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thick, while bords on either side are over 12 ft. wide. Drew Mr. Loudens attention to this. New heading being driven, the bords off which are to be set out to a bearing which will prevent mistakes being made. Air not so good at faces as it might be if better directed, the best of the air being allowed to escape to the upcast withoub passing round the working-places. A new airshaft further up the gully and near the working-faces is required, the present shaft, which was sunk when the mine was first opened, being quite near the mine-mouth. Eequested Mr. Louden to fill up a trial shaft in the gully, which was standing full of water and unfenced. Plant and appliances in excellent order. Eules posted. Eeport-books well kept. Saddle Hill Goal-mine No. 1, Saddle Hill (Christie Brothers; James Christie, manager).— (18/12/99): Entered the mine by the engine-plane, travelled throughout the workings, and out by the travelling-way. All in good order, working-places standing splendidly, and there is scarcely a prop in the mine. Workings extended to south of dip. Headings and levels well opened up to bearings, and driven to lines, which keeps the pillars square. Air excellent, and plenty of it. Eules posted. Plan to date. Saddle Hill Goal-mine No. 2, Saddle Hill (Christie Brothers).—(lB/12/99) : This is a new mine on the northern outcrop of Messrs. Christie's field. A pair of levels are in 4 chains, and they are to be extended to the southern boundary of the property, which will enable Messrs. Christie to command the whole of their coal to the rise. Drainage free, and haulage self-acting. The mine is very creditably opened out; timber at the mouth specially selected and well put in. Drives in coal are not too wide or high, and are standing like rock. Coal from this mine is carried over the Jubilee Mine tramway to the railway-trucks. Air good. Eules posted. Burnweil Colliery, Saddle Hill (Adam Harris). —(18/12/99) : Workings all in good order. New drive being put in to cut the seam to the dip. This will enable Mr. Harris to work all his coal to the rise, and, as the new dip is to be driven to the boundary, a complete grip of the field will be obtained. Air cool, but not much travelling. Eeport kept. Eules posted. Plan to date. Glenochiel Colliery, Saddle Hill (Bryce Brothers). —(13/11/99) : Workings in good order. Bords to dip being stopped on a fault running north-east and south-west, which cuts them out one after another. Nothing done so far to prove fault. Large area of pillar- and head-coal opened out. Air cool and good, but travelling slowly. Upcast air-shaft unfenced, and no means of egress provided. No report-book kept. No rules posted. I drew Mr. Bryce's attention to these matters, and also wrote him on the subject, to which I did not receive any reply. (16/12/99): Pound that the upcast air-shaft was fenced, but still no means of egress provided. Mr. Bryce subsequently wrote me stating that he had complied with the requirements. Mosgiel Colliery, Saddle Hill (Nicol and Sneddon). —(16/12/99) : The old engine has been replaced by a new ten-horse-power Bansome's portable. Dip driven 9 chains in coal. All the miners at work in bords off a heading driven from the south low level. Coal soft and inferior, making a lot of slack. Owners contemplating extending dip-incline another 10 chains to their boundary. Very little work has been done on north side of dip, where coal looks very well. There is plenty of air entering the mine, but, not being well directed, most of it escapes into the return without passing round the south side, where the men are at work. I requested Mr. Sneddon to remedy this by hanging a brattice across the dip below the put-through to the south. Airways and working-places in good order. Eeport-book and plan up to date. Lauriston Colliery, Brighton (J. Walker and Sons). —(30/12/99): Main level being driven in a trough, apparently faulted, coal being of medium quality. There is a nasty parting in the roof about 9 in. above the coal; this flakes off in patches in places right up to the face. I advised Mr. Walker and his sons (two) to exercise great caution, and to be on their guard against accident from this cause. Air cool, very little travelling. No rules posted. No report-book kept or copy of Act at mine. McGoU's Goal-mine, Brighton (Donald McColl.) —(30/12/99) : Mr. McColl has abandoned his workings in the 3 ft. seam, and has returned to the lower or 6 ft. seam. A new drive (2 chains) is in the coal, and the level off the dip appears to be running in the direction of the old workings. There is no plan of the old mine. I instructed McColl to be very careful in approaching the old works, as most likely they will be standing full of water. On my return to Dunedin I wrote him to the same effect, and also requested him to make a communication with a shaft near his dip-face. The mine is drained by a siphon working 22 ft. lift. Side-pressure at mine-mouth is squeezing timber on to the roadway. Advised owner to renew before wet weather comes on. Bruce Colliery, Akatore, Milton (Anthony Young).—(B/11/99) : Was opencast, but now driving in the coal, which is 20 ft. thick ; places standing in good order. Eules posted. Strip-and-at-it Colliery, Akatore, Milton (Noah Hardwick). —(8/11/99) : Mine stopped for lack of trade. Locked gate on entrance. Went round the mine with a son of the owner. Props in use very light. Mine in fairly good order, but the air dull. On reaching the bottom of the airshaft, which is (or ought to he) the second outlet, I found that the shaft had not been sunk through the coal, but only a small hole cut through. A box-flue 12 ft. long, 9 in. by 9 in. inside, had then been set on top of the coal, and the sides of the shaft, being untimbered, allowed to fall in against the box. The air-shaft was also unfenced on the surface. I wrote the owner instructing him to remove the box-flue and make the shaft full size at the bottom, to put ladders in the shaft, and to fence around the top. ' Fortification Railway and Coal Company, Akatore, Milton (J. Hughes, permit).—(B/11/99): It is proposed to open up a new mine further up the valley, which will command the whole field, and be more advantageous for the proposed railway, tenders for the construction of which are now being called. Eeturn airway and workings standing well, and are in good order. Dip-drive down 7 chains. Drew Mr. Huglies's attention to the necessity for ladder in upcast shaft, also hinged door on wooden chimney to provide travelling-way for second outlet. Eeport kept and rules posted.

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