C—2.

110

Phcenix and Venus Coal-mine, Murray Creek (owners, J. Knight and Co.; W. Knight, permit).-—During 1911 a new drive going west from the surface was put in for a considerable distance. The coal proved to be very soft, producing very little round coal, and the small has been stacked on the sideling for sale, providing a market for this class of coal can be obtained. Ou my last visit the coal showed a decided improvement. Operations have been intermittent, owing to no demand for the coal. The fire-area on the south side of the workings is still burning, smoke issuing freely from several places. The ventilation and timbering have been maintained satisfactorily. Two men are employed underground. Golden Treasure Coal-mine, Murray Creek (J. Billet, permit). —This mine has practically been abandoned, tha only output being a few tons of coal won by the open-cast method at the beginning of the year. Lockinyton's Freehold, Deep Creek (E. Lockington, owner; E. Lockington, permit).—Nearly the whole of the output from this mine has been obtained by open-cast work. For a considerable distance along the sideling very little cover exists over the coal. This has been stripped, and the coal afterwards mined, until a face 15 ft. :'n height has been bared. From this point a drive has been started in the coal to connect with the inside Avorkings. The coal in the drive is clean and hard, producing a fair percentage of round. When this connection is made it will improve the ventilation and shorten the trucking distance. Four men are employed. Burkes Creek Coal-mine (Gibson and Harris, owners; J. Thompson, manager).—Operations have been chiefly confined to No. 1 North area, where the level has been extended over 6 chains. For a distance of 40 ft. the coal was very thin, and of a very soft nature; subsequently it pinched out. After driving approximately 80 ft. further the coal made again, and continued to open out until a good seam of hard bright coal, varying from 12 ft. upwards, was exposed. These faults have been a source of trouble, causing the ventilation at times to be rather dull until connections could be made; however, this will shortly be remedied by increasing the size of the return airway through the faults until a rise heading can be driven to the surface which will ensure a good circulation of air. The output was 2,928 tons. Waitahu Coal-mine (James Jude, permit). —(6/12/11) : The output for 1911 was 540 tons loewt., a considerable proportion being derived from pillar-extraction. The pillars skirting No. 2 level have been extracted for a considerable distance. Ventilation has been well maintained. A good deal of coal is still standing on pillars to the rise, but, being of a soft nature, it makes a good deal of small. Archer's Freehold, Capleston (F. W. Archer, permit).—This property contains two seams of coal, varying in thickness from 10 ft. to 12 ft., and separated by about 60 ft. of sandstone. At the beginning of the year a holing was made into the rise heading, and the old drive cleaned of falls, ensuring a good ventilation. The main level in the bottom seam has been continued for some distance, and has met with faulted ground, which will necessitate some prospecting. This will be done when opportunity offers. The condition of the mine is satisfactory. Coghlan's Freehold, Capleston (J. Coghlan, owner; permit). —During the year operations have been almost exclusively confined to No. 2 level, there being very little sale for coal during the first few months. This enabled the level which was being driven in sandstone to be continued until the coal was reached. The coal in this level is proving to be of superior quality, and the prospects are promising. The output for the year was •'564 tons. Ventilation is obtained by holings into the rise. Rocklands Coal-mine, Butter Road (G. Walker, owner; J. Burley, permit).—The output was 257 tons. The main south heading has lieen standing, and another heading in the same direction has been opened on the rise side of the former workings. This has proved of great advantage, by rendering the transport of the coal for carting much easier and the distance shorter. The demand for this coal depends upon the dredge working in the Buller River. The ventilation and general safety conditions are excellent. Whitecliffs Coal-mine, Buller Road (Job Lines, owner; permit). —At the commencement of the year a new tunnel lying to the west of the old tunnel had been started, but on driving a distance of about three-quarters of a chain it was found impossible to keep clear of the creek and maintain a free drainage. This tunnel was therefore abandoned, and preparations are being made to exploit the coal on the rise side of the old tunnel. The output from this mine for the year was 189 tons. Seddonville State Colliery (I. A. James, mine-manager). —The output for 1911 was 60,045 tons, showing a decrease on the previous year's operations of 2,669 tons. This output was entirely from pillar-extraction in. the cave combined with dropping of top coal. The pillars in the extreme west of the cave section have produced a fair proportion of hard coal, but are rapidly becoming exhausted. The soft coal that overlies the main seam, being unsaleable, was left in the old workings, and as a result heating rendered it imperative to stop these workings off, to prevent the gases reaching the present workings. Another portion on the eastern side of the same section was similarly dealt with. In both places the stoppings have proved effectual. West section : Operations in this section consist of the satisfactory development of a block of coal known to exist to the north-west, where coal of excellent quality and thickness has been proved, and the prospects in this part of the colliery are promising. A holing has been effected at the outcrop, which has secured the ventilation of the workings to the northward. The ventilation and general safety conditions of the mine have been well maintained, timber being plentifully used to support the sides and roof. No fatal or serious accidents have been reported during the year. A considerable amount of boring by diamond drill has been done in the Charming Creek area, the operations have been confined to the area between Chasu\ and Charming Creeks. The results so far have only been moderately satisfactory.