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, Prosecutions On 6th. June at Huntly a miner was charged with causing an unprepared shot to be fired in his working-place, contrary to section 144, Coal-mines Act, 1925. Fined £l, costs 12s. A fireman-deputy was charged with firing an unprepared shot, in breach of Regulation 226. Fined £l, costs 12s. A miner was prosecuted for charging and connecting up an unprepared shot, contrary to section 144, Coal-mines Act, 1925. Fined £l, costs 12s. His mate was charged with the same breach, but the case was withdrawn on his showing that he was trucking on that day and did not assist with the shot. A fireman-deputy was charged with connecting up an unprepared shot ready to fire. Fined £l, costs 12s. On 4th July at Huntly a trucker was charged with striking a youth, contrary to Regulation 65. Fined £l, costs 13s. On 12th September at Huntly a fireman-deputy was charged with firing a shot without taking suitable steps to prevent persons approaching the locality. Fined £5, costs 10s. WEST COAST INSPECTION DISTRICT (J. Adamsost, R. T. H. Dale, and C. Hitntek, Inspectors of Coal-mines) Greymouth District Liverpool State Colliery, Rewanui.—Anderson Dip Section : Four to six pairs of miners' have continued mainly with development work east and west of the main dip. Difficult conditions continued on the west side from the steeply inclined and friable coal. Pillar-extraction by two pairs of colliers was commenced during the year on the west side. Kimbell West Dip Section : Six pairs of colliers were engaged, mainly on pillar-extraction. Morgan East Dip Section : Development was continued to the rise and dip from the intersection of the stone dip drive and the Morgan seam. The development to the dip continues in good-quality coal, while the rise workings show a split in the seam. The top portion has shown a gradual decrease in thickness, with the coal interspersed by several stone bands. Work has now been commenced with the development of the lower portion, which appears to be the main seam in this direction. Quality of coal is good. A7O h.p. electric hauler has been installed and is operating on the main dip drive. Kimbell East Section : Three pairs of miners have been engaged, mainly on pillar-extraction, between Nos. 2 and 3 Bank Sections, which have been idle for some time. Morgan East and West Sections : Operations have been confined mainly to pillar-extraction. Prospecting work was commenced through stone at the inbye end of the main Morgan West level, where it is considered that some workable coal exists adjacent to the main Morgan West fault. A dip section has been commenced from the Morgan West level. Strongman State Colliery.—Pillar-extraction in No. 1 North ceased and the section was sealed on account of signs of spontaneous combustion. The remainder of the output was gained from development work. Development was continued in a northerly direction from the west side of No. 2 North heading, which has been stopped pending further exploration on a converging fault line from the west. No. 2 South Section was stopped during the year ; the development is to continue from a proposed stone drive into a lower seam. Blackball State Colliery, Blackball. —No. 2 North Section : Development work has been continued with four pairs of colliers on friable coal. In the Sump Section six pairs of colliers on double shift were all in solid work in better-quality coal. A 35 h.p. electrically operated hauler has been installed for further development in the main dip heading. The reopening and repairs to the water adit from the old mine were almost completed to the intersection with the old main haulage road. A considerable improvement was thus made with the drainage of excessive water from the old mine workings. Blackball Creek Colliery (Balderstone and Party), Blackball.-—The extraction of pillars in the top seam, left by the Blackball Coal Co., Ltd., has been continued throughout the year. Briandale Collieries, Ltd., Ten-mile Creek.—Operations were confined to the prospecting of a. coal-seam adjacent to the old Burnside Co-operative Mine. The average thickness of the seam was 6 ft. It is impossible to determine the extent of this seam owing to the disturbed nature of the ground being worked. Wallsend State Colliery.—Operations have been confined mainly to the splitting of existing pillars. Adverse roof conditions in the Slant Dip and Extended Sections have made conditions difficult. Somedriving was being done in No. 1 Dip Section to prove a small area of what is considered coal-bearing ground adjacent to the Dobson fault. Dewatering of the old No. 2 Dip Section was continued with an air-crossing, and several concrete block stoppings erected in preparation for the completion of a new return airway from No. 1 Slant Dip Section. The installation of safety catches on the winding cages was commenced, one cage being so fitted up and working efficiently. Dobson State Colliery.—Development work was commenced in a block of coal to the west and towards the Dobson fault, while splitting of pillars has been continued on the east side adjacent to the Mount Buckley disturbance.

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