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unmarketable quality, and pillar-extraction was commenced. The coal in portions of this section is of a friable nature and very liable to spontaneous combustion. The development of No. 9 Section was completed. Development of No. 10 Section was continued to the west and with highly satisfactory results. The coal-seam in this area is of great thickness and excellent quality, and present indications are that an extensive area of good-quality coal will be proven to exist in this direction and to the north —i.e., to the dip—of the pillared area of the Birchwood Mine workings. Linton No. 3 Mine.—Development of this mine has been retarded during the year as a result of faulting. The location and condition of the coal-seam to the north of the main fault has not been conclusively proved, despite the fact that additional boring operations have been conducted in the area from the -surface. Pillar-extraction work on a reduced scale has been continued in the Nos. 3 and 4 dip heading sections, and development work has proceeded to the east and towards the Black Lion lease ; however, faulting has been encountered in this direction also. Canterbury District Mount Somers' Mine.-—The results obtained from development work carried out at this mine during the year have been much more satisfactory. Headings driven through a gravel intrusion in a northerly direction proved the coal-seam to be of reasonable thickness and of good quality. A ventilation fan was installed and an adit level constructed, and the future prospects of the mine are much improved. Blackburn Mine.-—Pillar-extraction has been continued throughout the year and the available pillar coal is now very limited. A commencement has been made to prospect and develop a coal-seam-found to exist adjacent to the present mine, but sufficient data is not so far available for comment. Newburn Mine (Mount Somers). —Development work carried out at this mine has proved very unsatisfactory. A coal-seam was intercepted, but so far has proved to be of very little value. Sunnydale Clay-mine.—Clay was mined intermittently during the year for use in the Timaru Potteries. Woodbanlc Mine (Albury).—Development of this mine has continued throughout the year. The main south dip heading was extended sufficiently to allow of each and west levels being developed. Meadowbank Mine (Waimate). —A farther attempt has been made to win coal from the seam at Waihao Forks. Difficulty has again been experienced in disposing of this lignite, and the future prospects foT this mine are not encouraging. Acheron Mine (Anthracite). —Work at the old mine was suspended temporarily towards the end of the year; however, the development of a small area lying to the north of the old mine was commenced. A dip heading proceeding westerly has been driven a short distance and development work carried out per medium of levels proceeding north and south. Glearview Mine, Glenroy.—The whole of the operations at this mine have again been confined to pillar-extraction. Steventon Mine. —During the year the main dip heading was extended a short distance and development places driven north-east and south-west, and pillar-extraction was commenced along the northeast levels. Levels were driven south-west for a distance of 10 chains, and in this direction a stone band 18 in. in thickness exists in the centre of the coal-seam, which has a total thickness of approximately 6 ft. Lucknow Clay-mine.—Pillar-extraction was continued in the south mine and a commencement made to develop a new area of fireclay to the north-east and a short distance from the old mine. Victory Mine. —A very limited amount of development work was carried out at this mine during the year, the main dip heading being extended for a short distance and the north-east levels were driven 5 chains. This coal-seam appears to hold out good prospects, but the development of the seam is proceeding very slowly. Klondyke Mine.—Development work was extended at this mine, chiefly in the direction of the main dip headings and to the north-east. The coal-seam eases in gradient and becomes thinner in the direction of the main dip and also to the north-east. Pillar-extraction was continued throughout the year in the Nos. 4, 5, and 6 north-east levels. Fatal Accidents It is pleasing to note that no fatal accident occurred in the mines in this district during the year and it is also satisfactory to note that serious accidents were of lesser proportions than has been the case for some time past. Serious Accidents On the 7th February Burt Haig, trucker at the Kaitangata Mine, sustained a slight fracture of the skull as a result of being struck on the head by a piece of coal. On the 16th February James Hosking, trucker, at the Kaitangata Mine, sustained a slight fracture of one vertebra as a result of being struck by a falling piece of coal during the time he was sheltering from a shot which was being fired. On the 14th May L. D. McGhie, trucker at Linton No. 1 Mine, sustained a slight fracture of the pelvis as the result of being struck by a piece of coal which fell from the roof adjacent to a jig prop whilst he was operating the jig,

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