly direction to tap the seam at a lower level. Moody Creek Mine (Simpson and Party), Dunollie. —The dip section, No. 5 Mine, was worked out and a new area was developed across the fault and to the rise of No. 5 Mine. This section was developed in a southeasterly direction in good-quality coal 7 ft. thick. New Point Elizabeth Mine (Guy and Party), Dunollie.—The work of pillar-extraction between the two faults was completed. The section, developed on the rise side of the 130 ft. fault, was restricted in width to 3 chains by parallel faults. In the main heading the coal thinned to an unworkable thickness, but later it thickened. Fiery Cross Mine (Currie and Party), Dunollie. —Top Section: Pillar-extraction was continued. The pillars are worked in line from the main level to the rise. Bottom Section : The main level was driven in a northerly direction for a distance of 10 chains in 6 ft. 6 in. coal and two places were developed to the rise. Baddeley and Party's Mine, Dunollie.—The workings to the north of the creek were abandoned, the coal being of an inferior nature and split by stone bands. To the south the old section was reopened and a dipdrive, on a grade of 55 degrees to 65 degrees, was carried on for a distance of 5 chains, when it was stopped temporarily on a patch of inferior coal. The two bottom levels were extended a total distance of 7 chains. Castlepoint Mine, Dunollie. —The bulk of the coal won from this mine was from pillar-work on the northerly portion of the lease. The main level going north, which had been stopped owing to the coal thinning to 2 ft., was restarted, and the coal increased to 3 ft. 6 in. of good quality. One incline is being driven from the level in a north-easterly direction, and the coal there is up to 5 ft. in thickness. Hilltop Mine (Armstrong and Party), Ten-mile. —The main mine was stopped at the beginning of the year for the purpose of flooding the workings in an endeavour to put out a fire. For the first half of the year all coal was won from a small seam lying to the west of the old mine. The water-level has since been lowered, and the section of pillars is being worked to the rise of No. 2 level. The fire stoppings have been so left that should emergency arise the area can again be quickly sealed. Brady and Party's Mine, Ten-mile. —The dip has been extended to 5 chains and levels driven north and south on the strike of the seam. In the south level the coal is M ft. thick, and in the north level approximately 6ft. in thickness. During the year a "Blackmail" fan was installed. The mine has been idle since the 18th October, when a large slip from the hillside destroyed the bins and screening plant. Kaye and Party's Mine, Ten-mile. —The level stone-drive was put in and intercepted the seam at a distance of 60 ft. Two levels were driven on the strike of the seam, and were water-free. The top level to the northeast struck a fault at 90 ft. and was stopped. The dip was sunk to what appears to be the same fault which was struck at 90 ft. The outlook for the successful development of this mine is not very encouraging. A pair of parallel faults running in a north-westerly - south-easterly direction 3|- chains apart converge as work progresses towards the dip. Hunter and Party's Mine, Dunollie.—All the output from this mine was obtained from pillar-extraction, and no development was undertaken during the year. Schultz Creek Mine (Marshall and Party), Twelve-mile. —A little development was done on the north side of the creek, but the seam thinned to 2 ft. in stony coal. All development work was completed, and the coal is being won from the pillars. Dennehy's Mine, Twelve-mile. —The work of extracting pillars was continued during the year, the coal being 3 ft. in thickness. Operations ceased in November. Cain's Mine, Rapahoe.—The work of pillar-extraction was continued during the year, no development work being done. Bellbird Mine (Fauth and Party), Ten-mile.—Development work was confined to a level going easterly. The coal gradually increased in height to 10 ft., with a band of stone 3 in. to 4 in. in thickness in the centre. In the main incline going north the coal is lift, in thickness, and a false roof of 8 in. in thickness is being taken down. Bellvue Mine (Hadcroft and Party), Rapahoe.—The output for the year was won from the pillars. An area of pillars which had been sealed on account of fire was opened during the year, but after three months' work had again to be sealed off. Jubilee Mine (Pinn and Party), Rapahoe.—Development work in this mine was completed and the pillars are being extracted. Musselpoint Mine (Curtis and Party), Nine-mile. —Pillar-extraction having been completed, the mine was closed down towards the end of the year. Cliff side Mine (Moore and Party), Nine-mile. —Towards the end of the year this party started to develop an outcrop approximately 1,000 ft. above sea-level in coal 13 ft. thick. Smith and Party's Mine, Dunollie.—A level to the north about 13 chains from the dip was stoppad owing to the coal having thinned to 2 ft. 6 in. Development work was restarted, and the level advanced to 17 chains, the coal then being 3 ft. 9 in. thick. Places to the full rise increased to 5 ft. Braehead Mine (Boote and Party), Dunollie. —Throughout the year pillar-extraction was continued in the north-easterly portion of the lease. Development Work. —The main dip being driven south-westerly was carried to a distance of 6 chains below the main level. From the dip four levels were driven easterly and are in 11 ft. good-quality coal split by a stone band 9 in. thick.

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