C—3b.

drift is being driven to cut the coal-seam and connect with the other shaft. The timbering of the shaft has been very well done, and there are good sloping ladders all the way down. As the face is only a short way in from the bottom the air is good. An examination is made with a safety-lamp each morning before commencing work, as there are several coal-seams, and a little gas has been seen. A copy of the plan has been sent me. Four men in all are employed. Mohihinui Colliery. —(24/2/96): Four places are working in the solid in the area opened up by the new incline, and, as they are connected with the main incline, there is a good current of air. The coal, which at the outcrop shows a thickness of 30 ft., soon rises to west at an angle of 33°, and thins down to about 5 ft. 6 in. On the west side the dip is more to south-east instead of east, but the roof shows signs of movement. No improvement having since taken place in the coal-seam in this section, it has since been stopped by the company, after the Knights of Labour had previously given it a good trial and thrown it up. So long as any portion of a mine remains untried it is not wise to give up hope, still, it is unwise for people to judge a mine not by what it is, but by what they would like it to be, and events have fully borne out the opinions of those who have not formed exaggerated ideas of this coalfield. The Hut seam was then started to be reopened) a bridge having been put across Coal Greek in the line of the old drive, which has been retimbered as far as the water, where the seam commences to dip. (23/6/96) : Hut seam.—Only the dip and back dip drives working, employing four miners, and a like number on the second shift. There are five other faces, but these are not working to-day, as the bins are full. There are indications of faulting, but the seam is not intersected with stone-veins nearly so much as in the old workings in the big seam, so the prospects are rather better than there. A little gas has been seen in a hole in the roof; care is being exercised. The places are examined twice daily with a safety-lamp, and the firemen's reports are duly kept. (11/9/96) : Work has not been resumed in the big seam, and the Hut seam is not working on account of a considerable increase in the water, for which another pump is to be obtained. A copy of the plan has since been sent me, and notice that work has been stopped. The manager is unable to say when it will be resumed. Cardiff Colliery. —(23/1/96): A shaft 58 ft. deep has been sunk near the old stone drift and connected with it for air. A lower road is being driven for haulage, partly through stone, and from the low side of it a drive in coal runs ahead of it, from which two shifts are driving back, and will shortly connect. The face of this also is being driven ahead, but does not get sufficient air. This will be seen to. The total amount circulating was over 5,000 cubic feet of air per minute for twelve men. Eoof requiring to be secured where the haulage-road is being straightened, and at the junction of that road with the back drive the timber is not well set. These will be attended to at once. Head coal is being dropped in the dip section, and is hauled up by a horse-whim. Eoof generally requiring careful attention. A second shift of nine men and a third of three men are worked. In No. 4 outcrop section only two men were working, as it is nearly finished. Manager's and deputy's reports duly kept. (24/2/96) rThis mine was revisited, as I had received a complaint that the air was bad. I found one place, the face of the south level, insufficiently ventilated. Work was stopped at once, and immediate steps taken to further brattice, and to put in a new furnace, which was going two days later, when I found an ample current circulating. The timbering spoken about at last visit had been attended to. (3/6/96) : Seventeen places working in the solid, employing thirty-four miners, or forty-three men underground. Air fairly well led forward, and a volume of 5,000 ft. circulating. This leaves very little margin over the minimum quantity. Tamping used, fireclay. Timbering, as a rule, well done. Some pillars have been split in the north section of the mine, but no work has been done in these for a week. Two other shifts are worked, employing eleven and six men respectively. The coal-seam is about 18 ft. in thickness, and at some places of excellent quality ; at others stone-veins are to be seen. Oranity Greek Colliery. —(3l/1/96) : The only work doing is lifting the floor near the minemouth for the grading of the road. Two tunnels have been driven in the upper part of the incline. These are 8 chains and 6J chains in length respectively, with stone arches at the mouths, and well timbered throughout. (9/7/96) : Sixty-three men are now at work in the mine, and some fifty more are employed outside. Air fresh and well led forward except in two places in which the brattice is a little behind, but is to be added to at once. 12,900 cubic feet of air circulating per minute. The mine is fairly damp, and all shots are fired by the shot-firers appointed for the purpose. Coal is left on as a roof, and, although of a drummy nature, it appears to be tough, and stands well. (16/12/96) : Two coal-cutting machines are now at work. One is a Stanley heading-machine, which cuts two annular grooves in the coal, each sft. 6in. in diameter. This machine did not seem to clear itself very well of the coal made in cutting. As the space between the side of the place and the machine was very narrow, and the fast-running mitre-wheels were exposed, I requested that they should be covered, and this has since been done. The other coal-cutter is of the percussion type, and is used for holing. It appears to work very successfully, and relieves the miner of the most arduous and dangerous part of his work. Mr. Brown, who is the chief mining manager of the company, informs me that these machines will not displace any labour, but that a somewhat greater output may be expected from the same number of men, and this will be with a less liability to accidents from falls of coal when holing. A good main current of air circulating. No sign of gas to be seen, even when tried for with the alcohol-flame gas-testing lamps. The Act in general is well observed. Eighty-six men in all are employed, of whom twenty-three are outside. Goalbrookdale Colliery. —(s/2/96) :No work in the mine to-day for want of orders. In the bottom seam, Big Dip section, there are usually six places at work in the solid and eleven at pillarwork. The roof is bad, but a great deal of timber is used. In the Cascade section the dip heading is being extended to meet the water-drive from Cascade Creek, and there is a distance of 3-J- chains yet to go. Air good. In this section, in the bottom seam, there are usually eighteen men

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