17

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Nothing doing here now. Water in shaft rising slowly, at the rate of about 5 ft. per week. Surface of water is at 220 ft. below sea-level. (10/9/1902) : Negotiations pending for opening the old mine and winning pillars said to have been left in, and estimated to yield several thousands of tons of coal. (16/10/1902) : New cross-measures drive started 2 chains west of main shaft, dipping inland at 1 in 4. Drive, 6 ft. by 6 ft., timbered. Spoil being tipped into shaft to strengthen bottom. (16/12/1902) : Dip drive at 200 ft. struck the seam, which was found split by a stone band. A level is being broken away south, in expectation that the seam will make in that direction. Surface of water in shaft, 158 ft. from surface, or 116 ft. below sea-level. Allandale Colliery, Allandale (A. S. Gillanders, manager).—(2/4/1902) : Air at intake, 6,500 cubic feet per minute. No. 3 seam : Three pairs of men drawing pillars. No. 2 seam : Making uprise airway to No. 1 seam, and preparing to draw pillars. No. 1 seam : Long-wall workings on the south side and bord and pillar on north side of level. The seam is opening out on good coal. Air dull in two places, which would be through in two days, and free circulation established ; otherwise air good throughout the mine. Timbering well attended to ; roadways in good order. Trial bore on site of proposed new ventilating-shaft is down 214 ft. (8/7/1902), (C. H. Westfield, manager) : Air at intake, 7,200 cubic feet per minute. No. 3 seam : Pillars nearly finished. No. 2 seam : Only a few men taking out the last of the pillars. No. 1 seam : Main body of the men in north workings. All places systematically timbered. Air good, except in No. 3 seam pillars. The main intake requires cleaning up a bit. The north level is gradually swinging round from north to north-east, apparently passing round the rim of an inverted basin. Thickness of main seam is becoming variable. At an upthrow fault on the north level coal pinches from -6 ft. to 2 ft. 6 in. (9/9/1902): Men idle to-day. Mine in good order all over. New air-shaft, 8 ft. by 4 ft. inside the timbers, is down 111 ft. (17/12/1902) : New air-shaft, now completed, is 280 ft. in depth, and provides fresh air to the faces, the main engine hauling-plane forming upcast as formerly. Airways, travelling-ways, and working-places in good order. Rules posted; report-books and plan to date. South Otago. Fernhill Colliery, Abbotsford (James Gray, manager).—(lß/4/1902) : Working-places in good order; stoppings on old mine-workings tight and standing well. Mr. Gray is taking the precaution of driving narrow under the Silverstream Water-race. (3/9/1902) : The new mine-workings being in the solid places are standing in good order. Surface " plumps "on the old mine area continue to increase in number and size, several being quite close to the Silverstream Water-race. Mr. Gray informed me that the Dunedin City Corporation were considering the matter of laying.a pipe-line siphon to cut off that portion of the open race over the colliery-workings. This would be a decided benefit to all concerned. The fire in old workings is kept damped down. Stoppings in good order and well attended to. Thomas Gray, banksman, sustained fracture of left forearm on the Bth September while trying to prevent a box of coal tipping up. Gray could easily have stepped aside and avoided injury. Freeman's Goal Company, Abbotsford (R. Hill, manager). —(18/4/1902): No. 1 mine: Work being gradually brought back toward the main dip ; pillar-extraction being successfully conducted ; roof in bottom places low, but safe, and well timbered. Air good ; plan and report-books to date. No. 2or new mine : Level face in 10 chains ; back level kept well up. Air good. (3/9/1902) : No. 1 mine : Robbing and retreating. A high percentage of coal has been won from this mine, which is now rapidly drawing to a close. Leakage of damp from the waste is considerable, and close attention is given to the ventilation of the working-faces, notwithstanding which the air in the bottom places was polluted to some extent, but was cleared in my presence by a rearrangement of the brattice. No. 2 mine: The level is now connected with Zander's shaft. Air excellent. This mine is being driven to open and work a block of virgin ground which had been well proved by the former workings. (23/10/1902) : No. 1 mine : Only two pairs of men now working here, the few remaining pillars being almost exhausted. Air good. Rules posted ; reports and plan to date. Walton Park Goal Company, Walton Park (J. Kenyon, manager). —(4/7/1902) : Old workings well stopped off with tongued-and-grooved wood stoppings kept well plastered with damp clay. The work consists entirely of drawing pillars and dropping head-coal, and is kept well outside the one-chain limit of the railway reserve. Air good at working-faces and on travelling-ways. (23/10/1902) : Pillars continue to be drawn safely, the line of stoppings in front of the waste being well attended to. The safety barrier of 1 chain between the present workings and the railway reserve strictly maintained, otherwise all coal being drawn and the surface broken, cover being not more than 50 ft. to 60 ft. Jubilee Colliery, Saddle Hill (J. Campbell, manager).—(2/9/1902) : Mine-workings in good order. A new entrance having been made on the north side of the property, length of draw now considerably shortened. Timbering where necessary well attended to, and ventilation satisfactory. Saddle Hill No. 1, Saddle Hill (W. H. L. Christie, manager).—(4/7/1902) : Mine in good order generally, and ventilation satisfactory. The dip is being extended, and preparation made for obtaining pillar-coal from some old workings in the vicinity. Saddle Hill No. 2, Saddle Hill (W. H. L. Christie, manager).—(4/7/1902) : Air at workingfaces not quite satisfactory, and a new upcast shaft is to be sunk at an early date. New tramway and railway-siding accommodation has been provided, and the proprietors are now in a position to place a considerably increased output on the market. Burnweil Colliery, Saddle Hill (A. Harris, manager).—(l 3/5/1902) : Recent heavy rains had caused flooding of the mine. Surface " plumps "in a hollow had allowed storm-water direct access into mine. Vertical steam-boiler and " Snow " pump having been placed in position, water is now overcome. The coal-seam is 20 ft. and upwards in thickness ; roof strong and safe. Mine in good order; report-book to date. 3 C—3a.