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it up. The bords are very wide, but quite safe. The ventilation is very good throughout the mine. O'Hagan generally does all the work alone, but during " threshing-time " (April) he employs one or two men. Kingdon's Mine, Groydon (4th April). — This seam stands at a very steep angle, and cannot conveniently be followed to a level below the nearest gully ; therefore the seam is being followed up the rising ground and near the surface, where the stripping is light. Mr. Mcllraith's Goal-mine, Mataura (14th August, 1891). —This mine is an open pit, and has apparently been opened some time, but worked, so far, on a small scale. I did not find any one about the mine, but was informed that one H. Smith was acting as manager. I could not find either owner or manager while I was there. This mine was not on my list, but I have sent Mr. Mcllraith notice to send me returns showing his output to the end of 1891. Beatie's Goal-mine, Mataura (14th August, 1892). —This is an open face, near the main Mataura Boad, and very much resembles Town's mine, which is close by. The water here is also a trouble, and is being pumped by two small wheels in separate faces. In No. 1 face the stripping is from 6ft. to 12ft., and has 16ft. of coal, all good. In No. 2 face the stripping is. from 6ft. to 7ft., and a 6ft. seam of good coal. Both faces are flooded at times by the overflow of a small creek crossing the property. The stripping appears to be sloped to a safe batter. G. Toion, Mataura Mine (14th August, 1891). —This mine is much troubled with water, which has hitherto been pumped by a small water-wheel. Of late the water-wheel has been unequal to the work to be done, therefore a small vertical boiler and engine attached is now being fixed up to do the work of the old wheel. The stripping is very heavy, from Bft. to 12ft., but safely sloped to avoid a fall. The coal-seam is 16ft., and. all is being taken out. Sleeman's, Mataiora (14th August, 1891). —This is a new pit opened since last returns were sent in, and is situate close to the main Mataura Eoad. The stripping is heavy, and will average about lift, of fine gravel, and yielding from 6ft. to 7ft. of coal. I had to speak about the slope of the stripping, and requested Mr. Sleeman to give it a good batter, which he promised to do in the future. This mine makes much water, which is very troublesome in the lowest sft. Mataura, E. Townsend (14th August, 1891). — 1 did not see any one about the mine, and from the general appearance of the working-face and dray-road leading to the same I do not think there can be much doing. I think the output can only be to his own house. The stripping is getting deeper as the coal is removed, and much of it has fallen in by the late rains. /. A. Mutch's Goal-mine, Mataura, (14th August, 1891). —Mr. Mutch has opened two pits on his land. The first one, after having been worked for a while, was abandoned, and the second one is now being worked on a small scale, I think principally for his own use, in which case the output will only amount to a few, say 20, tons in the year. The stripping is very shallow, but the coal-pit will not be easily drained. This mine was not in my list. I have sent him the usual notice. Waikaka, Edge's Mine (sth April).—Open face of considerable depth, but very neatly sloped. The mine is most carefully worked. Wairio, Nightcaps, No. 1 and No. 2, T. Knight (19th September, 1891). —These two mines have changed hands, and I only found this out when on the ground. T. Knight did not send me notice of the change. The Nightcaps Coal Company is now working the mines, and making some surfaceimprovements to load drays. Nightcaps Company, Wairio Beserve (19th September, 1891). —This is an open face, with 7ft. of coal, and 4ft. stripping. It is being worked, and dips to the north-east. The old mine, No. 1, is now closed, and No. 2is now called No. 1. I examined the workings, which are reached by an aditlevel. There are three seams, of the following thickness: Ist, top seam, 17ft.; 2nd seam, 9ft.; and 3rd seam, 15ft. ; all good clean coal, and in passable standing ground. Wherever the ground shows an inclination to cave in, timber is at once placed in position. The coal is very solid, and requires blasting down. The working-faces are in good order, and there are thirty-seven men employed in and about the mines. The original No. 3 was an open face in the flat, which is now considered worked out. It was full of water at the time of my visit. No. 4 used to have the stripping done by sluicing-off the side of the hill. It is now included in No. 1. No. 2is the mine originally held by T. Knight, and known as " Wairio." This has been purchased by the Nightcaps Company, and is being worked by four men. One part is openwork, with from 6ft. to 7ft. of stripping, and the other part is being worked by bord and pillar. No. 3is an open face, with about 4ft. of stripping, and 7ft. of very good coal. The coal from this pit has to be carted, about two miles, over tussocky land. William Beid's Goal-mine, Nightcaps (19th September, 1891). —This mine is still openwork, stripping from sft. to 7ft., and from 12ft. to 13ft. of coal. The motive-power for lifting the water is a vertical steam-engine of 3-|--horse power, working six small pumps, and lifting the water 27ft. The shaft and plant is in good order. Morley Village, Sam Benson (19th September, 1891). —This is open workings, with 9ft. stripping and 4ft. seam. There was no one about at the time of my visit, and the paddock was full of water. I do not think there can be much doing. Wairio Goal-reserve, Beliable Goal-mine (19th September, 1891). — J. Alley's: Open workings, with 2ft. stripping and 12ft. of coal. No. 2 pit: There is a 6ft. seam of coal, and sft. stripping. Hokonui, Winton, Goal-mine (sth October). —I went on a small engine to within a mile of mine. I learned from the man in charge of the engine that there was no mining going on, and that there was not a man to be found within three miles of the pit. I therefore returned to Winton, after having seen the railway-line as far as the engine could go. The line has been lately lifted and relaid on fresh ballast and new sleepers, and this work was still on hand at the time of my visit. This line-work is all preparatory for a fresh start on a larger scale of output from the mine at an early date. The mine is to be opened in a fresh place by sinking a shaft, or making an inclinetunnel, similar to that in the Kaitangata Mine. Mr. John Hayes, of Castle Hill Colliery, is the consulting engineer, who is now preparing the necessary plans.