C—3a.

Mosgid Colliery, Mosgiel (Orr and party, late Sneddon Bros. ; Hugh Orr, manager).—(29/6/1905) : On this date there was no work, and gates were locked. The mine, however, is being worked regularly. (21/12/1905) : New dip, turned away to southward of old workings, is 9 chains to face where an upthrow fault of 12 ft. was struck. Air dull at faces of north and south leve)s, stentons for air-cir-oulation being required; otherwise workings all right. Seam 10 ft. to 14 ft. in thickness, of which about 7 ft. is being worked. Lauriston Colliery, Duncan Settlement, Brighton Road (J. R. Walker, owner and manager).— (9/2/1905) : Coal now being mainly obtained from the western side of the mine. Roof good. Airshaft being cleaned out and repaired. McColl's Coal-pit, Duncan Settlement, Brighton (D. L. McColl, permit). — (9/2/05) : The new low-level tunnel is now 100 ft. to face, well timbered ; will shortly intercept the coal-seam and provide free drainage. Drummuir Coal-pit, Brighton.—Us. Sneddon has sold this pit to Mr. Louden, of Brighton. A small quantity of coal mined for local use. Fairbairn's Coal-mine, Taieri Mouth (R. Fairbairn, owner).—(l 4/2/1905) : The coal is strong and the drive continues in fair order and, not being driven too wide, is standing well. A slip at mine mouth is being removed and new timber will render the opening safe again. Bruce Coal-mine, Milton (Anthony Young).—(22/5/1905) : Fire still burning at the outcrop away irom the working-face. There was no woik on this date. The property is under offer to the Lovell's Flat Coal Company. (26/10/1905) : Owing to failing health Mr. Young is retiring after many years of active work coal-mining in this and the Home-country. Reed's Coal-mine, Milton.— (22/5/1905) : Mr. Anthony Young has one man engaged getting coal from this area, but on this date the mine-entrance gate was locked, and no one was to be seen about the works. Real Mackay Colliery, Milton (LovelFs Flat Coal Company, owners ; James Carruthers, minemanager).— (22/5/1905) : The Lovell's Flat Coal Company having made terms with Mr. J. McKay, the owner of the land, prospecting and driving is being conducted at the old open-face workings. A branch line is being laid up the gully to connect the mine with the Fortification Branch Railway line to Milton. (26/10/1905): The Real Mackay Mine, having lain dormant for some years, has recently been reopened by this company. Parallel levels are being driven south-easterly and connected for air. Dip of seam apparently south-westerly, and the workings are being opened up to suit. Old workings to the rise—of which no plan is available—have interfered with development, but the new level faces now appear to be ahead of the_ waste. Prospecting operations easterly are being undertaken, an area of about 10 acres of coal-bearing land having been proved by boring. The owners have acquired a lease over an area of Crown lands latterly held and worked by Mr. Anthony Young. Branch line completed and loading-bank approaching completion. J. W. Thomas's Area, Akatore, Milton (Lignite License).—(22/5/1905) : Although the licensee has worked industriously on the area, he has so far been unable to find a seam of coal of workable size. Strip-and-at-it Coil-pit, Milton. —A small quantity of coal being mined for local use. Fortification Colliery, Milton (J. Frame, mine-manager; Bruce Railway and Coal Company. ' lessees).—(22/5/1905) : Pillars are still being withdrawn from this mine, which is rapidly approaching exhaustion. (26/10/1905) : The mines are now abandoned, plant drawn, and former openings filled up and closed. The branch line of railway with sidings and loading-bank are now being utilised by the Bruce Railway and Coal Company. Glenledi Coal-mine, Milton (N. MoGilp, owner ; Brown and Robertson, lessees).—(22/5/1905) : Seam 20 ft. in thickness, of which 10 ft. is woiked by bords 12 ft. in width, thus leaving a good coal roof. Air-shaft required for ventilation. (26/10/1905) : Mr. Brown informed me that he and his partner had decided to determine the lease, as they found themselves unable to earn a profit on the royalty basis of 4s. 6d. pel ton charged by the landlord, N. McGilp. The Bruce Railway and Coal Company, Milton (J. Frame, mine-manager; John J. Lane, secretary, Milton).—(22/5/1905) : An area lying to southward of Fortification Coal-mines and on opposite side of Tokomairiro River had been extensively prospected by boring. The new mine is now driven 120 ft. in strong workable coal, the seam here having been proved 16 ft. in thickness by one of the bores. Good timber is being used in the drive. A second outlet and ventilating-shaft is bring provided. A gang of men are employed laying a narrow-gauge tram-line 30£ chains in length, including a bridge across the Tokomairiro River to connect with the Fortification Railway, and utilise loadingbank and screens of the old Fortification Mine. From the mine to the river there will be a self-acting incline 15 chains in length. (26/10/1905) : Coal-seam interspersed with " duff," having a close resemblance to " doughboy "of another place. The adit level has been driven to the rise of the seam off which headings_ are driven to rise and places to dip until roofed. Now that the lay of the field is better known, the intention is to drive a lower inlet to the seam, which will be water-free and command a fairly large area to the rise. Dip of seam, S. 85° E., 6 ft. to the chain. Adam's Flat Coal-mine, Adam's Flat (J. Reid, owner).—Opencast pit for supply of local requirements. Paskell's Coal-mine, Adam's Flat (J. Paskoll, owner).—Still nothing doing here. Lovell's Flat Colliery, Lovell's Flit (J. R. Wilson, general manager; James Carruthers, minemanager).—(l3/4/1905) : Extraction of pillars homeward continues apace ; a safety-ring (or shaft-pillar) of 50 yards radius around pit-bottom is being observed. Timber is used at working-faces to support roof, which, however, does not fall independently, there being a general crush or creep all over the workings ; bottom rising and pillars sinking gradually. The dip will soon be closed, and roof and pavement meet. Air rather warm in several places. (26/6/1905) : Operations are now confined to drawing remaining pillars from south heading and main south level. Ventilation fair (22/8/1905) • 3—U, 3a. '

17