C—3a

18

Green Island Minerals Company, Green Island (J. Louden, managing director ; T. Barclay, jun., mine-manager).—(26/5/08) : Driving to dip in solid coal. Water is drained away from old workings to rise. Rules posted, and requirements of the Act are observed. Jubilee Colliery, Saddle Hill (Jubilee Coal Company, owners ; A. P. Bremner, general manager ; Thomas Barclay, mine-manager).—(3o/12/08) : Furnace ventilation efficient, there being 12,500 cub. ft. of air per minute at intake. Circulation, of air good, and being well conducted by brattice around the working-faces. Pillar and head coal-extraction is continued homeward and up to the boundary of adjoining property, being worked as Saddle Hill No. 2 Colliery. In dip workings to south-east, coal-seam faulted and coal not of best quality. New rules posted and requirements of the Act generally well observed. Burnwell Colliery, Saddle Hill (Adam Harris, owner and manager). —(30/12/08) : New airway and second-outlet travelling-way completed. Ventilation good. Continuing robbing and extraction of pillars and head coal in dip section. The new drive for outlet has exposed a second seam of coal, which will be held in view for future working. The water-level is proved by the drive to the dip, and there is less standing water than might have been expected in the old workings. New rules posted ; reportbook to date. Saddle Hill No. 1 Colliery, Saddle Hill (Christie Bros., owners ; W. W. Ogilvie, mine-manager). —(30/12/08) : Latter work consists of withdrawal of pillars in Mclntyre's section, where the coalseam is found to be 22 ft. in thickness, of which about 20 ft. is being won. The line of pillar break in roof is well maintained. Some improvement in ventilation agreed upon would result in decreased temperature at working-faces where it was found to be rather high—viz., 70° Fahr. The solid coal barrier between this and the adjoining property remains untouched as heretofore. Percolation of drainage-water continues through the joints of the seam forming the barrier. The slight flow varies according to weather conditions. No better safeguard could be contemplated —viz., a solid barrier of coal with percolation in numerous places along its length, thereby insuring a minimum of standing or accumulated water on the other side. Rules posted, and report-books to date. Saddle Hill No. 2 Colliery, Saddle Hill (Christie Bros., owners ; Robert Hill, mine-manager).— (30/12/08) : As is occasional in bord-and-pillar workings, several of the leading places are past the airway ; consequently air dull and stale at these working-faces. Fan ventilation is being substituted for furnace in use. The old workings to rise, having exhibited signs of h- ating, are now sealed off. Alteration of dip and rise of coal-seam due to faulting has interfered somewhat with systematic development of the workings. Coal-seam strong, and minimum of timber used or required in working-places. Rules posted ; report-books and plan to date. Lauriston Colliery, Brighton Road (James Walker, owner and manager).—(3/9/08) : Workingplaces in good order. Ventilation good. New second-outlet shaft being made to west of haulage-road. Brighton Colliery, Brighton Road (D. L. McColl, owner and manager).—(3/9/08) : Clay swelling in tunnel to such an extent as to require frequent repairs and renewals to timber-sets. Coal-workings safe. Ventilation good. Glenmuir Coal-pit, Brighton (A. Louden, owner). —(3/9/08) : No coal has been got from this mine for some time, and, as it has fallen at the entrance, work is suspended indefinitely. Ferndale Coal-pit, Taieri Mouth (R. Ferndale, owner). —Small output maintained for use of settlers in the district. Real Mackay Colliery, Milton (Bruce Railway and Coal Company, owners). —(22/12/08) : Mine closed down on the 6th November, 1908, as worked out. Plant being removed as required to Waronui Mine, which is under same ownership. Waronui Colliery, Milton (Bruce Railway and Coal Company, owners ; J. R. Wilson, general manager ; James Carruthers, mine-manager). —(22/12/08) : The new second outlet and airway is now completed to daylight in a convenient gully 20 chains to southward of main entrance. Railway-devia-tion in hand will require, for closer connection, a new bridge across the Tokomairiro River. Ventilation must be described as weak meantime, the intention being to provide adequate arrangements as development proceeds. Pillar section rather warm in one place. Powder-storage underground not altogether in compliance with requirements of the Act: the mine-manager promised to have a door placed across the chamber. Report-books and plan to date. Wallsend Coal-pit, Lovell's Flat (R. Hewitson, owner). —Small output, restricted to local requirements. Lakeside Coal-pit, Lovell's Flat (J. McGillivray, manager).—Private pit. One hundred and ninetyfour tons, for owner's requirements, was dug during the year. Taratu Colliery, Taratu, Kaitangata (Taratu Railway and Coal Company, owners ; G. R. Cheeseman, general manager ; Thomas Shore, mine-manager).—(23/12/08) : The new communication-drive to upcast air and second-outlet shaft was completed on the 13th May, 1908. A proper ladder-way for travelling has been placed in the shaft. Ventilating-fan at surface driven by oil-engine at 220 revolutions induced 13,200 cub. ft. of air per minute. Roof tender in places approaching fault on westerly side of workings. Development-work is now proceeding in the new-shaft section. A new pair of winding-engines by Roberts and Sons, Bendigo, have been recently installed. Explosives carefully handled. Rules posted ; plan and report-books to date. A coal-miner named John Richards sustained injuries to pelvis by fall of coal from roof on the 17th July, 1908, whereby he was incapacitated from work for a period of fifty-five days. Port Arthur Coal-pit (late Record Reign), Kaitangata (R. Penman, lessee).—A small quantity of coal is obtained intermittently for local requirements. Wangaloa Coal-pit, Kaitangata (Joseph Smith, owner). —(28/8/08) :No one about. Since last visit pillars have been drawn from the level to the solid, and roof fallen, Evidently not much work done here latterly, and most of the coal to rise of water-free level appears to have been won.