C—3a

18

Glenochiel Colliery, Saddle Hill (D. Bryce, permit). —(13/5/1902): Work consists of robbing pillars and roof-coal in old mine. Damp from fire still troublesome, notwithstanding considerable area of roof fallen and sand down. New mine-entrance well timbered. Dip progressing slowly. Mosgiel Colliery, Saddle Hill (James Sneddon, manager).— (13/5/1902) : A " sit " occurred on the 9th and 10th instant, and the lower dip pillars became lost and pump buried, due, no doubt, to recent wet weather and water percolating through surface breaks where pillars had been drawn. Only a few roadside pillars remain to be worked consistent with safety, and the mine may be considered as nearly worked out. Report-book and plan to date. Biccarton Goal Company, East Taieri (M. Neilson, manager).—(l 3/5/1902) : Air at intake (7,500 cubic feet per minute) ample, but not conducted to faces. At 2-J chains from brow of dip a trough is met, and meantime the seam is rising against the general direction of dip. A local disturbance probably. Lauriston Colliery, Brighton (J. R. Walker, owner). —(2/9/1902) : Roof bad, and places being now driven narrow or timbered. Care exercised, and no risk taken. McColl's Pit, Brighton (D. L. McColl, owner).—(2/9/1902): No one about. Mine-entrance locked. Only small amount of trade evidently. Fairbairns, Akatore, Taieri Beach. —A pair of levels are driven about If chains, and stenton through. I can find no previous record of this pit, which the owner informed me had been worked in a small way for a number of years. About 450 tons altogether had been taken out for local requirements. Bruce'Mine, Milton (A. Young, owner). —(26/9/1902) : Mine in good order. Not much doing. Strip-and-at-it, Milton (N. Hardwick, owner). — (26/9/1902): Mine in good working-order, but trade insufficient to induce owner to continue working. Fortification Bailicay and Coal Company, Akatore, Milton (A. Harris, manager). —(14/2/1902) The old mine return airway having become closed by a heavy fall, the men had been withdrawn and a contract let for winning coal from the new mine It appeared that the mine-manager, Mr. A. Harris, had been employing more than twenty men under his second-class certificate, and, a prosecution having been decided upon, the Magistrate inflicted a fine of £1, and costs £3 165., for breach of the Act on the 15th January, and for a similar breach on the 24th January he was fined 10s., with costs £1 10s. The new mine will form a more convenient outlet to railway, which is rapidly nearing completion. Loading-bank, also hauling engine and boiler being erected. (16/6/1902), (Thomas Barclay, manager) : The branch line from Milton Railway-station, five miles and a half in length, is now completed. New mine : The roof is tender in places, and wide bords require centre props. Steps are being taken to improve the ventilation. Brattices and air stoppings had been allowed to get into a state of disrepair, consequently air deficient in the farm places. Return airway and upcast shaft in good order. (26/9/1902), (M. Straw, manager) : The crosscut dip drive is being advanced rapidly and bords broken away. The coal is being worked to a parting 5 ft. from the floor, leaving a sound roof of 2 ft. of coal overhead. Sufficient timber not being used in the pillar-workings to the rise, but, a supply having come to hand, this defect would be remedied. Rules posted ; report-book and plan to date. Glenledi Pit, Milton (N. MeGilp, owner).—(l 6/6/1902) :No one about the mine. (26/9/1902) : No one about, but a start has been made to get coal again from the old opencast face. Adam's Flat Mine, Adam's Flat (J. Reid, owner). —(26/9/1902) : 8 ft. of overburden being stripped preparing for the incoming threshing season. Paskell's Pit, Adam's Flat (J. Paskell, owner). —(26/9/1902): Face fallen in. Coal has not been taken out for some time. Wallsend Pit, Lovell's Flat (R. Hewitson, owner). —(18/6/1902) : Stripping kept fairly well back from the face. Lovell's Flat Colliery, Lovell's Flat (James Carruthers, manager). —(9/4/1902) : Dip 400 ft. to face, in good coal. Roof in bords cutting, and timber freely used. North level in 15 chains ; thickness of coal remains at 5 ft.; breast of work only 2 chains up to the soft coal, which is gradually cutting places out. North heading at 8 chains ; coal not improving. South-level face is promising in appearance. Air good, and timbering well attended to. Plan and report-books to date. (20/6/1902): The fire in south-side old workings occasionally gives trouble, but is carefully watched and watered as required. As on the occasion of my last visit, the seam continues thin in north and south levels, and the dip prospects remain good. Ventilation good throughout. (25/9/1902) :An air-flue with furnace has been built on the surface, leading from the mouth of the second-outlet shaft. Underground the dip workings, where most of the men are employed, are generally in good order. A large quantity of timber is used in the bords, and an adequate supply kept below for use as required. Rules posted, and report-books to date. A fire broke out on the pit-bank on Sunday, the 12th October, which destroyed the buildings, loading-bank arrangements, and pit-head framing. In consequence, the pit was closed for a few weeks while repairs were being effected. The cause of the fire has not been discovered. Tuakitoto, Lovell's Flat (Dunlop, owner). —(20/6/1902) : The ground landlord taking out coal for own use only. Benhar Goal-mine, Benhar (James McLeod, permit).—(lß/6/1902): Mine in good order. New dip workings in lower seam have been opened since my last visit. Coal strong and roof safe. Air good. Mount Wallace Pit, Stirling (D. Shaw, lessee). —(18/6/1902) : Extension of main dip being continued in strong hard coal. Taratu Coal Company, Kaitangata (Joseph Shore, manager).—(2B/8/1902) : The company recently formed is prosecuting active operations. A branch line of railway eight miles in length is being brought in from Lovell's Flat Railway-station to the mine. Coal outcrops to the surface