12

C—3a

Coghlan's Freehold, Capleston (J. Coghlan, owner). —(20/11/1907): The coal on this property is being taken from a low level recently opened on the base of the terrace which forms the north bank of the Boatman's Creek, quality and hardness of seam being favourable for steaming and household purposes, whilst hauling and cartage are much shortened as compared with the old mine. ll Yaitahu Coal-mine, Reefton (J. O'Donnell. owner). —(20/11/1907): During the year this mine has been worked continuously on the 6 ft. seam by two miners, the coal, although soft, being highly suitable for household purposes. The working is much hampered by the high percentage of slack coal produced, as the river is the only practical outlet for this waste product. The roof requires careful timbering, and ventilation is well maintained. Reefton Coal Company (John Harris and party). —(19/11/1907): The two rise sections of this mine are meanwhile abandoned, and work is exclusively confined to getting coal from the No. 3 level east, the quality and hardness of the seam showing improvement at depth, as compared with the original rise working, while connection for ventilation and a second outlet has been amply provided. The plant is in good order. Town Belt Coal-mine (Morris and Irishman, owners). —(19/11/1907) : This mine was recently opened by a short stone drive to win an underlying coal-seam 4 ft. 6 in. in thickness, the quality of which is well suited for steaming and household purposes, while cartage to the town is considerably reduced. Referring to the work done, driving from the rock-tunnel has been extended east on the level course of the seam for a distance of 200 ft. and connection effected with the surface for ventilation and second outlet. Generally, the mine and plant are in good order, and straight and good roads are made a special feature. Murray Creek Coal-mine (owners, John Morris and party).—(22/11/1907): This party has worked very energetically to open out an old pillar area adjacent to and in continuation of the old Golden Treasure lease, situate near the head of Murray Creek. The coal won is of superior quality, but to clear away the loose overburden in order to effect complete extraction heavy and arduous work has to be encountered. Golden Treasure Coal-mine, Murray Creek (J. Billett, owner). —(22/11/1907): Open face. Beyond the ordinary routine of sluicing and clearing off the surface stripping, other work is nonimportant. The quality and hardness of the seam having improved recently a good market for household coal is obtainable, while the slack is in demand for steaming at the Energetic Mine and Golden Fleece Battery. Phoenix Coal-mine, Reefton (John Knight and Co., owners). —(22/11/1907): In continuation of my report of last year, relative to the suppression of the fire in this partly exhausted mine, water was successfully laid on from the upper reaches of the Victoria Creek, and, although the supply was cut off during the excessively dry season, indications of heating were confined to a very limited area when visited. (20/20/1908): Directly the fire was suppressed along the dip boundary of the lease, the County Council granted the owners permission to divert the dray-road for the purpose of winning a section of superior open face coal, located in the bed of the creek. Having won the coal and diverted the road to the satisfaction of the local authorities, further encroachment on the heated area was abandoned, and work resumed as usual on the Venus lease, from which supplies are now taken. Lankey's Creek Coal-mine, Reefton (owners, Pascoe and Watson). —(19/11/1907): This property continues to maintain a better standard, both with respect to plant and working conditions, ventilation being obtained from two connections recently made with an old district standing on pillars. The quality and hardness of the seam provide a superior household fuel, and, having recently obtained the contract for the supply of steam-coal at the Keep It Dark Mine, the demand for slack coal is equal to the supply. Progress New Coal-mine, Reefton. —(21/11/1907): Faulting on the main winning headings having cut off the supply riseward, coal for direct use has been largely taken from the open pillars. In view of cutting the fault more advantageously on a lower level, driving is continued for that purpose, and, as usual in this coal formation, irregularity of roof has been very pronounced of late. Thus, cost in permanent road-construction is much increased. Loughnan's Coal-mine, Reefton. —Since change of ownership this mine has been shut down. Blackball Colliery (owners, Blackball Coal Company, Limited; James Leitch, mining manager). —(16/11/1907): Although the limited and unreliable system of aerial haulage installed at this colliery tends much to interfere with the economical transport of mineral to the Government Railway siding at Ngahere, the output has nevertheless maintained a substantial increase of 19,331 tons, as against the preceding year. During the year coal for commercial purposes has been chiefly taken from the western section of the property. The winning levels still continue to prove coal-seam of good average quality and thickness over an unbroken area of one mile in length, extending from the bottom of the rock tunnel, 600 ft. in length, which connects with the surface. These levels having now passed the extreme limit of the old exhausted rise workings, preparatory work is in progress to set away two main winning headings, calculated to prove the extent and quality of the coalfield to the rise boundary. With reference to the advantages gained by the introduction of the Panel system versus the ordinary pillar and stall, where experience has proved the coal-seam to be ruinously subject to spontaneous combustion in the old rise working, it is interesting to note that where indications of spontaneous heating have existed in the present districts of dip-working, risk to life and property have not yet been seriously experienced when sealing off any affected part with a minimum loss of coal, and inconvenience has not been experienced thereby to the workmen engaged in any other part of the mine. Endless-rope haulage is permanently installed, and during the year was further extended 400 yards, whilst an additional extension of 800 yards is contemplated during the coming Easter holidays, when the completed haulage service will exceed a mile in length to the point of delivery. Ventilation is induced