0.—2.

On 27th November smoke was found to be issuing from the old workings at the lower end of No. 4 section, Kamo Mine, immediately on the return side of the working-places. The section was sealed and flooded. On Ist December a fire was reported to be burning at an old shaft at the East Side section, Rotowaro No. 1 Mine. The fire was suppressed, and the shaft was filled with clay. Prosecutions under the Coal-mines Act, 1925. A trucker was prosecuted on charges of smoking and having in his possession a cigarette, contrary to section 98 of the Coal-mines Act. He was convicted and fined £5, Court costs 10s., on one charge, and convicted on the other WEST COAST INSPECTION DISTRICT (W. Parsonage and J. McArthur, Inspectors of Coal-mines). In accordance with section 42 of the Coal-mines Act, 1925, we have the honour to submit our annual report on the operations of the coal-mines in the West Coast Inspection District: — Gbeymoutii District. Liverpool State Colliery, Rewanui.—Morgan Seam : The major portion of operations in the Morgan seam were confined to pillar-extraction in Nos. 1 and 2 banks west and Nos. 1, 2, and 3 banks oast. Development work was carried out by the extension of No. 3 bank west in a northerly direction and levels off the heading in a westerly direction, also by the driving of a pair of dip headings from the Main East Level; these have been driven a distance of 6 chains, and, together with cut-throughs, a total of 26 chains has been driven. A 15' horse-power compressed-air-operated " Korfmann " coal-cutter has been used in the development of the dip, with satisfactory results. A large number of concrete stoppings have been built during the year outside of the pillar areas in order to allow expeditious sealing should an outbreak of fire occur. Kimbell and Anderson Seams : Development work in the Kimbell west dip is still in progress. Eour headings are being driven to the rise in a westerly direction and four levels in a south-easterly direction. The seam varies in thickness from 8 ft. to 14 ft., while the gradient to the rise is approximately 1 in 2. In the Anderson dip development work is chiefly confined to the extension of No. 2 dip. This has been driven 10 chains. The seam is 18 ft. in thickness and the coal somewhat friable, while the gradient has varied from 1. in If to 1 in 2, but at the face the gradient is 1 in IJ. The main Anderson dip is being widened, and other alterations made preparatory to the installation of an endless-rope haulage system. Pillar-extraction is taking place in the Anderson west level, while no further development work has been done beyond the fault encountered in the Anderson east level. James State Colliery, Rapahoe.—Operations in this mine during the year consisted of both pillar-extraction and development work. Pillar-extraction has taken place in Cannel Creek section and what is known as the New Dip section, while development work was confined to the driving of headings in a north-westerly direction and levels south and north off the headings in the New Dip section. Development work in this section is confined to a small area between two known faults. Strongman State Colliery.■—-The stone tunnel under construction in 1938 at this colliery tapped the upper seam (the No. I) early in February, and, with the completion of the stone tunnel forming the return airway, coal-production -commenced. The coal won from development work was transported by means of an auxiliary haulago system to. the James Colliery main haulage, thence to the bins at Rapahoe. On the 3rd September the main endless-rope haulage system traversing from the mine through the James Mine to the bins at Rapahoe was installed. This haulage rope, is operated by an electrically-operated haulage machine situated in the main tunnel which tapped the seam. During the year a most modern screening plant and all-steel storage bins were erected at Rapahoe. To the end of the year development work has been confined to the No. 1 seam. The main headings coursing in an easterly direction have been advanced 9 chains, the first 5 chains being approximately level, while, due to a change in tho lay of the measures, the gradient of the last 4 chains is lins to the rise. Development work has also be?n done both in a northerly and a southerly direction. The headings to tho north are rising at a gradient of 1 in 5. No. 1 south heading is approximately level. These abrupt changes in the lay of the measures interfere somewhat with a definite plan of development work. The seam varies in thickness from 12 ft. to 23 ft., while the coal is of excellent quality. The coal roof necessitates the use of bars of good quality and strength. Blackball Coal-mines Proprietary, Ltd., Blackball.—Tho two stone tunnels, which were under construction during tho greater portion of 1938, from the surface to intersect the coal-seam left behind in the old mine adjacent to No. 2 dip workings tapped the seam during the year. Work in the seam has, as yet, been confined to the construction of a large sump near the foot of tho main stone tunnel. No. 1 rubber-belt conveyor has been installed, and is transporting the output from a bin near the mine portal to the screening plant. A commencement has been mado to instal rubber-belt conveyors in the main tunnel, and it is expected that all conveyors will be installed early in tho coming year. When the installation is complete, the coal will be transported by means of conveyors from the working-face to the screening plant. Blackball Creek Coal Co., Ltd., Blackball. —The output from this mine during the year has been won from the extraction of small pillars of top seam coal in Nos. 3 and 4 sections and a little development work in No. 5 section. During the year operations in the latter section ceased and the section was abandoned. This action was due to the soft nature of the coal, together with the loss of coal during transport by water flume. Briandale Collieries, Ltd., Ten-mile.—The output for the year from this mine was won from development work and pillar-extraction. The two main levels were advanced 6 chains and then encountered trouble, the seam thinning to 2 ft. 9 in. Headings driven to the rise of the main levels encountered a fault 3 chains to the rise of the levels. This fault was penetrated near tho mine entrance, but after driving 2 chains a further fault was discovered. Wallsend Colliery (Brunner Collieries, Ltd.). —The output from this mine has been won from development work in the Rope-road Extension section and to the east side of the slant dip and the splitting of pillars in Nos. 1 and 2 rise panels. The Rope-road Extension headings have been advanced to a point 38 chains beyond the head of the No. 1 slant dip, from which the " A " rise panel has been formed and a commencement made to open up the " B " rise panel. A commencement has also been made to drive No. 2 slant dip parallel with and 24 chains inbyc of No. 1 slant dip. Development work in No. 1 slant dip has been restricted, due to the flooding of twelve working-places when a breakdown to the main pump occurred. The coal in all sections is of good quality and of good thickness, but the development places in " B " rise panel have encountered a stone band in the seam. This stone band has increased in thickness to such an extent as to render its removal with the coal unprofitable; therefore, only the portion of the seam, 6 ft. to 0 ft., on top of tho stone band is now being worked. Dobson Colliery (Grey Valley Collieries, Ltd.). —All the output from this mine has been won from development work in the dip workings. No. 3 West Level: This level has been driven 30 chains and has reached the south-western boundary of the lease. Therefore, development work is confined to No. 2 panel to the dip of the main level. To improve tho haulago of coal from this panel, permission was given to the manager to construct an intermediate level to enable him to transport the coal by gravity in lieu of dip haulage. The level has been driven for some time, but it has not yet been taken advantage of.

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