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erected to span the south branch of the Waimangaroa Eiver, the coal on the other side of which is hard and bright, and 17ft. in thickness. The directors propose to abandon the endless chain and substitute an endless rope, which will save an engine. The Granity Creek lease is being surveyed, with a view to commencing operations in that locality should the demand authorize it. 20. Coalpit Heath Colliery Company, Grcymouth. —The Westport Coal Company (Limited) purchased the property recently, and intend to open it up by driving across underneath the Grey Eiver. "When these new roads are completed the present workings in the Coal-pit Heath Mine will be discontinued, and a ventilating-fan will be placed at one of the shafts. There has been one slight accident here. Mr. E. Elliott has been appointed manager, and will supervise this and the following mine. 21. Tyneside Colliery, Greymouth. —On the 21st January the braceman at this colliery dropped dead in the engine-house. Mr. Kilgour informed me that there was no accident of any kind ; but it is always desirable to have occurrences of this nature investigated with promptitude. Mr. Gow made inquiries, and informed me that the man died of apoplexy. 22. Wallsend Goal-mine, Greymouth. —ln February, 1887, Mr. Elliott telegraphed to me that three miners had been detected taking matches into the mine, and asked for instructions. As you were at that time in Dunedin, I passed the telegram on, and Mr. J. Gow, Inspector of Mines, was subsequently instructed to prosecute the offenders. lam not aware what the immediate result of this prosecution was, but, at any rate, its deterrent effects were not what one might have expected, for within three weeks another miner unlocked and relighted his lamp at the shaft bottom, and returned to the face without relocking it. I believe Mr. Gow attended also to this. Safetyhooks and spring-catches have been, Mr. Waters informs me, adopted, but not, I believe, safetycages. 23. Springfield Colliery, Springfield. —Mr. Lindop writes that he has fitted a safety-cage, detaching-hook, and spring-catch at the side of the shaft which is used. The other cage, acting merely as a balance-weight, does not require them. 24. Shag Point Colliery, Palmerston. —On the 17th January Mr. Williams called and informed me that, as the north drive towards the shaft had gone too far up hill, he should sink a new shaft instead of continuing the level. A few days ago Mr.* Williams wrote that he had safety-hooks, but no spring-catches or safety-cages. I may mention that the safety-hooks at this colliery, which were made by Messrs. Kincaid and McQueen, have been twice unintentionally tested, with the satisfactory result that on both occasions the hook acted perfectly, and the cage remained suspended in the head-gear. 45. Hill's Creek Lignite-mine, Hill's Creek; 46. McLean's Lignite-mine, Bough Bidge; and 47. Idaburn Coal-mine, Bough Bidge, were visited on the 16th March, 1887. They are all open-work. 52. Kyeburn Coal-mine, Upper Kyeburn. —On the 17th March last, when I visited this mine, only one man was at work. The open-work mines in the Ida Valley, having greater facilities for working, appear to be gradually drawing the trade from here. The seam is crushed, and the workings consequently somewhat difficult to keep in shape. I have written to Mr. McCready about the requirements of the new Act. 53. Perseverance Goal-mine, Upper Kyeburn. —Visited on the 17th March last. As usual, this mine was in excellent order ; the seam, which dips at high angles, is being brought back on the main level, and in order to give a firm platform the debris is confined by a wall built of the clay which occurs in the mine. As the work progresses a new wall is built, and the rubbish packed behind it. The old General Eules were up, but no report;[had been kept. I wrote to Mr. Archer, the manager, giving him notice to use a safety-lamp for the morning examination, and attend to the other particulars of "The Coal Mines Act, 1886." 54. Archer's Coal-mine, Upper Kyeburn. —Still working on the same small scale. The workingplace is on a higher level now. No rules are up, but a report is kept. Wrote to Mr. Archer. Inspected, 17th April. 56. Alexandra Coal-mine, Alexandra South. —On the 11th March two men were employed below ground here ; Mr. Thompson, the owner and manager, being away. The shaft was still unfenced, and the ladders vertical, and I saw no report. A new shaft was being sunk about 190 ft. to the west of the one at present used. The air was very good, and the mine apparently safe. I have written to Mr. Thompson. 57. Macqueenville Coal-mine, Alexandra South. —When I was here on the 11th March I found that the shaft had recently collapsed, and men were engaged in drawing the timber. I was informed that a body of water had been tapped, which was supposed to come from old workings. 58. Excelsior Coal-mine, Cromwell. —The mine mentioned in my last report was, on the 14th March, entirely abandoned, and a new adit, at a lower level, had taken its place. The workings were not in good order ; the tunnel mouth requires repair ; the air is not good, as there is no return; and no attention is paid to the requirements of the Act. Howe-ver badly off the owners of some of these small mines may be there is no course open, when they persistently disregard the law, but prosecution. 59. Bannockburn Coal-mine, Cromwell. —During the early portion of the year Mr. Parcell wrote complaining that the effect of "The Coal Mines Act, 1886," would bo to close his mine. I therefore wrote to him, pointing out that special provision had been made for avoiding unnecessary expense in the case of small mines. On the 14th March the mine was in very good order, General and Special Eules (from the old Act) exhibited, and a weekly report kept. 60. Kaivarau Coal-mine, Cromwell. —As Mr. Pryde was away at the time of my visit on the 14th March I was unable to inquire whether the Act was kept as regards reports, &c. The mine workings were in very good order. A letter has been sent to the owner. 61. Clyde Coal-mine, Clyde. —The ladders mentioned in my last report were on the 12th March