C.—2

Homebush Fireclay and Canister.- Fireclay has been mined, chiefly opencast, and towards the end of the year a start was made to open up a further mine for ganister. Homebush Coal-mine.—The actual production of coal at this mine has been very limited during the year, the small quantity produced having been obtained from the remnants of old workings of a 2ft seam However, a prospectmg-dip stone-drive was driven a distance of 200 ft. and, after intercepting an unworkable seam of coal, reached what was thought to be the engine seam, but at the time of writing it is not possible to forecast the possibilities of these operations. Solitude Mine.—Mining operations having proved impracticable at this mine, a small amount of coal was won opencast early m the year and further operations abandoned. Sheffield Clay-mine. —-The production of fireclay has been continued at this mine, the output having been used for pipe-making in Christchurch. b Burnbnght Mine (Sheffield) — I This is a new mine commenced about half a mile east of the last-mentioned clay-mine. The thickness of the coal-measure is 6 ft. 3 in., and it contains a band of stone 3 ft. 4in in the centre. Work is being carried out on a small scale. Sandown Mine. This is a new mine situated about half a mile north-east of the Bonanza Mine. Towards the end of the year a seam of coal 8 ft. thick was intercepted by a cross-measure drive. The seam is verv steeply inclined and was friable at the point of interception. Yukon Mine.—This is a new mine commenced in Bush Gully. The coal-seam is being developed in a south-west direction, a level having been driven for a short distance. The thickness of the seam is approximately 4 it. o in. Steventon Mine—Development- work has been continued to the dip and chiefly to the north-east. The lie ness and quality of the coal has been maintained. Two lower levels proceeding north-east have been dnven a distance of 8 chains, at which point a gravel intrusion occurs and cuts off the coal-seam. De watering the old mine has been continued, and towards the end of the year preparations were being made to install an electrically driven pump to complete the dewatering. A new double-inlet Sirocco fan has been installed. As the gravel intrusion mentioned now appears to be veering away from the main dip-heading it would seem that a reasonable area of coal will be made available for working here. Operations are being conducted in a workmanlike manner and the mine is reasonably equipped with plant. Sunny dale Mine.—All attempts to prove a workable seam of coal on this property have so far failed A small quantity of silica sand and clay has been won for pottery-manufacture in Timaru, work having been carried out very intermittently. ' 5 Blackburn Coal Co.—No development-work of any consequence has been attempted during the year the output having again been procured from pillar-extraction. Mount Somers Coal Co.—A small amount of development has been carried out to the north. However the bulk of the output has been obtained from pillar-extraction. A further lower cross-measures level was driven a distance of 240 ft. and development - work will again be continued from this point. Any further development of this mine, other than from the drive mentioned, would appear to require plant-installation to cope with dip-workings, and it is very doubtful if coal-mining operations in this field will warrant such expenditure, as a. fairly considerable quantity of water could be anticipated in any dip-workings. Meadowbank Mine—A further attempt is being made to work this mine in 'the hope that the demand for this class of coal will improve. However, work was only resumed in the latter part of the year and very little more work was done. J Woodbank Mine -The demand for this coal is so limited that very little development-work was carried the outerop air-shaft was constructed and the output was obtained from robbing pillars adjacent to North Otago District. Airedale Mine.—Development-work has been continued to the dip, and levels have been continued to the north and south respectively. During the latter portion of the year there were definite signs that the coalseam was deteriorating 111 quality, and stratified bands of stone, in some places 2 ft. thick, made their appearance. At present it would appear that the seam will soon become unworkable in this area A new prospecting dip-heading has been commenced to prove the area to the south of the present mine, but it is yet too early to state the possible position in this direction. Definite signs that this coal is very liable to spontaneous combustion were noted during the year. St. Andrews Mine.—No work of importance was carried out during the year, the total output being obtained from pillar-extraction. A commencement was made to extract the pillars along the main level and to the rise 01 same, oo tar, this work has continued in a satisfactory manner. Ngapara Mine.—No development-work was undertaken during the year. The output was obtained from pillar-extraction in the area to the north-west. Shag Point Mine (McLean's). The old company having ceased operations, work has been continued with a lew private miners. A start was made to extract the line of pillars which had been left to support the return airway Conditions were favourable for this work, and the available coal will probably keep a few miners engaged for a short time. 1 Shag Point Mine (McLaren's). The development of this area is proceeding slowly. The dip was extended a short distance, and several pillars were extracted to the north and to the south of the main dip. The area is now confined by faults on the north and south sides and the ocean high-water mark to the dip. Willetts Mine- (Papakaio). All development at this mine has resulted in the seam becoming stratified with stone bands, and a commencement has been made to extract the pillars, this work continuing in a satisfactory manner. 6 Rochoale Mine.—Development-work has been continued intermittently. The coal is only of moderate quality and is, so far, variable m thickness and quality. Otago Central Mines. Shepherd's Creek Mine (Bannockbum).—Development along the levels to the north-west and south-east was carried out for a distance of 300 ft. The seam was inclined to become stony to the south, and development in this direction was stopped. Development to the north was also temporally stopped, as old workings exist m this direction. The main dip-heading was deviated 32° west and extended a further 3 chains, the seam maintaining its thickness and quality here. AH places are driven not more than 8 ft. wide, and minintr conditions have been satisfactory. '"'f' New Cromwell Syndicate.—Prospecting-work has been continued, two dip-headings having been driven a distance of 200 ft. and both places lost as a result of falls of roof. The thickness of the coal-seam is not known. It is overlain by water-logged, very fine, sand, and if ultimately reached will probably be found to be incapable of profitable mining. Nevis Crossing (Ritchie's) Mine.—A small amount of coal was won from the opencast pit during the latter portion ot the year. ® Nevis Pit (Fache's).—This pit was worked actively during the year. Water was laid on for sluicing purposes and the seam exposed. The measure is probably 40 ft. thick, not more than 20 per cent of which is clean coal The measures are almost vertical and freely stratified with bands of impurities of varying thickness. The pit supplied the requirements of the dredge and also local needs. Otureh.ua Pit-—Opencast operations only have been carried out intermittently and on a small scale Hlackstone Hill Pi*.—This pit was worked very intermittently and on a small scale, opencast. ldaburn Pit. Operations were continued on the opencast method, but the demand for this class of coal is still very limited.

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