C—3b.

any doubts there may be as to whether the coal will continue to lessen in thickness in that direction. Castle Hill Mine, Eaitangata. —(29/6/96): All the working-places were examined in the dip side of the mine. The two seams being worked there have a very steep dip—about If to 1; more in places. I understand the quality of the coal does not improve going down below the present low-level workings ; therefore, further progress to the dip is for a time stopped. The coal-hewing at the present time is in the main seam in the dip-levels going south. The great trouble in these workings is to keep the levels open. In some places there is a great quantity of timber used up by constant renewals. There is a bad roof in most places, and it requires a great deal of attention to prevent fire taking place overhead. A fire started overhead in one place not long since, and a considerable amount of labour was necessary to put it out. All the mine appliances are in first-class order. (11/9/96) :In consequence of some questioning in Dunedin lately regarding the safety of this mine when being retimbered, I at once visited the mine and dip-workings and carefully examined all the timbering done since my previous visit. I found it in very good order, and quite safe. I find from the amount of crib-work lately done, and the number of intermediate sets of timber fixed in position, that every care has been taken in the matter of timbering where the roof was bad. I saw nothing to warrant the statement made to me that the mine when timbered was not safe. Such a statement could have emanated only from an inexperienced person. I examined the report-book, and found gas reported in one heading from the dip. McAllister's Langridge Pit, Kaitangata. —(2/7/96) : The top level is abandoned, and anew level has been put in to the coal below the first opening. The coal is now being stoped out between the two levels. The seam is on the thin side for this district—3-f ft. only —but the coal is of good quality. The coal-boxes are now lowered down the face of the hill to the road, where carts may be readily loaded on short notice. Lishmer's Goal-pit, Conical Hills. —(25/8/96) : This pit is in the same good order and condition as it was a.t the time of my previous visit. The stripping is kept well in advance of the working coal-face from end to end of the long open cutting. Since my former visit the pit has again been flooded, many acres of the surrounding surface having been several feet below the water. After the flood had subsided to the level of the surface it took sixteen days' steady pumping to get the water down to the floor of the pit, during which time the little engine driving the centrifugal pump broke down through having been driven too fast. It is now thought desirable to get a much larger pump, and also a larger boiler to generate the required quantity of steam to do big work should the pit be again flooded, which is more than likely every few years. Orchard's Pit, Pukerau. —(26/10/96): The coal-floor is rising with the surface as the work advances to the south; but the coal is also thinning considerably in that direction, and it is feared it will in a short distance cut out altogether. There is, however, the full thickness (15 ft.) of coal on the east and west side of the open pit. The drainage in the pit is being pumped out by a windmill. The stripping is from 8 ft. to 10 ft., heavy clay, which was very much caved in at the time of my visit. Central Otago. Jones's Pit, Goal Creek, Roxburgh. —(2/5/96): The stripping is now very deep, nearly perpendicular, and much of it hard clay, under which there is a quantity of soft useless coal. The bulk of the stripping is run off by water carried in a race from a distance to the pit. Some of the stripping is kept in advance of the face of coal, which is of considerable thickness, and apparently lying nearly horizontal. McLaughlan's Pit, near Roxburgh. —(l 9/6/96) : This is a new pit lately opened, close to McLaughlan's accommodation-house, on the Alexandra Eoad. The outcrop was found on the west side of a gully, where an open face was first made, after which two tunnels were driven for some distance into the coal. It is not yet known how the seam stands, or of what thickness it is. It appears to me as if it dips to the west at a steep angle. Some of the coal is rather loose, but of good quality. It should command a ready sale at Bald Hill Mat. Mrs. McPherson' s Goal-pit, Goal Greek, Roxburgh. —(2/5/96) : The drain tunnel to the pit is causing some trouble where it approaches the coal, in consequence of the soft and swelling character of the formation. I have suggested a short deviation-tunnel to where I think the coalseam may be reached through better standing-ground. There is now a large body of coal beneath the old open floor to be quarried out up to the old stripping-faces. The quarrying will last for some years. /. Craig's Pit, Goal Greek, Roxburgh. —{2/5/96): A dip-drive has been put down from the Coal Creek bed to the coal at a level of from 14 ft. to 17 ft. below the first workings, and a level drive has been made in the coal for some distance. Prom this level the thickness of seam is being tested to the right and left, but up to the time of my visit the side walls had not been reached. A long covered drain constructed to the coal some time ago is now doing good work. Thomson's Goal-pit, Alexandra. —(l 3/6/96): The new dip-drive from the surface to the old south workings is completed, and is of great service as an upcast airway. It will also serve the purpose of a travelling-road to avoid the vertical ladder in the old shaft. There are at present three working-places going westward in solid coal, each having passed through a strip of loose soft coal varying in thickness from a few feet to a few yards. It is now thought that a considerable body of good coal may be found in this direction. The roof all along the main travelling-road is in first-class order, as also are the three working-places and the old workings. The air is now good, and the mine nearly dry. Rivers's Pit, Alexandra. —(10/1/96): There are two men hewing from 5 ft. to 6 ft. of coal, in which there is a stone band 1 ft. thick. This stone is stacked along the side of the bord, and the slack put behind it. The roof is fairly good, but the air is bad. Preparations are being made to force air down the shaft 71 ft. by a water-jet. I fear this plan will not be up to requirements. A

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