17

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near McPherson's old drive. A prospecting-shaft sunk near-by, but to the dip, is said to have proved coal 18 ft. in depth. Being near the river, is liable to heavy drainage. Prospecting-shaft down 200 ft. Bore down to 460 ft. : at 44 ft. running sand and water carrying 2 ft. and 5 ft. seams of brown coal were met with ; at 460 ft. struck hard quartz sandstone —chisel only made 1 in. per half-shift; work suspended pending arranging for Government diamond-drill. Waihao Coal-mine, Waihao Forks (Stoney Creek Coal Company, Waimate, owners). —(16/7/08) : Prospecting-drive on. face of river-terrace had fallen in during recent floods ; new drive going in from solid side of hill. Elephant Hill Coal-mine, Waihao Downs (Edward Richards, owner). —(10/12/08) : Private pit; output utilised for station purposes and requirements of the district. Pit in good order, having recently been restored in a substantial manner. Seam, 14 ft. ; dip, lin 6 easterly. North Otago. Dalgety Coal-pit, Hakataramea (New Zealand and Australian Land Company, owners ; J. Drysdale, manager).—One hundred and eighty-three tons of coal produced for station use during the year. Wharekuri Colliery, Wharekuri (Andrew Shanks, lessee). —(11/12/08): Vertical seam 40 ft. in width at widest parts. Strike of seam, north-and-south. Mine driven 250 yards in the sandstone formation to south of old worked ground. Drive in good order ; ventilation good ; no rules posted. Kurow Coal-mine, Kurow (J. Sanderson, owner). —(11/12/08): Vertical seam 10ft. in width; strike north-and-south. A new drive near the roadside is on coal at the face. Return air-shaft and second outlet provided. Otiake Coal-pit, Otiake (George Taylor, owner). —This mine has been reopened, and a small quantity of coal taken out for local use. St. Andrew's Colliery, Papakaio (Thomas Nimmo, permit, owner and manager).—(ll/12/08) : Old mine discontinued after twenty-five years' working, during which period there had been no serious accidents. Pillars have been drawn to near the mine-mouth. Estimated over 75 per cent, of seam won. Seam, 7 ft. New mine begun at the commencement of the year is being well developed. Airshaft and second outlet provided : Powder-magazine approved ; but, as very little explosive is used, one barrel only of blasting-powder is kept on hand. Prince Alfred Colliery, Papakaio (Mrs. J. E. Willetts, lessee ; C. O. Willetts, permit, mine-manager). —(11/12/08) : Area, 60 acres lease on Coal Reserve. Old mine closed down and abandoned after working forty years without serious accident. New mine opened, and being developed on good lines. Upcast airshaft and second outlet provided. Old rules posted ; report-book kept. Ngapara Colliery, Ngapara (William Nimmo, permit, owner and manager).-—(l5/7/08) : Mine in good order, also ventilation excellent. Second outlet-shaft requires ladders, which are to be put in, and Nimmo is to write me when done. There is, however, another second, outlet and travelling-way which is known to the men. New copies of the general and special rules require to be posted. Magazine approved, and fifteen kegs (25 lb. each) stored. Proper canisters to be provided for carrying powder into the workings. Shag Point Colliery, Shag Point (William Hunt, permit).—(9/10/08) : A small mine in the upper seam facing the sea. Having worked up to the fault, pillars are now being drawn outward. - Allandale Colliery, Shag Point (W. Everest, secretary ; A. Mcintosh, managing director in charge). —(29/10/08) : During the earlier part of the year work was continued in the main dip and north side, or Siberia workings. Nos. 1 and 2 seams having " come together "in the dip workings north, a thickness of up to 12 ft. was exhibited in coal of excellent quality. Some heating in a portion of the worked ground on the old north side of main dip was observed in the month of July, and driven on to locate the spot for the purpose of cooling it down. Early in October the incipient fire having become more pronounced, the owners decided to draw the electric pump and plant, and close that section of the mine, to allow of generation of gases and water rising to flood the heated part. When this was done, attention was paid to the new dip in main seam south, where work is being conducted by a reduced number of workmen. South Otago. Fernhill Colliery, Abbotsford (James Gray, owner and manager).—(29/12/08) : Ventilation, 5,250 cub. ft. per minute in return airway. Only small output of coal being obtained, principally from pillars and head coal. The sand-deposit on the property is extensively worked for supply to Dunedin and district for building and other purposes. Freeman's Colliery, Abbotsford (Freeman's Coal Company; R. Green, general manager; A. S. Gillanders, mine-manager).—(29/12/08) : Air at intake, 12,500 cub. ft. per minute. Travelling around the breast of working-faces off No. 5 dip, these were found in safe working-order ; the roof, however, was inclined to cut up in the vicinity of thread faults which occur, consequently advancing places are driven narrow and timbered where necessary. Owing to the infrequency with which stentons were put through for air, ventilation at several working-faces was found inadequate. Pillar-extraction of sections at each side near bottom of No. 4 dip nearly completed. Generally, the mine is in good order, an adequate supply of timber being kept on hand and used as required. New rules posted ; reportbooks and plan to date. The mine-manager was subsequently prosecuted for inadequate ventilation, as disclosed'on my visit on the 29th December, 1908, when a penalty of £5, with costs £2 95., was imposed by the Stipendiary Magistrate.

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