C—3a

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new seam and 6 ft. seam workings and in No. 8 dip, where north-going places are driven to No. 4 fault, pillars being left until 6 ft. seam above is worked out. (9/10/1903) : This visit was paid in consequence of an accielent —fraoture of humerus of right arm —to J. Alexander, roadsman and duly appointed shot-firer in the No. 8 dip section. Alexander was preparing to fire a shot, when a stone fell from roof, inflicting injury mentioned. I found that insufficient care had been taken in sounding the roof and in bringing down a loose rock after the previous shot had been fired. The deviation of main stone drive at brick-wall stopping is 300 ft. in length, having, where intersecting coal seam, a brick arch 60 ft. in length by 10 ft. in width by 6 ft. in height at centre. (3/11/1903): Air-volume at intake, 31.700 cubic feet per minute; the enlargement of airways being responsible for a reduction of W.G. from 1.3 in. to 1.1 in. Working-places, roadways, and return airways in good order. Nos. 1 anel 2 headings, new seam: 560 ft. to faces. The Sylvester's patent prop-drawers in use are economizing timber, especially in pillar-workings. (9/ 12/1903): The fire-stopping at bottom of main incline, north side, is being replaced by a double-walled brick stopping filled in with dead ashes. The stone level cross-measures elrive eastward having passed through No. 5 fault, the face is now at 5,123 links from mine-mouth. The upcast air-shaft has been sunk 140 ft. by 7 ft. diameter to connect with the main return on the level, enabling the "tube" section of airway and the old furnace area via centre heading being stopped off entirely. Brick stoppings have been put in above the tube and at the furnace-site, and a 6 ft. ash stopping at the bottom of the centre heatling. The winding-engine bed for second outlet is in course of construction. Gauze shields are in full use for protection to miners' eyes when working in " prouel " or flying coal. Safety lamps numbered, and register kept as lamps are served out, lo the men on each shift. Explosives attended to; tins numbered, and all shots served out by storemair from magazine on surface. Detonators carefully kept underground in separate locked tins. Compressed air is the power used for actuating the main pump and subsidiary pumps underground; also the Uskside and other winches for dip haulage, of which the I'skside type appear to give the most satisfaction. Air-volume at in-take 37,990 cubic feet per minute, fan making 212.8 revolutions. W.G. 1.6 in. Report-books: Underviewers', firemen's, deputies', engine-wrights', and examiners of pumps, winches, and ropes' report-books invariably kept up to date and in order. Extensive detailed surveys of the mine have been made, and new plans ar? now in course of preparation. Kaitangata Colliery (Old Mine) (Thomas Barclay, mine-manager). —(9/2/1903): All available coal having been extracted, work is now suspended ; plant drawn. Castle Hill Colliery, Kaitangata (Thomas Barclay, mine-manager). —(11/2/1903); Gas giving off freely in north level; advancing in solid coal. This and the new seam in stone-drive extension are being stopped to alkw gas to drain off. '22/4/1903 —R. S. Jordan, mine-manager): Mine in good order. Working-places free from gas. New set of screens have been erected at loadingbank. (26/6/1903): Robbing homeward in main seam towards staple pit, fire here in south side waste being kept well under by liberal use of water. Nos. 4 and 5 cross-cut winch dips being sunk in 11 ft. seam. North side section: I'skside winch engines and drum combined are giving every satisfaction. Ventilation satisfactory. (4/7/1903): Fatal accident: George Hill sustained fracture of skull on the 3rd instant. Hill and McMillan, his mate, were dropping tops. A shot had been fired in head coal; fifteen minutes litter deceased was engaged filling a box when it large flake of coal came away from the roof, the edge of the flake striking Hill ou the temple. A vertical smooth joint or " soot)- back " contributed to the flake coming away ; but had deceased sounded the roof carefully before starting to fill he should have discovered the weakness. (21/8/1903): Work-ing-places, return airways, and mine generally in good order, stud an adequate supply of air travelling. (2/10/1903): Pillar-robbing to fault in 25 ft. seam, south side. Work north of staple pit in this seam now discontinued and stoppings in. New seam in main extension very steep, the dip being 1 in \\. Gas given off in advancing heading-faces, and brattice kept close up. (1/12/1903): 11 ft. seam: No. 4 dip crosscut 600 ft. to face. New seam: Pair of parallel headings driven 250 ft. Coal-seam opening up excellently. A level stone tunnel driven with short uprise therefrom to the heading will enable the Jacky pit being dispensed with. Cross-measures-level extension drive-face standing at 4558 links from main entrance. Air-volume at intake 26,750 cubic feet per minute. Report-books well kept and plan to date. Central Otago. Coal Creek Galleries Company, Goal Creek Flat (William Barclay, manager; R. Pilling, jun., secretary). —(24/2/1903): Freehold: The prospeetiiig-drivo struck main coal-seam at 150 ft. Communication is being made with shaft for ventilation. Leasehold: Output being maintained from pillar-workings. (11/5/1903): Now mine-workings and return airway in good order; bidders provided in upcast air-shaft. Leasehold: Overburden of 25 ft. to 30 ft., being stripped with water hired from the Pleasant Valley Gold-mining Company, intention being to work the coal-seam opencast. (12/9/1903 —J. Barber, manager): Freehold: Coal being of a tender nature all workings are driven narrow and standing well. Considerable quantities of black damp are encountered, being tapped where breaks occur in the coal-seam. Leasehold: Stripping suspended in the meantime owing to the mining company requiring the water. McPherson'x Pit, Coal Creek Flat (Mrs. McPherson, lessee).—(lB/2/1903, 12/9/1903): The drainage-tunnel 300 ft. in length was driven with difficulty through soft and swelling ground; 9 in. diameter pipes were laid in the tunnel and drive subsequently filled in to preserve the pipeline. A considerable quantity of coal which was formerly below water-level is now available, water-free. This pit is usually kept in good order. Craig's Perseverance, Coal Creek Flat (John Craig; James Craig, lessee). —(12/9/1903): The main dip having been extended, coal-output is now being won from the third level, 20 ft. of headcoal being left on for roof. The hydraulic hauling and pumping plant continues to act satisfactorily. Workings in good order; free from dross; good air travelling throughout the mine.