C—3b.

employed. (7/2/96) :In Muncie's section fourteen places are working, all in the solid. Timbering well done. Air in the aggregate sufficient, but in one or two places dull. (12/8/96) :In the Cascade section two shifts are at present at work grading the Main Dip haulage-road, and altering it to endless-rope in place of direct-rope haulage. Driving is also being done to connect the bottom seam at the foot of the dip with the upper seam. Good air. Big Dip section : All pillar-work in this section, both in top and bottom seams. Mfty-six men in all employed. At two places the roof was requiring attention, and these were ordered to be seen to ere I left the mine; otherwise the timbering was ample and well set. Air fair for pillar-work. Total volume, 28,800 cubic feet. Muncie's section (13/8/96) : Five places working in the solid in the bottom seam. In two of these the air is dull, but they are not intended to hole through, and will be stopped to-morrow. Eoof bad at places, but plenty of timber. All shots are fired by deputies, except in the lowest place, which is going three shifts. Big Dip section (17/11/96) ; Ten places working pillars in top seam. Eoof requiring careful attention. Plenty of timber. In the bottom seam seventeen places are working pillars. Air fresh. Several places to which 1 drew attention are to be taken down or secured, Mr. Green, the manager, giving orders to have them seen to at once. Eeports duly kept, and the Act well observed. Ironbndge Colliery. —(6/2/96): In the shaft section there are ten places working, all but two of which are in the top seam. Twelve places working in the bottom seam, which varies in thickness from 5 ft. to 9 ft. Many small faults are being met. Plenty of timber. In the Gentle Annie district five single-handed faces are working, all in thin coal. Twelve men are also employed at pillar-work. The air throughout these sections is very fair. (13/8/96) : Pillar-work has been resumed at the fault-line opposite the shaft, at which twelve men are engaged. In two of these places the coal is very thick, which involves more than the ordinary amount of risk, but as far as can be seen every care is exercised, and plenty of timber is at hand for use as required. In the Gentle Annie heading district thirty-one men in all are at work, and the air-current for this number is only 3,500 cubic feet. This is too near the minimum, and is to be increased. Deputies' and firemen's reports duly kept. Waitakere Coal-mine. —No opportunity of inspecting this mine occurred during the year. Whitecliffs Coal-mine. —(24/12/96) : Two men working. They have put in a short drive on an outcrop, and holed out to the creek at a point whence they intend to take the coal from the opposite side, where it is believed to be of better quality. 6 ft. in thickness is worked. The roof is rock, very irregular and lumpy. The dip of the seam is to north-east, at 1 in 6. Air good. Eeport duly kept. Flaxbtish Goal-mine. —Not inspected during the year. I understand the mine was abandoned by Mr. Eear, and I have recently been notified by Mr. De Filippi that he is going to reopen it. Longford Goal-mine. —Work is being continued in this mine for the supply of the Buller dredge, but I had no opportunity of inspecting it. Golden Treasure Goal-mine. —(28/8/96): Mr. Davidson is still working this mine. Air sufficient at present, but a rise is to be put up to the surface, which will keep the ventilation good, and provide a second outlet. Copy of Act at mine. No report, but one will be kept. Phcenix Coal-mine. —(20/2/96): Work was stopped for the day, but I went through the mine with Mr. McMurtrie. In good order, but air hanging a little. (26/8/96) : Three men at work, and the mine now in charge of Mr. Pox. Work is confined to dropping head coal. I cautioned Mr. Eox as to the roof in the place Mr. Sara was working, and it is to be attended to. Air good. Eeport kept, but not signed. The plan has not been made up, as they are not working in the solid. Lanhey's Gully Goal-mine. —(24/8/96) : Mr. Lamberton, with two others, working in new drive. Air good. At one place roof bad; this will be secured at once; also some further timbering is to be done, at my request, at the mine-mouth. Plan not yet made. In these small mines the owners complain of the expense of surveys. A tracing of the workings has recently been sent me. Devil's Creek Coal-mine. —(19/10/96): This mine is only worked occasionally, by Mr. Mcllwham. There is a second outlet, which provides good air. At one or two places the roof requires attention, and will be seen to. Copy of Act at mine. Progress Coal-mine. —(11/2/96) : The timbering requested to be done at my last visit has been put in, and the mine is in better order, but near the face is adjacent to old workings. Eoof still of a nature that requires careful timbering. Air fairly fresh. Eeport duly kept. (21/8/96): Owing to the cessation of stoping in the Progress Quartz-mine very little mining is now being done. Breen's Coal-mine. —(12/2/96) : The level has been driven right through the spur on coal about 4 ft. in thickness all the way. Two short drives to the rise are the only other underground work done as yet. Eoof much better than in the workings to the south-west. A road is being made on the surface to work the coal to the north-east. Eeport behind. (20/10/96): The coal to the northeast has been opened up by two drives, but, the quality not turning out as good as expected, a short dip drive to west has been put in, and from this a level is being driven to north. I drew attention to some bad places in the roof, and these are to be taken down or secured. Air good. Eeport duly kept. Sir Francis Drake Goal-mine. —(l 2/2/96) : Not working to-day, but only opencast when work is being done. (22/10/96): The only work doing is a single narrow drive on a higher level than formerly. Air sufficient. Timbering right. Act and report at "house. Archer's Coal-mine. —(24/10/96) : Mr. Archer has opened a new drive on the opposite side of the hill to the old one. It runs in south-west about 120 ft., and the coal-seam is about 12 ft. in thickness, of which 8 ft. is worked, the remainder being left as a roof. The timber at one or two places is not very well set, and these will be seen to. Air good. Barr's Coal-mine. —(24/1/96) : This is a new mine just started by Mr. Barr. A short drive cuts the coal-seam, which is about 12 ft. in thickness, and dips to north-west at 25°. No copy of the Act nor safety-lamp, but these are to be procured,

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