H.—ll.

6

APPENDIX.

No. 1. INTEBIM BEPORT UPON INSPECTION OF COAL MINES, NOBTH ISLAND DISTRICTS. Mr. Inspector McLaren to the Under-Secretary for Mines. Sir,— Thames, 13th November, 1882, I have the honour to inform you that I have returned from a visit of inspection of the coal mines within my districts, and beg to report. Taupiri Colliery, Huntly. —ln the old mine the drawing of the pillars is still being safely continued, there being now only a few left near the entrance. I expect to find, on my next visit, that this mine has been worked out. In the new or lower mine the workings and levels were all in good order. From blasting I found a great part of the mine full of smoke, the rule of only firing when knocking off having been broken through. [See my report of the 6th May, 1881.] It appears, however, that this could not be well avoided on this occasion, as the railway had for some time previous been unable to supply sufficient trucks to keep the output clear, and on the day previous to my visit operations had to be suspended for this reason. In order, therefore, to make up arrears and supply the demand the rule could not be adhered to. It having been found, by borings taken along the main level, that a considerable thickness of coal was being left under foot, the shaft has been sunk to a further depth of 20 feet, and from this a level is now being driven. As near as can now be ascertained the thickest part of this seam must be about fifty feet, without a single band or parting. I found four boys working in the mine, two of whom did not appear to me to be the requisite age. They were both so ready with exactly the same story that they were " over thirteen " that it looked very like as if they had been put up to it. The manager believed, though young looking, they were the age represented, and promised to investigate. Under any or either circumstance it would have been preferable to have seen them at school. The workings on plan were plotted up to date, and the provisions of the Act for the safety of men and mine seemed carefully attended to. Waikato Company's Colliery, Kupakupa, near Huntly. —There being only about five men employed in this mine the output is not great. The plan is not up to date, but I found the mine in good order. I found a Maori child, about eight years old, in the mine. The little fellow's father or grandfather (which is not clear) works in the mine, being engaged in trucking coal. It appears, as near as I could learn, that shortly before my visit he found the youngster outside, and gave him a ride in the empty truck. The manager (Mr. McGlynn) tried to show the old Maori how the little fellow might wander about and be run over in the darkness ; but, as Mr. McGlynn did not understand Maori, or the Maori English, his efforts to enlighten the latter did not appear to be very successful. Mr. McGlynn, however, arranged with me to have the Maori thoroughly informed, so that it would not happen again. Kawakawa Colliery, Bay of Islands. —There is nothing new to report in regard to this mine. The workings I found generally in good order. In the levels any places that showed signs of weakness were from time to time being carefully attended to. The machinery was also being kept in good working order. The plan was nearly complete, though not quite up to date. Kamo Colliery, Whangard. —Work has again been resumed in the upper or 4-feet seam. I found that the manager, Mr. Kerr (as he had promised), had first paid particular attention to its ventilation, and also to cleaning-up and securing the old workings. A horse-incline has been made from the lower to the upper seam, so that the output is now all from the main level of the lower seam. In the lower seam towards the rise the air was very hot and ventilation bad, and such it ought not to be; in fact, there was no current at all. It was afterwards found that one of the ventilation-doors had been left open, preventing the guidance of the air (though, at present, there is no one working in this quarter of the mine). This, oil being remedied, soon effected a great change, and before I left the workings were nearly quite cool again. The incline on the dip has now been carried down from the main level for a distance of about 400 feet, where the Tangye pump has been erected, the boilers for which and winding-engine have been placed near the mouth of the main drive. In regard to the latter (winding-gear), the engineering skill displayed in the erection of this machine cannot be classed as first-rate, the last lead of the rope being exceedingly short and not true to the winding-barrel. Sticks and other dodges have to be resorted to to prevent the rope from slipping off the drum, the latter being placed so close to the engine that no ears or guiding-arms can be fixed on to it. Though they now manage to keep the rope on, it is at the expense of a most unnecessary wear and tear; but with all their expedients they have not been able to make the rope wind " true" on the drum : it overlaps itself on one side in a way that on properly-erected machinery it ought not to do. lam aware that on account of the proximity of the mouth of the drive to the railway-station a difficulty occurs in getting a long straight lead to the winding-barrel, but a little thought and engineering knowledge would have easily overcome this. The plan I found very much behind date; surveying operations to bring it up were begun before I left. Whau Whau Mine, Whangarei. —Mr. Love, the manager, has made great improvements since my last visit'by levelling the main tunnel, laying new rails, &c, and'by securing and strongly timbering a new main level he has fiad carried in to where he has got through the fault (or " trouble " as the Scotch miners.call it) on to the coal on the other side. To have a large output from this mine what is required is railway-connection to deep water. The length of a branch from the Kamo Eailway would only be a little over a mile. I have, &c, James M. McLaren, The Under-Secretary for Mines, Wellington. Inspector of Mines.