C—3b

18

The thickness of coal appears to me to be sft. What I take to be the floor is above the ordinary water level. I did not see any one at the pit. 106. Shield's Pit, Wyndham. —(B/10/95): A good-sized opening has been made since my last visit, and the work is being carried out in a systematic manner, with an open face fully two chains in length. The work is advancing southward on to a rising ground, which may tunnel a terrace, where the stripping is very even at about 6ft. deep, and well in advance of the coal-face. The thickness of coal at the west end of the opening is 10ft., and at the east end sft. only, in which direction the floor of the coal rises sft. The top of the coal keeps nearly level. The drainage is light, and is pumped up 10ft. by a California pump, worked by a horse. There are two men stripping. 107. Marshall's Pit, Wyndham. —(B/10/95) : There is very little covering on the coal, which, though very thin, is very easily got. I did not find any one at the pit which was full of water. It is level with a stream running through the ground. 108. E. and A. Jones' Pit, Wyndham. —(B/10/95) : I did not find any one about the pit, which is situated on the edge of east side of the low-lying flat on which Marshall's pit is. The stripping is from Bft. to 9ft., and there is apparently sft. of coal. The floor of the coal appears to be several feet above the flat where Marshall has his pit. 109. Hokonui Mine, Winton. —(2o/8/95) : Accompanied by the manager, Mr. Hayes, I visited all the workings in the mine. In one of the working-places at the extreme end of the east-level from the engine-plane, I found the air very bad. Subsequently, on returning to the surface, the manager and overman selected a spot to sink a shaft, handy to where the bad air was found. The depth to sink is not great as it is near the outcrop. The workings on the west and north-west side of the dip-drive are being extended considerably, in which direction the coal keeps very even in thickness and of good quality. The contour of the floor bears round gradually to the north where there is supposed to be a large field of coal. The engine plant and pump is in good order. 110. Fairfax Mine, Fairfax. —(23/8/95): The working-places are in splendid order and condition. The roof is laminated shale, and keeps as even and smooth as a barn floor. It is carefully timbered with light sawn timber, to keep the roof from flaking in thin sheets, which would eventually destroy the roof. The floor rises slightly to the working places, now some chains in length. The air is good. 111. Salton's Pit, Fairfax. —(23/8/95): Salton has driven a tunnel in the coal, some distance into the terrace from the old open face. The coal is nearly sft. thick where he is working, and it has a bad roof, consequently the working-places are made very narrow. 112. Isla Bank Pit, Fairfax. —(23/8/95) : Stripping is still carried on in a very safe manner, being much in advance of the coal-face. The depth of stripping and the thickness of coal is much the same as at the time of my previous visit. 113. Nightcaps Coal Company's Mine. —(24/8/95) : All the working-places in the two seams now being worked were inspected by me and found in a safe condition. There is a strong current of air passing through the mine. In what is called the lower seam, there is about 7ft. of coal taken out, which leaves in most places a good thickness of coal overhead, but very jointy in places. These bad places have to be carefully examined and timbered where necessary. This coal, though somewhat coated with a thin layer of soft slime in the partings, is said to be much the better coal in the mine. The second seam is a few feet from and on top of the other, both keeping parallel and nearly horizontal; Bft. of coal is hewn out, and from 18in. to 2ft. is left overhead for a roof. Covering this, there-is from 3ft. to sft. of shale, and then another seam of coal. All the coal hewn is very hard. No pumping is required in the present workings. 114. Wallace Pit, Nightcaps. — (24/8/95) : There is now 16ft. of very hard gravel-stripping at the east end of the open face, but much shallower at the west end. The stripping is kept well in advance of the coal-face, which is 14ft. high. The pumps work two hours out of the twenty-four. 115. Brazer's Pit, Nightcaps. —(24/8/95): This pit having been closed for some two or three years is again being opened by the Nightcaps Company. A short dip-drive is being driven, and is now in the coal. The dip is being timbered as the work proceeds, and there is now a face of 4ft. of coal being hewn out. I understand there is only 1J acre in the section. 116. Alley's Pit, Nightcaps. —(24/8/95): The coal is near the surface, and dips south-east. It is not so solid as it was at the time of my previous visit. It appears to be only a narrow strip, which is nearly worked out. Most, if not all, of his output is delivered to the Nightcaps Company, which company, I am informed, includes this output in their own. Miles teavelled by me dueing the Yeae 1895. Saddle-horse, 655; buggy, 1,149; coach, 310; rail, 5,706; steam, 582; foot, 272: total, 8,674. Seeious Accidents in Southeen Coalfields. I have to report on the several accidents which have occurred during the year, as follows : — 1. Kaitangata Mine. —(l/ 4/95): James Matchet, while taking down head coal, and in his haste to avoid a fall of conglomerate from the roof, fell over the tram-rail and broke his leg above the knee. The stone did not touch him. 2. Gibbston Mine, Gibbston.— (2/7/95) : James Cowan, while with others stripping some loose debris off a body of coal on an open face, suddenly felt the ground give way underfoot. The others jumped back immediately, but Cowan at once disappeared with a quantity of loose debris into the old workings, and was killed. The old workings at this spot had not been filled up as the others were. 3. Early Bank, Herbert. —(l/ 11/95): Philip Mathews was killed by a fall of stone from the roof. He worked alone, and when found was supposed to have been dead two days. No one to blame.