C—3b

the seam appears about 30 ft. thick, dipping about lin 2 towards the hill. Comparatively little area appears available for future stripping, and underground mining will have to be resorted to when this limited area is worked out. Gully Pit, Boxburgh (G. Cockbum). —(12/11/97) : The pit is now stopped. It is said the quality of coal was not good, and did not pay to work. The workings are satisfactorily fenced off. Cowan's Goal-pit, Gibbston. —(l4/10/97): This pit is at present idle. A tunnel has been partially driven from a lower level in the gully than where the coal was previously got, but has not yet reached hard coal. I understand the place is under offer to a syndicate. O'Hagan's Pit, Pukemu (G. O'Hagan).—(7/12/97): Lignite, 16ft. thick, dipping lin 12. Bord-and-pillar system adopted. 12 ft. worked, leaving 4 ft. to support roof strata. Mr. O'Hagan keeps his pit in capital order, and maintains a good air-current. Dudley's Pit, Pukerau (J. D. Dudley).—(7/12/97) : Same seam as O'Hagan's, but worked opencast. It has been standing during the winter and spring months, and is now in anything but a nice state. Operations for stripping sufficient for season's demands are now being commenced. I pointed out the need of keeping the sides safe. It will be advisable to adopt underground mining soon, as the stripping is getting too thick to be economically worked. Heffernan's Lignite-pit, Gore. —(6/10/97) : Mr. Heffernan has leased this pit to G. Low and Co. It is worked opencast, the full thickness of lignite being about 30 ft. Did not find any one about except the lessor. Stripping is about 10 ft. thick, and not battered off at sides. I pegged out a reasonable line of batter, and left a note stating what was required for safety. The upper half of the seam is being worked at present, the remainder being left under foot for future work. Gutschlag's Pit, Gore (J. Gutschlag).—(B/12/97) : There is a thick seam of lignite here, which has been worked opencast at the outcrop. At this date the pit was half full of water, the face covered with debris, a few loads being got wherever possible, and altogether the pit was in a disgraceful condition. Leitzy's Pit, Gore (Michael Leitzy).—(B/12/97) : Opencast working. Lignite, 4 ft. to 7 ft. thick at face, which is well bared by removal of stripping. Very little has been done here for some time. Sarginson's Pit, Waikaka Valley Road, Gore (J. H. Sarginson). —(8/12/97) : This pit is closed at present. Hoffman's Pit, Gore (J. Hoffman). —(8/12/97): An opencast pit. Full thickness of lignite, 9 ft., overlaid by sandy ground, say, 6 ft. thick. In fair order. Green's Pit, West Gore (John Kenyon and Co., lessees). —(24/4/97): Messrs. Kenyon and Co. have recently taken this pit on a five years' lease. It was until lately worked by Stark and Sons. The seam is the same as worked by Smyth. The lessees propose to extend the workings to the dip. Working-places, roadways, and ventilation very satisfactory. Smyth's Pit, West Gore (James Smyth, owner). —(24/4/97): The seam here is about 19 ft. thick, and the lignite of good quality. About 14 ft. is worked, leaving 5 ft. to 6 ft. to support the roof. The place is in very nice order, and ventilation all that could be desired. Knapdale Lignite-mine, Knapdale (Irvine Brothers). —(24/9/97) : The. seam here is nearly vertical, and 26 ft. wide altogether. The entrance is by an adit-tunnel. About 15 ft. is worked. No timber needed. Ventilation excellent. Johnston's Pit, Waikaka Valley. —(ls/12/97) : Lignite, 11 ft. thick; worked opencast. The seam is overlaid by drift-gravels, about 6 ft. of stripping being taken off. No appreciable area of surface is removed at date in advance of working-face. In other respects the pit is in very fair order. Pemble's Lignite-pit, Chatton (James Harvey). —(24/9/97): The lignite here is practically vertical, and of considerable width. Very little is being done at present, but. a good area of ground is stripped for the ensuing season's demands. Paoey's Lignite-pit, Ghatton. —(24/9/97) : Mr. A. Perkins is at present working this pit. About 10 ft. of stripping overlies the, lignite, and this ground is well stripped in advance of the coalface. Mr. Perkins does not know the full thickness of the seam, but is working 14 ft. to the present drainage-level, with lignite underfoot. McGiU's Lignite-pit, Wendon. —(23/9/97): Opencast working. About 12 ft. of lignite overlaid by 6 ft. to 7 ft. of stripping, which is well back from the face, but at the sides needs battering off. Drew attention to this. McDonald's Pit, Wendon. —(23/9/97) : Mr. D. Nicoll is now working this pit. It is very similar to McGill's, and on the adjoining property. Edge's Pit, Wendon (G. H. Evans). —(23/9/97): This pit is worked opencast, but, from the nature and thickness of the ground to be stripped, I think underground mining would be better and more economical. The lignite appears about 16 ft. thick. Mr. Evans keeps his pit in very creditable order. Black's Lignite-pit, Greenvale,— (23/9/97): This is an opencast pit, showing a face of lignite 12 ft. thick. It is worked for a few months each year, principally for the use of farmers and threshingmill owners. At present full of water. A good deal of stripping will be required before much area of lignite is available for working. Pointed out the necessity of stripping well in advance, and giving ample batter to the sides when work is resumed. Hill's Pit, Waikaia (Philip Hill, owner). —(23/4/97): Another opencast pit. About 5 ft. thick of lignite visible, overlaid by a band of greasy clay not more than 1 ft. thick. Above this is something like 40 ft. of auriferous gravel, which is usually sluiced off. At this date the seam was being worked in a most dangerous fashion. There was practically nothing stripped in advance of the face; and the gravel was in very nice order for the first rainfall to bring down about 150 tons. I cautioned the men as to the fisk they were running, and wrote the owner requiring him to take steps to make the place safe. Hill's and Cosgrove's pits are the only places now working lignite in the locality.

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